PMP® Certificate vs PMP® Certification: What Is the Difference?
A clear guide to the Certificate of Completion, the PMI® Certificate of Achievement and the official PMP® certification. Learn what each document means, who issues it and when you receive it.
If you are preparing for the PMP® exam, you will hear the words certificate and certification used as if they mean the same thing. They do not. A training certificate confirms you completed training. The PMP® certification is the professional credential awarded by the Project Management Institute (PMI®) after you pass the official PMP® examination.
Certificate vs certification: what is the difference?
A certificate is evidence that you completed a course, training program or defined learning activity. For PMP® exam preparation, a training provider such as 3FOLD Training issues a Certificate of Completion for the required training.
A certification is different. PMP® is a credential administered by PMI®. You earn it through PMI®'s certification process: eligibility, application and the official PMP® examination.
The three PMP® documents you should know
| Document | Issued by | What it confirms | Is it the PMP® credential? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Completion | Training provider, such as 3FOLD Training | Completion of the PMP® Exam Preparation training and its required training hours. | No |
| PMI® Certificate of Achievement | PMI® | Completion of the official Authorized Training Partner PMP® prep course activities and the required knowledge check. | No — training evidence |
| PMP® Certification | PMI® | You passed the official PMP® examination and earned the credential. | Yes |
What do the PMP® certificates and certification look like?
Seeing the documents side by side makes the difference easier to understand. The examples below separate training completion from the official PMP® certification.
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🔍 Click to enlargeWhen do you receive each certificate?
The documents arrive at different points in your PMP® journey. 3FOLD Training issues its Certificate of Completion once you complete the required 35 hours of instructor-led PMP® Exam Preparation. The PMI® Certificate of Achievement follows completion of the applicable course activities and knowledge check. The PMP® certification comes only after you pass the official PMP® exam.
- 3FOLD Training Certificate of Completion: documents completion of the required PMP® training.
- PMI® Certificate of Achievement: documents completion of the applicable official Authorized Training Partner course activities and knowledge check.
- PMP® Certification: confirms you have earned the PMP® credential through PMI®'s certification process and examination.
What is the purpose of the training certificate?
The training certificate documents the project management education you completed. It supports the education requirement on your PMP® exam application, and it matters if PMI® selects your application for audit.
When you choose a training provider, be clear about what the provider gives you. A provider's Certificate of Completion is not the same as PMP® certification. It is training evidence.
What is the PMI® Certificate of Achievement?
The PMI® Certificate of Achievement is also a training document. PMI® issues it to learners who complete the applicable official Authorized Training Partner PMP® prep activities and pass the knowledge check through their PMI® learning account.
It is not the PMP® credential. The PMP® certification remains separate and is awarded by PMI® after you pass the official PMP® examination.
Frequently asked questions
Is a PMP® training certificate the same as PMP® certification?
No. A training certificate confirms you completed a training course. PMP® certification is the professional credential awarded by PMI® after you meet the certification requirements and pass the official examination.
Who issues the PMP® certification?
PMI® issues and administers the PMP® certification. A training provider prepares candidates for the exam but does not award the PMP® credential.
What certificate do I receive after PMP® training with 3FOLD?
3FOLD Training issues a Certificate of Completion for the required PMP® Exam Preparation training. Learners in the applicable official Authorized Training Partner course may also receive a PMI® Certificate of Achievement after completing the required activities and knowledge check.
Does a Certificate of Completion mean I can call myself PMP® certified?
No. The certificate shows training completion. Use the PMP® credential only after PMI® has awarded it following successful completion of its certification process.
Does PMI® issue the PMP® certificate after I complete training?
PMI® may issue a Certificate of Achievement for completing an applicable official Authorized Training Partner course. That is different from the PMP® certification, which is awarded after you pass the official PMP® examination.
Where can I learn more about the official PMP® certification?
For current certification requirements, visit PMI.org's PMP® certification page.
Where to go next
Understand the difference between your training certificate and the certification you are working toward, check the official PMI® requirements, then choose training that fits your preparation. 3FOLD Training is a PMI Authorized Training Partner. The PMP® Certification Training course page carries the schedule, the 35 required training hours and what the course includes. If you would rather ask a person first, use the course enquiry form.
Planning your PMP® certification journey? See the schedule, trainers and what's included.
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