Does a Training Certificate Make You PMP® Certified?
PMP certificate vs PMP certification: 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.
In this guide
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.
The key distinction
Completing PMP training does not make you PMP certified. The training certificate documents education or course completion. The PMP certification is awarded by PMI after you meet the eligibility requirements and pass the official PMP exam.
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.
Remember: you can complete PMP training and receive a certificate without yet being PMP certified. Your professional credential is the PMP certification awarded by PMI.
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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