Certificate and certification are two terms that are often used interchangeably, though they are separate and distinct.

Certification
Certification is the formal recognition of workers' competencies on behalf of an authorized institution, of an accreditation of the competence possessed by a worker. In many vocational training institutions, the certification is handed out as recognition of the culmination of an educational and training process, based on the time of training and practice, as well as on successful completion of a required test or exam.

Levels of Certification

10 Myths of Certification
by Jamie Mulkey and Jennifer Naughton

Certificate
A certificate is an award for the successful completion of a specified number of units in an education/training program. Certificates may be a good means to track workers' education and training.