A professional certificate or award is a form of recognition. Professional certificates typically represent organizations and some level of training—an individual who possesses a professional certificate usually completed specific training and passed exams to receive the certification. An award is slightly different because it represents past service or career accomplishments.
There are many types of awards and certificates. Some awards are purely for show, but others are representative of real accomplishments. Also, professional certificates demonstrate specific knowledge or expertise in a career field. Some examples of certificates and awards include:
Certified Public Accountant
Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement
Chartered Financial Analyst (certification)
A certificate or award is a symbol of accomplishment or recognition. The form must contain several pieces of information to be considered valid or authentic. For one, it must include the name of the certifying body and the certificate title. Also, the document should include the recipient's name and the date and location of issuance. Finally, it should have the name and signature of the individual presenting the certificate.
