Certification provides independent verification of a certain level of expertise in a particular area. Basically, it means you have completed the steps required to receive a particular designation. But this basic definition comes with a weakness--in some cases, individuals can become certified simply by paying a particular membership fee or by attending the required seminar.
Warriors victory parade to be held in Oakland on Friday. Updated 10:45 pm, Tuesday, June 16, 2015. Ben Pechetti of Redwood city holds a cutout of Steph Curry before the start of an NBA Finals Game 6 Warriors Watch Party at Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA Tuesday, June 16, 2015.
Cleveland Cavaliers fans Teig Colgrove, left, and Sayeh Ashley, center, of Akron, take a selfie in front of a mural of LeBron James outside the Quicken Loans Arena early Wednesday, June 22, 2016 while waiting for a parade celebrating the Cavaliers' NBA championship in downtown Cleveland.