First let’s discuss some of the various forms of certification that are available. One kind of certificate, is a certificate of participation. This indicates that you showed up for a course, and participated in a set of exercises, as designed by the teacher. Such a certificate does not comment on whether a particular skill level was attained, but does indicate a level of commitment, openness to learning from a teacher, and the willingness to invest time and energy to skill development.
Another type of certification is obtained by attaining a passing grade in response to a quiz or exam. Such a certificate signifies a level of theoretical knowledge and is very valuable, because theoretical understanding is a precursor to practical skills. While many people have test anxiety, causing them to avoid such challenges, we cannot deny that passing a test gives us a sense of self-respect and confidence that cannot be attained in any other way. A certificate denoting knowledge is essential to developing professional confidence.