The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Certification \Cer`ti*fi*ca"tion\, n. [L. certificatio: cf. F.
   certification.]
   The act of certifying.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

certification
    n 1: the act of certifying or bestowing a franchise on [syn:
         certification, enfranchisement] [ant:
         disenfranchisement]
    2: confirmation that some fact or statement is true through the
       use of documentary evidence [syn: documentation,
       certification, corroboration]
    3: a document attesting to the truth of certain stated facts
       [syn: certificate, certification, credential,
       credentials]
    4: validating the authenticity of something or someone [syn:
       authentication, certification]