Certification is often given to students at the end of a Reiki course. There is no one true form of Reiki certification. A certificate today signifies that a student has simply completed whatever it is that the Reiki teacher teaches. There are no across-the-board standards. It is possible to finish Levels 1, 2, or even 3 in a weekend. This leaves the student feeling temporarily powerful without actually becoming empowered. When an individual receives attunements over a couple of days, the body’s energy cannot differentiate between having received a Level 1, 2, or 3 certificate.
The system of Reiki is not about certification — it is about personal practice. In traditional Japanese teachings a certificate is given to indicate that certain levels of proficiency have been reached and that the student is just beginning that actual level.