Certification is a process for formally acknowledging that someone has mastered a body of knowledge on a subject. In new product development, the PDMA has created and manages a certification process to become a New Product Development Professional (NPDP). The certification process validates an individual’s new product development knowledge and skills against industry standards. successful completion of the certification process leads to the award of the NPDP credential, which is recognized by organizations worldwide as evidence of an individual’s commitment to new product development excellence.