“Certified” for an endurance event simply means that an event or race course has officially been inspected by an overseeing body. For instance, if a race course is certified with the USATF, then it has been accurately measured for the right length so the times can be used for qualification (for example, for the Boston Marathon).
For triathlon, certified typically refers to race officials, referees, or coaches that have been trained and licensed by a governing body such as USA Triathlon (USAT). Certified coaches possess the education and experience necessary to coach athletes effectively and safely.
