How would you explain the difference in laymen s terms between a Project Manager PM and a Project Management Professional PMP

Question

Is one an occupation and the other a discipline?
Is it about formal Training?
Ability to pay/study/pass specific criteria?
One is "an organized individual" and the other a "process expert"?
Do we need to make a distinction?

Answer 1

Here's how I think of this. Anybody can call themselves a Project Manager. They may have had formal training, many years of experience, etc. Or they may have had no training and suddenly jumped into the field.

A PMP has had the formal training and has been certified that they were able to be tested on the knowledge.

Neither guarantees success.