diff --git a/.travis/script.sh b/.travis/script.sh
index e81f1e014..20dbe57e0 100755
--- a/.travis/script.sh
+++ b/.travis/script.sh
@@ -400,21 +400,21 @@ build_samr21() {
     export ASAN_OPTIONS=symbolize=1 || die
     export DISTCHECK_CONFIGURE_FLAGS= CPPFLAGS=-DOPENTHREAD_POSIX_VIRTUAL_TIME=1 || die
     ./bootstrap || die
-    CERT_LOG=1 make -f examples/Makefile-posix distcheck || die
+    REFERENCE_DEVICE=1 make -f examples/Makefile-posix distcheck || die
 }
 
 [ $BUILD_TARGET != posix-32-bit ] || {
     ./bootstrap || die
-    CERT_LOG=1 COVERAGE=1 CFLAGS=-m32 CXXFLAGS=-m32 LDFLAGS=-m32 make -f examples/Makefile-posix check || die
+    REFERENCE_DEVICE=1 COVERAGE=1 CFLAGS=-m32 CXXFLAGS=-m32 LDFLAGS=-m32 make -f examples/Makefile-posix check || die
 }
 
 [ $BUILD_TARGET != posix-app-cli ] || {
     ./bootstrap || die
     # enable code coverage for OpenThread transceiver only
-    CERT_LOG=1 COVERAGE=1 VIRTUAL_TIME_UART=1 make -f examples/Makefile-posix || die
+    REFERENCE_DEVICE=1 COVERAGE=1 VIRTUAL_TIME_UART=1 make -f examples/Makefile-posix || die
     # readline supports pipe, editline does not
-    CERT_LOG=1 COVERAGE=1 READLINE=readline make -f src/posix/Makefile-posix || die
-    CERT_LOG=1 COVERAGE=1 PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1 OT_CLI_PATH="$(pwd)/$(ls output/posix/*/bin/ot-cli)" RADIO_DEVICE="$(pwd)/$(ls output/*/bin/ot-rcp)" make -f src/posix/Makefile-posix check || die
+    REFERENCE_DEVICE=1 COVERAGE=1 READLINE=readline make -f src/posix/Makefile-posix || die
+    REFERENCE_DEVICE=1 COVERAGE=1 PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1 OT_CLI_PATH="$(pwd)/$(ls output/posix/*/bin/ot-cli)" RADIO_DEVICE="$(pwd)/$(ls output/*/bin/ot-rcp)" make -f src/posix/Makefile-posix check || die
 }
 
 [ $BUILD_TARGET != posix-app-pty ] || {
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ build_samr21() {
 
 [ $BUILD_TARGET != posix-mtd ] || {
     ./bootstrap || die
-    CERT_LOG=1 COVERAGE=1 CFLAGS=-m32 CXXFLAGS=-m32 LDFLAGS=-m32 USE_MTD=1 make -f examples/Makefile-posix check || die
+    REFERENCE_DEVICE=1 COVERAGE=1 CFLAGS=-m32 CXXFLAGS=-m32 LDFLAGS=-m32 USE_MTD=1 make -f examples/Makefile-posix check || die
 }
 
 [ $BUILD_TARGET != posix-ncp-spi ] || {
@@ -434,15 +434,15 @@ build_samr21() {
 
 [ $BUILD_TARGET != posix-app-ncp ] || {
     ./bootstrap || die
-    CERT_LOG=1 COVERAGE=1 VIRTUAL_TIME_UART=1 make -f examples/Makefile-posix || die
+    REFERENCE_DEVICE=1 COVERAGE=1 VIRTUAL_TIME_UART=1 make -f examples/Makefile-posix || die
     # enable code coverage for OpenThread posix radio
-    CERT_LOG=1 COVERAGE=1 READLINE=readline make -f src/posix/Makefile-posix || die
-    CERT_LOG=1 COVERAGE=1 PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1 OT_NCP_PATH="$(pwd)/$(ls output/posix/*/bin/ot-ncp)" RADIO_DEVICE="$(pwd)/$(ls output/*/bin/ot-rcp)" NODE_TYPE=ncp-sim make -f src/posix/Makefile-posix check || die
+    REFERENCE_DEVICE=1 COVERAGE=1 READLINE=readline make -f src/posix/Makefile-posix || die
+    REFERENCE_DEVICE=1 COVERAGE=1 PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1 OT_NCP_PATH="$(pwd)/$(ls output/posix/*/bin/ot-ncp)" RADIO_DEVICE="$(pwd)/$(ls output/*/bin/ot-rcp)" NODE_TYPE=ncp-sim make -f src/posix/Makefile-posix check || die
 }
 
 [ $BUILD_TARGET != posix-ncp ] || {
     ./bootstrap || die
-    CERT_LOG=1 COVERAGE=1 PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1 NODE_TYPE=ncp-sim make -f examples/Makefile-posix check || die
+    REFERENCE_DEVICE=1 COVERAGE=1 PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1 NODE_TYPE=ncp-sim make -f examples/Makefile-posix check || die
 }
 
 [ $BUILD_TARGET != toranj-test-framework ] || {
diff --git a/Android.mk b/Android.mk
index 9fbfbdeba..52e025c41 100644
--- a/Android.mk
+++ b/Android.mk
@@ -54,12 +54,12 @@ endif
 ifeq ($(TARGET_PRODUCT),generic)
 OPENTHREAD_COMMON_FLAGS                                          += \
     -DOPENTHREAD_ENABLE_APPLICATION_COAP=1                          \
-    -DOPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CERT_LOG=1                                  \
     -DOPENTHREAD_ENABLE_COMMISSIONER=1                              \
     -DOPENTHREAD_ENABLE_DHCP6_CLIENT=1                              \
     -DOPENTHREAD_ENABLE_DHCP6_SERVER=1                              \
     -DOPENTHREAD_ENABLE_DNS_CLIENT=1                                \
     -DOPENTHREAD_ENABLE_MTD_NETWORK_DIAGNOSTIC=1                    \
+    -DOPENTHREAD_ENABLE_REFERENCE_DEVICE=0                          \
     $(NULL)
 endif
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 21957ed80..4c5f57634 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1341,36 +1341,6 @@ AC_SUBST(OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CHILD_SUPERVISION)
 AM_CONDITIONAL([OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CHILD_SUPERVISION], [test "${enable_child_supervision}" = "yes"])
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CHILD_SUPERVISION],[${OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CHILD_SUPERVISION}],[Define to 1 if you want to use child supervision feature])
 
-#
-# Log for certification test
-#
-
-AC_ARG_ENABLE(cert_log,
-    [AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-cert-log],[Enable certification log support @<:@default=no@:>@.])],
-    [
-        case "${enableval}" in
-
-        no|yes)
-            enable_cert_log=${enableval}
-            ;;
-
-        *)
-            AC_MSG_ERROR([Invalid value ${enable_cert_log} for --enable-cert-log])
-            ;;
-        esac
-    ],
-    [enable_cert_log=no])
-
-if test "$enable_cert_log" = "yes"; then
-    OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CERT_LOG=1
-else
-    OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CERT_LOG=0
-fi
-
-AC_SUBST(OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CERT_LOG)
-AM_CONDITIONAL([OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CERT_LOG], [test "${enable_cert_log}" = "yes"])
-AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CERT_LOG],[${OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CERT_LOG}],[Define to 1 if you want to enable log for certification test])
-
 #
 # DHCPv6 Client
 #
@@ -2090,7 +2060,6 @@ AC_MSG_NOTICE([
   OpenThread Diagnostics support            : ${enable_diag}
   OpenThread Child Supervision support      : ${enable_child_supervision}
   OpenThread Legacy network support         : ${enable_legacy}
-  OpenThread Certification log support      : ${enable_cert_log}
   OpenThread DHCPv6 Server support          : ${enable_dhcp6_server}
   OpenThread DHCPv6 Client support          : ${enable_dhcp6_client}
   OpenThread DNS Client support             : ${enable_dns_client}
diff --git a/examples/Makefile-nrf52811 b/examples/Makefile-nrf52811
index 33dd30945..493caab1f 100644
--- a/examples/Makefile-nrf52811
+++ b/examples/Makefile-nrf52811
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ ifeq ($(DCDC),1)
 COMMONCFLAGS += -DDCDC_ENABLE
 endif
 
-ifneq ($(CERT_LOG),1)
+ifneq ($(REFERENCE_DEVICE),1)
 COMMONCFLAGS += -DOPENTHREAD_CONFIG_LOG_OUTPUT=OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_LOG_OUTPUT_PLATFORM_DEFINED
 endif
 
diff --git a/examples/Makefile-nrf52840 b/examples/Makefile-nrf52840
index e1f83e56a..efdd894a5 100644
--- a/examples/Makefile-nrf52840
+++ b/examples/Makefile-nrf52840
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ COMMONCFLAGS                   := \
 
 include $(dir $(abspath $(lastword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))))/common-switches.mk
 
-ifneq ($(CERT_LOG),1)
+ifneq ($(REFERENCE_DEVICE),1)
 COMMONCFLAGS += -DOPENTHREAD_CONFIG_LOG_OUTPUT=OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_LOG_OUTPUT_PLATFORM_DEFINED
 endif
 
diff --git a/examples/Makefile-posix b/examples/Makefile-posix
index 7a083e5b3..e00ba72ea 100644
--- a/examples/Makefile-posix
+++ b/examples/Makefile-posix
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ DEBUG                          ?= 0
 
 BORDER_AGENT                   ?= 1
 BORDER_ROUTER                  ?= 1
-CERT_LOG                       ?= 1
 COAP                           ?= 1
 COAPS                          ?= 1
 COMMISSIONER                   ?= 1
@@ -55,6 +54,7 @@ LEGACY                         ?= 1
 LINK_RAW                       ?= 1
 MAC_FILTER                     ?= 1
 MTD_NETDIAG                    ?= 1
+REFERENCE_DEVICE               ?= 1
 SERVICE                        ?= 1
 SNTP_CLIENT                    ?= 1
 UDP_FORWARD                    ?= 1
diff --git a/examples/common-switches.mk b/examples/common-switches.mk
index 5d4d68e2b..fc91b8d88 100644
--- a/examples/common-switches.mk
+++ b/examples/common-switches.mk
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 
 BORDER_AGENT        ?= 0
 BORDER_ROUTER       ?= 0
-CERT_LOG            ?= 0
 COAP                ?= 0
 COAPS               ?= 0
 COMMISSIONER        ?= 0
@@ -52,6 +51,7 @@ LINK_RAW            ?= 0
 MAC_FILTER          ?= 0
 MTD_NETDIAG         ?= 0
 PLATFORM_UDP        ?= 0
+REFERENCE_DEVICE    ?= 0
 SERVICE             ?= 0
 SETTINGS_RAM        ?= 0
 # SLAAC is enabled by default
@@ -69,11 +69,6 @@ ifeq ($(BORDER_ROUTER),1)
 configure_OPTIONS              += --enable-border-router
 endif
 
-ifeq ($(CERT_LOG),1)
-COMMONCFLAGS                   += -DOPENTHREAD_CONFIG_LOG_OUTPUT=OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_LOG_OUTPUT_APP
-configure_OPTIONS              += --enable-cert-log
-endif
-
 ifeq ($(COAP),1)
 configure_OPTIONS              += --enable-application-coap
 endif
@@ -158,6 +153,12 @@ ifeq ($(PLATFORM_UDP),1)
 configure_OPTIONS              += --enable-platform-udp
 endif
 
+# Enable features only required for reference device during certification.
+ifeq ($(REFERENCE_DEVICE),1)
+COMMONCFLAGS                   += -DOPENTHREAD_CONFIG_LOG_OUTPUT=OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_LOG_OUTPUT_APP
+COMMONCFLAGS                   += -DOPENTHREAD_ENABLE_REFERENCE_DEVICE=1
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(SERVICE),1)
 configure_OPTIONS              += --enable-service
 endif
diff --git a/examples/platforms/gp712/README.md b/examples/platforms/gp712/README.md
index 48fe3bfd4..67edc4e3c 100644
--- a/examples/platforms/gp712/README.md
+++ b/examples/platforms/gp712/README.md
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ The build process will complain if additional packages are required.
 $ cd <path-to-openthread>
 $ ./script/bootstrap
 $ ./bootstrap
-$ CERT_LOG=1 CLI_LOGGING=1 COMMISSIONER=1 JOINER=1 DHCP6_CLIENT=1 DHCP6_SERVER=1 BORDER_ROUTER=1 make -f examples/Makefile-gp712
+$ REFERENCE_DEVICE=1 CLI_LOGGING=1 COMMISSIONER=1 JOINER=1 DHCP6_CLIENT=1 DHCP6_SERVER=1 BORDER_ROUTER=1 make -f examples/Makefile-gp712
 ```
 
 After a successful build, the `elf` files are found in
diff --git a/src/core/common/logging.hpp b/src/core/common/logging.hpp
index 7df820bcd..3b815922d 100644
--- a/src/core/common/logging.hpp
+++ b/src/core/common/logging.hpp
@@ -1020,7 +1020,7 @@ extern "C" {
  *
  *
  */
-#if OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CERT_LOG
+#if OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_REFERENCE_DEVICE
 #define otLogCertMeshCoP(aFormat, ...) \
     _otLogFormatter(OT_LOG_LEVEL_NONE, OT_LOG_REGION_MESH_COP, aFormat, ##__VA_ARGS__)
 #else
@@ -1858,7 +1858,7 @@ extern "C" {
  * @param[in]  aLength      Number of bytes to print.
  *
  */
-#if OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CERT_LOG
+#if OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_REFERENCE_DEVICE
 #define otDumpCertMeshCoP(aId, aBuf, aLength) otDump(OT_LOG_LEVEL_NONE, OT_LOG_REGION_MESH_COP, aId, aBuf, aLength)
 #else
 #define otDumpCertMeshCoP(aId, aBuf, aLength)
diff --git a/src/core/meshcop/commissioner.cpp b/src/core/meshcop/commissioner.cpp
index ad08eee1c..0c4d2d453 100644
--- a/src/core/meshcop/commissioner.cpp
+++ b/src/core/meshcop/commissioner.cpp
@@ -953,7 +953,7 @@ void Commissioner::HandleJoinerFinalize(Coap::Message &aMessage, const Ip6::Mess
         }
     }
 
-#if OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CERT_LOG
+#if OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_REFERENCE_DEVICE
     if (aMessage.GetLength() <= OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_MESSAGE_BUFFER_SIZE)
     {
         uint8_t buf[OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_MESSAGE_BUFFER_SIZE];
@@ -990,7 +990,7 @@ void Commissioner::SendJoinFinalizeResponse(const Coap::Message &aRequest, State
     joinerMessageInfo.GetPeerAddr().SetIid(mJoinerIid);
     joinerMessageInfo.SetPeerPort(mJoinerPort);
 
-#if OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CERT_LOG
+#if OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_REFERENCE_DEVICE
     uint8_t buf[OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_MESSAGE_BUFFER_SIZE];
 
     VerifyOrExit(message->GetLength() <= sizeof(buf));
diff --git a/src/core/meshcop/joiner.cpp b/src/core/meshcop/joiner.cpp
index 8446a280f..5e708eed9 100644
--- a/src/core/meshcop/joiner.cpp
+++ b/src/core/meshcop/joiner.cpp
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ void Joiner::SendJoinerFinalize(void)
 {
     assert(mFinalizeMessage != NULL);
 
-#if OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CERT_LOG
+#if OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_REFERENCE_DEVICE
     LogCertMessage("[THCI] direction=send | type=JOIN_FIN.req |", *mFinalizeMessage);
 #endif
 
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ void Joiner::HandleJoinerFinalizeResponse(Coap::Message &         aMessage,
 
     otLogInfoMeshCoP("Joiner received finalize response %d", static_cast<uint8_t>(state.GetState()));
 
-#if OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CERT_LOG
+#if OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_REFERENCE_DEVICE
     LogCertMessage("[THCI] direction=recv | type=JOIN_FIN.rsp |", aMessage);
 #endif
 
@@ -668,7 +668,7 @@ const char *Joiner::JoinerStateToString(otJoinerState aState)
     return str;
 }
 
-#if OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CERT_LOG
+#if OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_REFERENCE_DEVICE
 void Joiner::LogCertMessage(const char *aText, const Coap::Message &aMessage) const
 {
     uint8_t buf[OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_MESSAGE_BUFFER_SIZE];
diff --git a/src/core/meshcop/joiner.hpp b/src/core/meshcop/joiner.hpp
index 93648b43f..6aaeba538 100644
--- a/src/core/meshcop/joiner.hpp
+++ b/src/core/meshcop/joiner.hpp
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ private:
     void    SendJoinerFinalize(void);
     void    SendJoinerEntrustResponse(const Coap::Message &aRequest, const Ip6::MessageInfo &aRequestInfo);
 
-#if OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CERT_LOG
+#if OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_REFERENCE_DEVICE
     void LogCertMessage(const char *aText, const Coap::Message &aMessage) const;
 #endif
 
diff --git a/src/core/openthread-core-config-check.h b/src/core/openthread-core-config-check.h
index cd2a6cdaa..6797f8eb0 100644
--- a/src/core/openthread-core-config-check.h
+++ b/src/core/openthread-core-config-check.h
@@ -65,4 +65,7 @@
 #error "OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_ENABLE_AUTO_START_SUPPORT was removed."
 #endif
 
+#ifdef OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CERT_LOG
+#error "OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_CERT_LOG was replaced by OPENTHREAD_ENABLE_REFERENCE_DEVICE."
+#endif
 #endif // OPENTHREAD_CORE_CONFIG_CHECK_H_
diff --git a/src/posix/Makefile-posix b/src/posix/Makefile-posix
index b63ca4036..2a630e412 100644
--- a/src/posix/Makefile-posix
+++ b/src/posix/Makefile-posix
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ DEBUG                                ?= 0
 
 BORDER_AGENT                         ?= 1
 BORDER_ROUTER                        ?= 1
-CERT_LOG                             ?= 1
 COAP                                 ?= 1
 COAPS                                ?= 1
 COMMISSIONER                         ?= 1
@@ -57,6 +56,7 @@ LINK_RAW                             ?= 0
 MAC_FILTER                           ?= 1
 MTD_NETDIAG                          ?= 1
 READLINE                             ?= edit
+REFERENCE_DEVICE                     ?= 1
 SERVICE                              ?= 1
 SNTP_CLIENT                          ?= 1
 UDP_FORWARD                          ?= 1