No, Pre-Qualification and Pre-Approval are not the same thing.
Pre-Qualification is an initial step where you provide your financial information, such as income and debts, to estimate how much you might be able to borrow. Even though this is an informal process it may or may not involve a credit check.
Pre-Approval, on the other hand, is a more detailed process. It requires a formal application, a credit check, and verification of your financial documents. Pre-Approval provides a specific loan amount and demonstrates to sellers that you’re a serious buyer.