In practice, yes. "Septic tank cleaning" and "septic tank pumping" describe the same service: a full pump-out that removes the accumulated sludge and scum from the tank. The EPA SepticSmart guidance is to do this every 3 to 5 years for a typical residential tank.
More detail
The two terms get used interchangeably across Greater Cincinnati, and for almost every homeowner they mean the same job. A septic pumping (or septic tank cleaning) visit empties the tank with a vacuum truck, removing the bottom sludge layer and the floating scum layer that accumulate between services. Some companies use "cleaning" to imply a more thorough pump that also includes a back-flush rinse to dislodge stubborn sludge from the tank floor and a visual inspection of the baffles and effluent filter, but the core action is identical: pull the contents out so the tank returns to its working volume. The EPA SepticSmart program recommends a 3 to 5 year cadence for a typical 1,000 to 1,500 gallon residential tank, scaled by household size and water use. Households with garbage disposals or above-average use should run on the shorter end of that range. One distinction worth knowing: pumping or cleaning is not the same as "additive treatment." Pouring bacterial additives down a drain does not remove solids and does not substitute for a physical pump-out. Only a full pump-out resets the tank. If a quote says "cleaning" and another says "pumping," ask what is actually included (back-flush, baffle check, filter rinse) rather than assuming the words signal different scopes.