Move Your Career Forward.
A professional or trade certification is a qualification used to assure that a person has the necessary skills to perform a certain job or task. Earning a certification is an excellent way to demonstrate your expertise, strengthen your resume, or prepare for a career change or promotion. And in some cases, it may be required.
Types of Certification
There are three common types of certification programs. These include:
Corporate certification. These are certifications given by a corporation or organization to its employees for internal purposes. Companies may require all employees to attend a training session in a subject such as customer service or diversity, at the end of which they receive a certificate. These certificates are not particularly portable—meaning they typically lack meaning and significance outside of the organization in which they were given. However, they’re also the simplest to administer, so many companies choose this route when wishing to ensure that a large number of employees gain a specific skill.
Product-specific certifications. These traditional and online certificate programs are generally much more involved than corporate certifications, and they are intended to be portable across many different companies that use the particular product—but not to other products. These certifications are particularly common in the IT industry, where people can earn certifications in the use of a wide range of hardware and software applications. Some jobs within the IT sector may require certain tech certifications, and with the advent of new technologies, employees must earn new certifications to keep their qualifications current.
Professional certifications. These are typically the most in-depth types of certifications. A professional certification is given by a governing association that intends to apply certain professional standards, increase quality of practice, and in some cases provide protection to the public. Professional certifications are recognized wherever a person might work, including across state borders.
Graduate certificate programs. Graduate certificate programs are typically given after earning a Bachelor’s degree. They provide a less comprehensive education than a Masters degree, usually earned within approximately one year. Some graduate certificate programs can be transferred to a Masters degree at a later time. Others are professional certifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does certification cost?
It depends. Traditional or online certificates may be free, or cost several hundred dollars or more. Corporate certifications tend to be free, but these are the least valuable in terms of portability and acceptance throughout an industry. Professional certifications are the most valuable and the most likely to boost a resume, but they also tend to be the most expensive and involved. However, some companies are willing to pay the cost of certifications—even professional certifications—if they are applicable to your job.
Should I earn certification?
Some careers require a certain type of product-specific or professional certification. Even if it isn’t required, a certification can give your resume an edge if you’re looking for a job. It can demonstrate your qualifications in a certain area, especially if your previous experience or education isn’t in that area.
Who needs a certification?
Again, it depends on your career and industry. While some careers, such as public school teacher and public accountant, require a certification, many others don’t—but it’s still advisable. In some industries, certification isn’t required, but it’s advisable and even expected. These industries include aviation, IT, construction, health care, business, and finance.
What’s required to get certified?
This can vary drastically, from taking a one-day seminar to participating in traditional or online certificate courses for over a year. Some designations take only a few weeks to earn, while others can take months or even a year or more. Some certifications require applicants to pass a test or accumulate a certain number of apprentice hours in the field.
How often do I need to be certified?
Some certifications may be earned once, but many others must be renewed periodically. For certifications—usually professional-level designations—that require periodical renewal, you may be required to show continued learning in the industry.
Can I get certified online?
Many certification programs are available online. When choosing an online certification program, be sure to verify that it’s administered or approved by the right professional organization, if that’s applicable in your industry. It’s also good to find out whether the online certificate program you choose provides actual certification at the end—or simply prepares you for the test.
Getting your certification could be a good career move. Professional certifications can make you look more qualified than your competition, as well as opening opportunities for employment and advancement. To get the most from your certification, however, make sure it’s a designation that’s valued in your industry and career—as well as portable from one company to another. Earn an online certificate, and you’ll be able to fit study and test time around your existing full-time work and family commitments.
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