Whether your goals are to strengthen a specific skill in your wheelhouse or pivot into a new field, the correct academic credential will get you there. Understand the difference between degrees and certificates to make an informed choice that fits your career. Before you choose a program, weigh your options using these four factors.
Explore Your Options
Whether you’re looking to improve your skills, change careers, or take on a new challenge, there are many opportunities to advance in higher education. However, choosing the right degree or certificate program can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, resources are available to help you decide which option best fits your goals. Begin by discovering what resources friends and coworkers with similar objectives have found useful. They may have tips that help you avoid mistakes they’ve made and find the right higher education certificate program for you.
Additionally, some online programs provide students with free career coaching to help them make a clear strategy for achieving their goals and landing the perfect job. Another thing to consider is the time commitment involved in each option. Certificate programs are typically shorter than degrees and can often be completed in months, which can be critical to your current and future career goals.
Check for Accreditation
While it may seem meaningless college jargon, accreditation is crucial to ensuring you earn a degree that employers and other institutions will recognize. Accreditation is when an independent body verifies that a school or academic program meets specific academic standards. Transferring credits or getting a job in your desired field will be extremely easy with accreditation. There are many different types of accrediting bodies, so check with multiple sources. Ideally, it would help if you were looking for an agency the U.S. Department of Education recognizes.
It would help if you also verified that the specific certificate program you want to attend is accredited. Some certificates are specialized and only offered at accredited universities. You can also inquire with a professional association if you’re looking for specific accrediting bodies. Remember that earning and maintaining accreditation can take some time, so keep going if you find an option immediately.
Determine Your Goals
The first step to finding the right certificate program for your goals is to determine what those goals are. Goals can range from the short term (acquire an “A” in Psychology) to the long term (graduate with the Highest Honors in your major). Having clear goals helps you structure your time and resources at the university and work towards getting the most out of your experience there. When crafting your goals, try to keep them measurable and attainable. It will help you stay on track and feel more motivated to reach your goals. You can also use a tool to write great specific goals for further guidance on how to create and implement your goals. If you need help figuring out where to begin, think about what makes you want to earn a certificate. Is it a career change? Do you want to strengthen a skill in your wheelhouse or add value to your existing resume? Is it to gain a new perspective on a topic? Identifying your motivations can help you find the right course for you.
Consider Your Learning Style
It’s essential to understand how you learn best so that you can study and learn more effectively. You can take a quiz to help determine your learning style. You can also observe how others learn at work, school, or other settings. It is possible to have a dominant learning style, but most people have a mixture of styles. Visual learners might find it helpful to draw diagrams or utilize a color-coding scheme to organize their notes when studying. Auditory learners often benefit from taking notes in class and may prefer to discuss the material with classmates. Social learners tend to do better in groups studying or working together.
If your friends or colleagues in your field are looking into certification programs, ask them what they’ve found most helpful. Also, check out online reviews to see what others have said about the program. You can also ask your boss if the company offers tuition reimbursement for relevant courses or boot camps.
Ask for Feedback
As with any program, it’s essential to ask for feedback. It allows instructors and students to assess the quality of the learning experience. It also helps to improve the overall course and make it a better experience for future students. Sometimes, feedback can help students find the right certificate program for their goals. Unlike degrees, certificates are often shorter in duration and focus on specific subject matter. They can be found in various fields, including health care, construction, education, and law enforcement. Accredited certificate programs can lead to new career paths or bolster resumes. They can also be transferred into a degree program in the future.
Additionally, many certificate programs are eligible for financial aid. It includes federal, state, and location-based scholarships. For more information, visit your school’s tuition and financial aid page or contact a member of student financial services. In addition, many schools now offer net price calculators to help prospective students determine their academic costs. They can help estimate how much they should budget for their certificate program and beyond.