5 Things to Know About Career Certifications [with 300+ Certifications to Consider]

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A four-year degree may be the first thing to come to mind when we think about college. However, certificate and associate's degree programs actually rival bachelor's degree programs in enrollment and awards conferred. The combined number of certificates and associate's degrees being awarded by colleges — around 2 million per year — is similar to the number of bachelor's degrees awarded, according to Georgetown University's recent report regarding the labor-market value of associate's degrees and certificate programs.

And certificate holders within the fields of engineering technologies and drafting are making up to three times as much as those with only an associate degree in a similar field.

Career certificates have the potential to catapult you into a new career or equip you with skills to work more competitively within your current job or industry. Read on to discover the value of career certifications and how one can benefit you.

1. Certifications can determine, guide, or supplement your chosen career

Certifications can stand alone, work alongside a degree, or qualify you to start in a career by covering job-specific knowledge you didn't obtain in college.

For example, to become a private investigator, you need to possess a bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a related field. But to supplement your knowledge base and experience, Darrin Giglio, chief investigator with North American Investigations, recommends additional undergraduate coursework or certification courses. "It's desirable that you've taken courses in criminology, surveillance, law, and photography."

In some cases, career certifications are a welcome alternative to a four-year degree with generally a smaller investment of money and time. Do you have a degree but want to make a career change? You can enter into some careers with zero experience by obtaining the necessary education and certifications.

2. Niche courses can aid in personal development, not just career advancement

Even if you're happy where you are in your job, the added knowledge you can gain from a career development course can give you a new perspective when facing challenges. Having completed formal training, you'll better be able to come up with innovative solutions with newfound confidence.

And sometimes it helps to look out-of-the-box for career development opportunities.

Tech product manager Wren Ludlow believes that, in general, a certification won't make or break a hiring opportunity, but certifications can be a powerful supplement for personal development. He has found his Scrum credentials to be valuable in the workplace, and he appreciated his employer's willingness to pay for the course.

However, it's the CliftonStrengths assessment that has made the biggest impact on Ludlow professionally. "The assessment has helped me to capitalize on my natural strengths and pursue where I can be most successful," he explains. "What I've discovered is that I like to achieve things and learn, but I do those things in the lens of my first two strengths: communicating and working with other people. This knowledge has helped me pursue projects and growth opportunities that play to those strengths and add a lot more fulfillment to my work."

3. Talking to pros in your industry can help you identify which certifications to pursue

Are you seeking a promotion or job change? A certificate can give you the edge over the competition. But do your research before pursuing a degree and/or a certificate. In general, it won't hurt your job prospects to have additional training.

However, even free certifications are an investment of time, so put your time where it will help you go the farthest. Consult coworkers to see what they have done, talk to your manager about what skills they'd like to see you gain or expand, and reach out to potential mentors who are two steps ahead of where you are now.

In some cases, in addition to a certification, you need to acquire a degree and/or a certain amount of experience in your field.

Here are some pro tips for seeking career certification recommendations within different industries:

Finance

Wealth advisor and Clear Financial Partners CEO Tim Clairmont, CFP®, explains that a combination of experience, education, and test-taking proficiency go into becoming a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). "The CFP is the pinnacle designation for financial planners," Clairmont says. Requirements for a CFP are as follows:

A bachelor's degree
5 years of industry-related experience
Adherence to a strict code of ethics
Commitment to ongoing continuing education
The completion of 7 courses of post-graduate work
A passing score on a comprehensive examination

Clairmont stands behind the integrity of the exam, which is as close to comprehensive as possible in dealing with real-life financial situations: "The exam covers everything financial planning related: taxes, investments, annuities, life insurance, estate law, ethics, holistic financial planning, and more." Clairmont requires all of his company's advisor trainees pursue and achieve the CFP designation before they are allowed to work independently with clients.

Technology

Amazon Web Services

One in-demand certification in the software and information technology (IT) industry is the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Developer certification. "AWS is the biggest cloud platform developers can use, which makes this certification so popular," explains Digital Software Products founder Colin Ma.

Ma was studying for the AWS Developer certification and was on track to pass it when he got offered a job. "The CEO was impressed that I had cloud experience and was studying independently for the certification, and it definitely gave her additional confidence to hire me," he explains. The job was at a busy startup so he wasn't able to complete the certification there, but in addition to giving him a competitive edge in hiring, he was able to utilize his AWS expertise in his new responsibilities.

Machine learning engineer Peter Song benefited similarly from his AWS expertise, helping him land his current job. "Some people undervalue certifications, saying that practical experiences are more important, and I agree," Song says. "However, if you want to have hands-on experiences, you first have to prove your knowledge to get a chance. And in addition the knowledge gained, I believe that earning career certifications can prove your passion and interest."

The hiring manager told Song that his AWS Certified Solutions Architect certification greatly impacted their decision since the firm was looking for someone with AWS knowledge, which is no surprise given its increasing popularity. In addition to the Certified Solutions Architect certification, Song also recommends the AWS Certified Big Data specialty.

Agile

In delivering, Agile Method is rapidly rising as the norm, according to Richard Cheng, VP of Training and Chief Product Owner at Excella Training. The most widely recognized certification in the Agile field is the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) accreditation, which shows that you have a sound foundation and even a deep-dive understanding of Agile principles and the Scrum framework. Cheng explains that job listings that say "CSM certification preferred" or "CSM certification required" are increasingly common.

"Any organization that is going through an Agile transformation should have a mix of Scrum teams and Kanban teams," according to Cheng. From a Kanban standpoint, the most widely recognized certification is the Kanban Management Professional 1 (KMP1). " While it doesn’t have nearly the number of certificate holders as the CSM, that base is also growing."

SOLIDWORKS

SolidProfessor applications engineer Patrick Ehrhardt recommends three SOLIDWORKS designations in particular for computer-aided design (CAD) drafters, technicians, and engineers, in order of difficulty to obtain:

Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate (CSWA)
Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP)
Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert (CSWE)

Ehrhardt explains that his employees who have these certifications require less time in training and have more time to do their jobs. "I hire a lot of engineering design interns and seeing a CSWA or CSWP on their resume really stands out to me," he says. "It shows that they're comfortable with the software so they can focus their time on the task instead of figuring out how to use the tool. We want them to concentrate on designing, so the less time they spend fighting against the tool, the better off we are as a company."

Having obtained the first two credentials himself, Ehrhardt experiences benefits beyond the hire and beyond project competency. "Earning my CSWA and CSWP has really given me a lot of confidence in my designs and approach. I know that, in the world of solid part modeling, I could build pretty much anything I need to. And going through the process of earning these credentials has also given me a lot of respect and understanding of just how deep the software and design field goes."

CompTIA Security+

Within cybersecurity, the CompTIA Security+ certification comes highly recommended by Will Ellis, IT security consultant and founder of Privacy Australia. He says professionals with this certification are often recognized as having both broad knowledge and a high skill level within the cybersecurity field. Plus, it is globally recognized and respected and is approved by the United States Department of Defense.

Ellis explains, "Those who have attained this designation generally have knowledge and skills in cryptography, security infrastructure, threat management, and network access control, so there are great benefits to hiring someone with such a high degree of understanding and experience in network security."

Communications and marketing

Google Analytics

Aaron Watters, CEO of digital marketing agency Leadhub, looks for candidates who have the Google Analytics Individual Qualification certification, which is comprised of roughly 70 questions drawn from the Google Analytics for Beginners and Advanced Google Analytics courses. The caveat to this certification is that the answers to the test can be found online.

To push back against the realities of potential cheating, Watters tests interviewees on certificate-based knowledge to see if they actually know what they are talking about. He emphasizes, "If you're going to put this certification on your resumé, you better have the skills to back it up."

Google Adwords

Growth Marketing founder Stacy Caprio says marketing-specific certificates are crucial for digital marketers just starting their careers. "Having a certification shows you at least know enough to click the right answers on a test," she explains. "It shows you have a starting point to jump off from instead of starting to learn on the job from scratch."

Caprio especially values Google Adwords for marketing professionals: "It makes a huge difference when people are looking to hire you, especially when you are younger without as many years of direct experience managing campaigns."

Course Combos

If you're a digital marketer, these Google certificates are crucial, as most recruiters and hiring managers actually expect to see one or both on an applicant's resume according to Flyparks online marketer Alice Bedward. "Combined, these certifications show that the candidate has some level of competency when it comes to data collection and analysis and understands search engine marketing best practice," she explains. "While it won't open up many job opportunities alone, it will fit well with other digital marketing courses and exams alongside your job training." Plus, it's free of charge and can be completed within a couple of weeks or less.

Bedward also recommends the free courses offered by MOZ, SEMRush, and Hubspot. She says they are easily understandable, appreciated internationally, and can help you to stand out more in a crowded space at a junior level.

SEO

Kelly Diehr, PR and search engine optimization (SEO) coordinator for scavenger hunt company Let's Roam, explains that regardless of the specific course you choose, an SEO certificate is becoming vital for anyone in the marketing or public relations industry. "Platforms that were traditionally word-of-mouth have quickly become digital, and mastering that new frontier can be make or break," she says. "An SEO certification shows you are tech-savvy and can keep up with the evolving industry."

Diehr recommends any SEO certificate programs that provide a knowledge base for the following skills:

Keyword research
Link building
Landing press exposure
Understanding Google ranking methods

Event management

Lauren Grech, CEO and cofounder of LLG Events & LLG Agency and adjunct professor at New York University, teaches in the United States' first-ever M.S. in Event Management program at New York University's Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality. According to Grech, certificate coursework and training from accredited institutions are going to be increasingly important for event planning professionals as the industry continues to grow and integrate with other sectors, such as travel, hospitality, and tourism. So why is formal training essential in this field?

She explains, "I have traveled all over the world — from Europe, the Middle East, and French Polynesia, to Asia and Central America — examining the global event industry from the perspective of the planner, client, venue and other vendors, uncovering fierce competition; pricing disparities amongst vendors from various professions; and no defined criteria for event execution, causing venues to consistently underperform within their events departments. This is all due to the fact that there has never been any formal, accredited training established within the wedding and event industries as they now apply to hospitality and tourism.

Grech hopes to change that norm for her event management students. With formal event management training, vendors entering the industry will know how to price themselves, know how to define their value, and how to run an event from concept to execution.

4. Employers will often pay for career development courses

Some companies have a professional development benefit built into the benefits structure. But even if that isn't standard at your place of employment, it's worth talking to an HR representative about the possibility. Put together a proposal detailing what the certification is, how much it costs, and how the skills you learn will prove to have a strong ROI for your team and for the company as a whole.

Product manager Deric Lambdin has taken several courses over the span of his career from e-learning companies like Codeacademy, edX, and Linda, and in some cases, his employer has helped cover the costs. Lambdin says that through online courses, he has been exposed to new principles and has deepened his understanding of concepts surrounding his real-world experiences, enhancing his on-the-job training — and these benefits are all assets to his company.

"I feel like employers are better recognizing the value of helping expand their employee's education," Lambdin explains. "Instead of being scared that employees will leave after receiving that type of education, they want to stay and apply the principles they learn within the company."

5. Not all certifying organizations are worthy of your investment

When you're going to invest time and money into a certificate course, do your research on the certifying organization itself by consulting customer reviews. Reviews can alert you to red flags about a career certification company or highlight strengths that one organization has over another.

Career certification courses

If you're curious about some of the certification courses and designations available in your industry or want to consider alternate career possibilities, we've got you covered.

We've divided these certifications into industry-based categories, but be aware that some certifications can be beneficial across several job types, while others are highly specific.

While some designations and courses listed here are offered only by one certifying company or body, there may be similar certifications across several certifying organizations.

Construction & Engineering

Education

Emergency & Medical Services

Fitness & Beauty

Home Services

Hospitality & Leisure

Legal

Outdoors & Environment

Arts & Design

Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Photoshop
Avid Certified Media Composer
Avid Certified Mixer
Board Certified Art Therapist
Certified Applied Poetry Facilitator
Certified Eating Disorders Creative Arts Therapist
Digital Arts Certificate
Digital Video Editor
Marketing Design Certificate
Multimedia Arts Certificate
Music Therapist
Registered Drama Therapist

Automotive

Automobile Technician
Automotive Parts Specialist
Certified Auto Glass Master
Certified Master Dealer
Diagnostician
Electric Vehicle Technician
Light Vehicle Diesel Engines
Master Collision Repair and Refinishing Technician
Rebuilder Specialist
School Bus Technician
Undercar Specialist: Exhaust Systems
Vehicle Maintenance Management and Inspection

Business & Finance

Accredited Tax Preparer
Associate in Personal Insurance
Associate in Risk Management
Bookkeepers Certification
Certified Accounts Payable Associate
Certified Advertising Specialist
Certified Associate in Project Management
Certified Brand Manager
Certified Business Intelligence Professional
Certified Collegiate Retailer
Certified Employee Retention Specialist
Certified Event Rental Professional
Certified Facility Manager
Certified Financial Planner
Certified Financial Risk Manager
Certified Insurance Service Representatives
Certified International Tax Analyst
Certified Investment Management Analyst
Certified Manager
Certified Merger and Acquisition Advisor
Certified Payroll Professional
Certified Pension Consultant
Certified Public Accountant
Certified Relocation Professional
Certified Risk Management Professional
Certified Sales Professional
Chartered Financial Analyst
Master Financial Planner
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft PowerPoint
Professional in Human Resources
Ten Key

Communications & Marketing

Advanced Google Analytics
Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology
Certified Broadcast Meteorologist
Certified Digital Radio Broadcast Specialist
Certified Level Sign Language
Certified Medical Interpreter
Certified Translator
Google Adwords
Hubspot Content Marketing
National Interpreter Certification
Registered Broadcast Captioner
Registered Professional Reporter
Sirius Decisions

Construction & Engineering

Certified Composting Program Manager
Certified Construction Manager
Certified Design Drafter
Certified Pump Installer
Certified Recycling Systems Manager
Certified Well Driller
Construction Site Safety Technician
Enterprise Architect Fellow
Highway Design
Hydrologic Technician
Master Certified Green Professional
Mechanical Certified Drafter
Mechatronics Certification Test
Petroleum Engineering Certification
Pipeline Construction Inspector
Product Safety Design Engineer

Education

Certified Career Counselor
Certified Master Resume Writer
Certified Personal and Family Finance Educator
Certified Professional in Learning and Performance
Grant Professionals Certification
Microsoft Certified Educator
Nationally Certified School Psychologist
School Nutrition Specialist
Teaching English as a Foreign Language
Technology Literacy for Educators

Emergency & Medical

Accredited Traffic Accident Reconstructionist
Board Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
Biomedical Electronics Technician
Certification in Allergy and Immunology
Certification in Anesthesiology
Certification in Long Term Care
Certified Dental Technician
Certified Eating Disorders Registered Nurse
Certified Emergency Disaster Professional
Certified Flight Registered Nurse
Certified Genetics Counselor
Certified Healthcare Billing and Management
Certified Healthcare Emergency Professional
Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant
Certified Medical Office Manager
Certified Pharmacy Technician
Chemotherapy Certification
Correctional Behavioral Health Certification
Cytotechnologist
Dental Assistant
Direct Support Professional
EKG Technician
Emergency Fire Dispatcher
Emergency Medical Dispatcher
Emergency Police Dispatcher
Gerontology
Home Care Certification
Medical Assistant
Medication Aide Certification
MRI Technologist
Nationally Certified Medical Assistant
National Reflexology Certification
Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Orthotic Fitter Certification
Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist
Phlebotomy Technician
Phlebotomist
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Registered Sleep Technologist Certification
Sartech (National Association for Search and Rescue)
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
Sterile Products (IV) Certification
Technologist in Blood Banking

Fitness & Beauty

Aquatic Fitness Instructor Certification
Certified Aesthetic Laser Operator
Certified Athletic Trainer
Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer
Certified Personal Trainer
Fitness Nutrition Specialty Certification
Group Exercise Instructor
Holistic Nutritionist Certification
Indoor Group Cycling Certificate
Kettlebell Specialty Certification
MMA Conditioning Specialist
Pilates Certified Teacher
Registered Dance/Movement Therapist
Sports Injury Specialist
Water Ski Instructor/Coach
Weight Management Specialist Certification

Home Services

Air Conditioning Installation Technician
Carbon Monoxide Safety Certification
Certified Carpet Master Installer
Certified Flooring Installation Manager
Certified Interior Designer
Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler
Certified Master Locksmith
Certified Mold Professional
Certified Satellite Installer
Certified Ventilation System Inspector
Certified Vinyl Installer
Electrical Certification
Fiber Optics Technician
Gas Heat Certification
Grouting and Reinforced Masonry Certification
HVAC Efficiency Analyst
Registered Piano Technician
STAR HVAC Mastery
Universal Design Certified Remodeler
Wireless Systems Installer Technician

Hospitality & Leisure

Accredited Cruise Manager
Certified Cruise Counsellor
Certified Hotel Concierge
Certified in Exhibition Management
Certified Pool/Spa Operator
Certified Restaurant Server
Certified SPA Supervisor
Certified Special Events Professional
Certified Tour Guide
Gaming and Vending Technician
ServSafe Alcohol
Travel Agent Executive

Legal

Certified Paralegal
Board Certification in Criminal Trial Law
Board Certification in Family Law Trial Law
Certified Legal Video Specialist
Estate Planning Law Specialist
Professional Legal Secretary

Outdoors & Environment

Board Certified Entomologist
Certified Agricultural Irrigation Specialist
Certified Caddie
Certified Casting Instructor
Certified Consulting Meteorologist
Certified Crop Adviser
Certified Environmental Drycleaner
Certified Forester
Certified Green Purchasing Professional
Certified Grounds Technician
Certified Irrigation Contractor
Certified Master Arborist
Certified Park and Recreation Professional
Certified Renewable Energy Professional
Energy Efficiency Management Certificate Program
Erosion and Sediment Control
Seasonal Equestrian Staff Certification
Stable Manager
Trail Guide Instructor

Personal & Pet

Board Certified Autism Technician
Board Certified in Animal Food Science
Board Certified in Animal Genetics
Certification in Cognitive Therapy
Certified Addiction Specialist
Certified Childcare Professional
Certified Corrections Officer
Certified Group Psychotherapist
Certified Farrier
Certified Funeral Service Practitioner
Certified Labor Doula
Certified Lactation Counselor
Certified Manager of Animal Resources
Certified New Parent Educator
Certified Postpartum Doula
Certified Professional Dog Trainer
Certified Professional Pet Sitter
Certified Sex Therapist
Child Development Associate
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator
National Certified Master Groomer
Residential Child and Youth Care Professional

Production & Maker

CNC Milling Certification
Concrete Construction Special Inspector
Certified Baker
Certified Decorator
Certified Floral Designer
Certified Food Safety Professional
Certified Garment Care Professional
Certified Gemologist
Certified in Production and Inventory Management
Certified Metalworking Fluids Specialist
Certified Personal Chef
Certified Therapeutic Shoe Fitter
Certified Watchmaker of the 21st Century
Certified Welder
Concrete Sawing and Drilling Operator Certification
Machining
Master Alteration Specialist
Precision Sheet Metal Operator Certification
Protective Coatings Specialist
Registered Jeweler
Screw Machining
Soldered Electrical and Electronic Assemblies

Real Estate

Accredited Buyer’s Representative
Accredited Staging Partner
Certified New Home Sales Professional
Certified Property Manager
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager
Certified Residential Underwriter
Housing Development Finance Professional
Master in Residential Marketing
Military Relocation Professional
Mortgage Loan Officer
National Apartment Leasing Professional
Realtor
Residential Accredited Appraiser
Residential Certified Mortgage Servicer

Safety

Certified Fire Plan Examiner
Certified Fraud Examiner
Certified Information Privacy Professional
Certified Playground Safety Inspector
Certified Portable Fire Extinguisher Technician
Certified Safety Technician
Certified Safety Instructor
Certified Hazardous Materials Technician
Certified Hazardous Materials Supervisor
Certified Homeland Protection Associate
Certified Stormwater Manager
Infection Control Certification
Criminal Intelligence Certified Analyst
Fire Inspector
Fire Plans Examiner
Lifeguard Certification
Private Investigator
Tenprint Fingerprint Certification

Tech

Adobe Analytics Business Practitioner
Adobe Audience Manager Architect
Agile Certified Product Manager
Amazon Web Services Developer
Apple Certified iOS Technician
AutoCAD Civil 3D Certified Professional
Certified Biometrics Professional
Certified Encryption Specialist
Certified Ethical Hacker
Certified Product Manager
Certified ScrumMaster
Certified Telecom Professional
Cisco Certified Architect
Cloud Architect
CompTIA Cloud+
CompTIA Security+
Developing SQL Data Models
Digital Game Artist Certificate
GIAC Advanced Smartphone Forensics
Google Analytics IQ Certification
IBM Certified Developer
IBM Certified Solution Advisor
Internet of Things Foundation Certification
Junior Telecommunications Engineer
Kanban Management Professional 1
Linux Server Professional Certification
Microsoft Networking Fundamentals
Oracle Cloud Specialist
Oracle Database 12c Essentials
Programming in C# Certification
Red Hat Certified Architect
Software Engineering Master Certification
Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate
Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional
Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert
Symantec Certified Specialist
Video Game Design and Development
WebYoda Associate Webmaster
Web Application Developer
Wireshark Certified Network Analyst

Transportation

Aerospace/Aircraft Assembly Maintenance Certification
Aircraft Dispatcher
Airport Certified Security Employee
Air Traffic Control Tower Operator
Bicycle Technician
Certified Cargo Security Professional
Certified in Special Needs Transportation
Certified Supply Chain Professional
Certified Tour Professional
Certified Travel Counselor
Coastal Navigation Certificate
Commercial Driver License
Commercial Pilot
Counter Balance Sitdown Rider
Forklift Operator Safety Training
Flight Engineer
National Able Seaman
National Radio Officer
Overhead Crane
Overhead Crane Operator
Radio Communication Systems
School Bus Endorsement
Traffic Control Design Specialist
Traffic Signal Technician
Transportation Worker Identification Credential

We intend this to be an evolving list of in-demand career certifications in the United States. Please email rgraham@bestcompany.com for additional certification recommendations or other comments.

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