Are you looking to increase your career opportunities, but pursuing a four-year degree is not the best next step for you currently? Or maybe you’re already on your career path and you’re hoping to take your experience and skillset to the next level? For these reasons and more, working toward a college certificate is a great way to advance your prospects.

What Classifies as a College Certificate?

College certificates focus on specific areas of study or applicable career skills. Programs are often short-term and streamlined. They can help you prepare for entry into a particular field, advance in your current career, and gain experience, and usually they can be completed at a more affordable price point than other programs offered by higher education institutions.

What Kind of College Certificates Are There?

Community colleges in Massachusetts offer certificates in a variety of fields, including healthcare, business, technology, education, design, automotive technology, financial services, and much more. To be accepted into a college certificate program, you typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, such as a passing score on the GED® (General Education Diploma) test or the HiSET® (High School Equivalency Test).

In addition to certificates offered to students without a college degree, there are graduate certificates that are designed for those with a bachelor’s degree. These programs can develop your skills and expertise quickly versus the extended time and commitment it takes to pursue a full-degree program. These types of programs are ideal for individuals working toward advancement in their current career field, and many are offered to allow room in participants’ schedules for their full-time work to continue. Individuals who complete graduate certificate programs have more opportunities for promotion in their current job, increased work responsibilities, and/or new roles or career paths.  Consider programs like applied business analytics, enterprise risk management, digital communication, project management, specialized teaching, biomedical science, corporate sustainability, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.

Some may confuse college certificates with non-credit or professional development courses. The difference is that a college certificate program will focus on developing and formally recognizing specific skills by the completion of the program. Non-credit or professional development programs often cover a wide variety of topics within a field, with flexibility for how and when an individual pursues the programming. These types of programs provide a way for individuals to stay current in their field and can still improve career prospects. Recognition for this work is usually within the individual’s current role and organization.

How Long Do Certificates Take to Get?

The amount of time to complete a college certificate program varies by institution, the type of program, and your own pace. Most programs are designed to take two years or less to complete, with some programs built to last mere weeks or a few short months. So if you’re looking for a quick turnaround of impact on your career or for flexibility as you hope to advance your prospects, college certificates are a great choice.

Can You Get Financial Aid for Certificate Programs?

Yes, you can receive financial aid for an eligible certificate program. Studentaid.gov defines an eligible program as, “a program of organized instruction or study of a certain length that leads to an academic, professional, or vocational degree or certificate, or other recognized education credential.” Like other degree-granting programs, you can fill out the FAFSA to determine what financial aid may be available for you to complete the certificate program. It is also wise to speak with the certificate-granting program directly, to see if there are additional steps you can take to receive financial assistance.

What Career Opportunities Are Available with a Certificate?

There are more jobs available through certificate programs today than you might think! Consider careers as a certified nurse assistant (CNA), veterinary assistant, technology support role, preschool teacher, web designer, and so much more. For a detailed list, reference MassEdCO’s Short-Term Certificate and Training Programs or download a comprehensive list from our Certificate Programs at Massachusetts Community Colleges article page.

What Do Certificates Get You?

In summary, college certificates offer:

• A fast track for potential career advancement
• Often more affordable education options (compared to other degree programs)
• Flexibility
• Focused development of career knowledge and skills
• More than you think!

If you have specific questions about how a college certificate may help you on your career path, you can always reach out to us at (800) 449-MEFA (6332) or [email protected].