A certificate program is designed to train students in a specific area of expertise in a relatively short amount of time, usually several weeks. Its most distinctive trait is its high level of specificity which caters to a student body whose goal is to fill entry-level requirements in a given field, such as computer programming or financial planning. The certificate program is undertaken by both, working professionals and first-time college students, to open new career opportunities. Other students also use the certificate as a stepping stone to an undergraduate degree.
The two main types of certificate are:
- Undergraduate Certificate: Requires the student to have earned a high school diploma or an equivalent prior to admission. The undergraduate certificate is similar to the Bachelor degree’s last year (the Major) because it is designed to introduce the student to specific study subjects, such as computerized accounting or graphic design. Depending on the chosen area of specialization, the undergraduate certificate can provide academic credits which can then be applied to an Associate’s or a Bachelor’s degree.
- Graduate Certificate: Requires the student to have earned a Bachelor’s degree prior to admission. Because all participants in this program are undergraduates, the graduate certificate is designed to build and expand on the student’s pre-existing body of theoretical and practical knowledge. Although the graduate certificate does not substitute a graduate-level degree, such as the Master’s degree, some of its credits can be applied to a graduate degree.
Aside from providing the student the same expertise credentials as if he/she was attending a bricks-and-mortar college, the online certificate has an additional set of undeniable advantages. The first advantage is flexibility: because the student does not have to be physically present in class, the program seamlessly blends into the participant’s life, doing away with the traveling hassle that would otherwise require the student to cut some work days short in order to attend class. A second advantage is a workload adapted to the Internet, with lectures and tests being done online, therefore eliminating the bother of carrying heavy books to and from class.
The conventional certificate already being a program of relatively short duration,
its online equivalent is one of the easiest forms of post-high school accreditations that can be achieved, because it can be completed in even less time. An online certificate can be completed within a timeframe of two months to a year, depending on the area of expertise selected. This is a considerable benefit for students who intend to enter the workforce as fast as possible. Also, because of extensive corporate sponsorship in the creation of online educational programs, online certificates are increasingly tailored to meet and exceed specific industry standards. As a result, the student can more easily find a position after graduation.
The following list provides some of the best known institutions offering online certificate programs: