What Is a Professional Certification?

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In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving professional landscape, standing out can be a challenge. One way to distinguish yourself from the crowd and boost your career prospects is by earning a professional certification. Whether you’re looking to advance in your current job, make a career switch, or simply enhance your knowledge and skills, professional certifications can be a powerful tool.

But what exactly is a professional certification, and why is it important? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and more.

A professional certification is a validation of a specific set of skills, knowledge, and competencies that a professional has gained over time. Unlike an assessment-based certificate program, which teaches a specific skill or knowledge, a professional certification recognizes your accumulated experience and expertise.

This differs from a license, which you get from a government agency and allows you to practice a certain profession. Getting a license usually involves meeting specific requirements, such as getting a degree, gaining experience, and passing an exam.

Similarly, getting certified also involves satisfying certain prerequisites, but they are issued by private companies, not government agencies.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Professional certifications offer several benefits. They validate your skills and knowledge, giving you a competitive edge in the job market. Employers tend to view certified professionals as more competent, dedicated, and reliable, which can lead to better job opportunities and higher salaries. Some employers even require certifications.

Certifications also provide an excellent way to stay ahead of industry trends and developments, helping you to adapt and stay relevant in a fast-changing professional landscape.

Professional certifications are a vital aspect of continuing education, allowing you to update your skills and knowledge as you progress in your career. They demonstrate your commitment to lifelong learning and enhance your professional credibility.

The best time to pursue a professional certification varies depending on your career goals, years of experience, and the requirements of the certification. An industry-wide or product-specific certification can offer flexibility early on in your career if you still don’t have the years of experience to apply for a corporate certification.

Knowing when to get a professional certification involves assessing your readiness, the demands of the certification, and how it can benefit your career trajectory.

Professional certifications can be obtained from a variety of sources, including online platforms, universities, and professional organizations. Online platforms like Coursera, edX, and LinkedIn Learning offer many certification programs in collaboration with top universities and companies. These programs often include hands-on projects and provide access to job search resources.

You can also consider a certificate program at a university. Universities offer certificate programs with in-depth study in a specific field and can potentially count towards a degree.

Upon completion, you’ll earn a certificate that you can showcase on your resume and professional profiles. Some programs may also lead to an industry certification.

Professional certifications are available across a broad spectrum of industries. Here are some of the fields where professional certifications are particularly popular:

In the field of education, there are several professional certifications available for aspiring and practicing teachers. These include certifications in early childhood education, elementary education, secondary education, special education, gifted and talented education, and even American Sign Language. There’s also the prestigious National Board Certification.

The healthcare sector offers numerous professional certifications, depending on your career path. Some popular ones include the Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT), Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), Certified Coding Specialist Physician-Based (CCS-P), Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), and Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).

The business and finance sectors highly value professional certifications. Some sought-after certifications include Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

Information technology is another field where professional certifications are highly sought after. Certifications like CompTIA A+, Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) validate expertise in various areas of IT, from hardware and networking to cybersecurity.