When looking for a job, one of the prime things you need to do is stand out from people with similar credentials. Online certifications help you accomplish this goal. These certifications are great if you’re new to the industry or looking to deepen your market skillset.

A quality certificate will improve your earning power and help you reach your career goals. However, because of their importance, there are a plethora of certifications that aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on—let alone what you’re paying to get them!

What is an online certification?

Online certifications are virtual accreditations that demonstrate continued education in a specific field. They are much shorter than degree programs and focus on a singular aspect of an industry. Most bootcamps will only last between a few weeks to a few months, and their price tag is significantly lower than what you would need to pay for a traditional degree.

If you are earning your certification through a university-affiliated program, you can often learn from some of the same instructors teaching degree courses.

Online certifications have gained a significant amount of traction over the last decade. Rather than relying strictly on degree programs from in-person classes, employers have learned their employees can fortify skillsets and experience through online certification programs.

Should I consider an online certification?

Online certificates are usually used as a way to upskill or reskill an employee who already holds years of experience and/or a degree. College students looking to expand their skillset outside of the classroom frequently get them as well. When looking for the best online certificate, it’s important to consider your short and long-term goals.

What are my career goals?

Before beginning any certification program, take the time to consider your needs, and the skills you’re looking to deepen. If you are looking to…

  • Upskill or reskill
  • Complete a course quickly
  • Have less of a time commitment
  • Pay less money
  • Learn a specific skill set
  • Get the skills required for a promotion...

...then an online certificate may be the right option for you. While certificates cannot replace traditional degree requirements, they provide a runway toward vastly improved skills in key markets.

Even if you already hold a degree, an online certification demonstrates a strong commitment to continued education. Certificates also cost less than a vast majority of degree programs, meaning they have a higher return on investment (ROI) when compared to many master’s degrees.

Which certification program is right for me?

It’s important to understand what’s required from an online learning environment. You’ll need to be self-motivated, organized and comfortable with different online programs. While online certification programs offer plenty of flexibility, they can be difficult for those who have a hard time focusing or prefer in-person interactions.

You’ll also need to examine what the program is offering. Does it cover critical skills you want? Is it accredited? While there are plenty of unaccredited programs, including LinkedIn Learning, SkillShare and Coursera, it can be more difficult to find a valuable program that’s worth what you’re paying, recognized by the majority of employers.

What does a valuable certification look like?

Some programs are great if you want to learn a skill for your own personal use. However, a truly valuable program is one revered by employers and accredited employees alike. Here are a few distinguishing factors shared among the world’s top certification programs:

University or industry backing

While this may not hold true for every accreditation, most valuable certification programs will have university backing. This shows that the university is confident enough in the program to put their name on it.

If the program isn’t university backed, it is likely backed by a professional organization in the industry.

Your instructor’s credentials

Who is your instructor? While it’s unlikely you’re going to know the person simply by name (although it is possible), you should be able to find your instructor’s credentials relatively easily. Where did they graduate from? What accreditations have they achieved over the course of their career? What are they doing now?

While students don’t need a full background from your instructor, it can be a relief to see who they are and what they are bringing to the table.

The curriculum

There are a plethora of different online certification programs available, with many covering parts of the same industry. When considering different online programs, it’s important to think about how each will help you further your goals.

For example, if you’re looking to improve your social media skillset, you probably need a course that doesn’t simply discuss how to use Facebook. It’s also important to remember that your course will not include everything in the industry; you may need to take several courses if you are looking to learn several specialized skills.

Fees

We’ll be honest: fees suck. However, they can give you a general impression of a program’s validity. A program from a college, industry group or university costs a lot of money to develop and teach, with a price tag that validates the program’s quality.

Here’s an important distinction to make: more expensive does not translate to more reputable. A lot of fly-by-night online programs will charge someone an arm, leg and kidney to get into their program, only for the student to discover the certificate is relatively worthless once they’re looking for a post-graduation role. You should be able to see how instructors justify fees for the certificate, including the length of the course and who is teaching it.

Time to completion

Certification programs that are worth their salt cannot be completed in a few hours. It should take weeks to learn a new skillset; you simply won’t learn what you need to know in a two-hour period. An online certification program can sometimes take several months to complete. However, many are completed within 4-8 weeks.

A high-quality online certification program can change your life in a number of ways. You’ll enter a new industry, in pursuit of a new promotion or a new career. Many employers are now realizing the value that certifications hold, and are encouraging employees to seek third-party education ― even paying for ongoing employee certifications.

Once you find the right program, you can expect to not only deepen your skillset but also greatly improve your earning power. Pace is backed by a variety of university partners ― including the University of Pittsburgh and York University ― to offer high-quality certifications on demand.

Through certifications in cloud computing, cybersecurity, project management and other key fields, Pace is ready to take your skillset to the next level. Connect with our Success team today to pursue the six-figure career you know you deserve.