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Certificates: A fast track to careers N o time or money to earn a college degree? No problem. An educational certificate may be a good option, but do your homework first. That way, you’ll know if a certificate is the best choice for you. Certificates are nondegree awards for completing an educational program of study after high school. Typically, students finish these programs to prepare for a specific occupation. And they do so in a relatively short period of time: Most certificates take less than a year to complete, and almost all are designed to take less than 2 years. Among the questions about certificates that you’ll need to have answered are the fol- lowing: • What occupations can certificates prepare me for? • What are some benefits and drawbacks to getting a certificate? • How can I find a program that’s right for me? This article answers these and other questions about certificates and certificate and whether an occupation requires one, is the programs. key to choosing the right program. The first section of the article describes What to know about certificates certificates and some of the occupations that require them. The second section explains Before enrolling in a certificate program, it Elka Torpey some potential benefits and drawbacks to helps to understand who earns certificates, these educational awards. The third section how certificates differ from licensing and offers advice on evaluating certificate pro- certification, and how school options and costs grams. The final section provides additional vary. sources of information. Who earns certificates. People of varied ages and educational backgrounds earn certifi- Occupations and cates. Most certificate programs are designed for people who have at least a high school certificates diploma or general equivalency diploma (GED). Certificates are one of the most popular People usually earn certificates to help Elka Torpey is an types of postsecondary education awards. them prepare for a specific occupation; in economist in the According to the National Center for Edu- other words, certificates are for people who Office of Occupa- cation Statistics (NCES), in 2010–11, U.S. want to train for a job rather than to earn a schools awarded more than 1 million certifi- college degree. In some cases, however, a tional Statistics cates—more than the number of associate’s certificate can pave the way to college because and Employment (942,000), master’s (731,000), or doctoral certain programs’ credits count toward a Projections, BLS. degrees (164,000). About 1.7 million bach- future degree. And for some people, certificate She is available elor’s degrees were awarded in that same year. programs help them prepare for licensure, at torpey.elka@ Certificates and certificate programs dif- certification, or other career-related qualifica- bls.gov. fer in many ways. Knowing about certificates, tions. Winter 2012–13 • Occupational Outlook Quarterly 3 How school options and costs vary. In 2010–11, certificate According to NCES, private for-profit schools programs related to and public community colleges award most healthcare occupations certificates. Private nonprofit schools and were more popular than other types of public schools award certificates in much smaller numbers. any other. Where people earn certificates varies by field of study. For example, people were more likely to earn certificates in business or information technology at public community colleges, while they were more likely to earn certificates in cosmetology and in healthcare at private, for-profit schools. School costs vary, too, especially by institution type. Public school programs are usually less expensive than private school programs. Average tuition and fees for all first-time in-state students at public community colleges, for example, were $3,384 in 2011–12, according to NCES. That com- pares with $13,204 at 2-year private nonprofit schools and $14,131 at 2-year private for-profit schools. And at $6,888, costs for students attending a public school program outside their home state were higher than for in-state students but still lower than the average cost Certificates versus licenses and for students at private schools. certification. Certificates are not the same as—and typically do not lead directly to— Certificate occupations professional licenses and certification. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Certificates show that a person has com- has identified 33 occupations as typically pleted a course of study. Licenses are required requiring a certificate or other postsecondary to practice in some occupations, including nondegree award for people entering those teaching and cosmetology. And certifications, occupations. which often involve assessments and docu- In 2010–11, according to NCES, the most mentation of experience, show that workers popular disciplines for certificate programs have attained competency in an occupation. were healthcare, personal and culinary ser- Sometimes, state licensing requirements are vices, and mechanic and repair technologies based on professional certification standards. and technicians. But people also earned cer- Schools issue certificates, states or other tificates in a wide range of other occupational governments issue licenses, and professional areas, such as computer and information sci- or industry organizations usually issue certifi- ences and protective services. cations. Tables 1–5 show occupations within Prospective certificate enrollees should selected broad career areas. For each occupa- find out what is typically required to get a job tion, the tables list the percentage of workers in the occupation they hope to enter. Then, who reported needing a postsecondary certifi- they should learn whether the program they cate, along with those who said they needed are considering will help them meet those a high school diploma or GED, associate’s requirements. degree, or bachelor’s degree. These data come 4 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2012–13 from a survey conducted by the Occupational selected occupations related to healthcare in Information Network (O*NET), which asked which a certificate may be needed. workers or occupational experts what the The job outlook for healthcare occupa- required level of education was for a specific tions is good: BLS projects that employment job. The occupations are arranged from larg- growth for most of these occupations will est to smallest in terms of the percentage who be faster than average or much faster than reported that a certificate was needed. average between 2010 and 2020. Some of the largest of these occupations are licensed prac- Each section also includes a discussion tical and licensed vocational nurses, medical of BLS data on job outlook, employment, and assistants, and pharmacy technicians. The median annual wages for some of the occupa- May 2011 median annual wages within these tions in the tables. Where detailed data aren’t selected healthcare occupations ranged from available, information is for a broader occupa- $22,830 for veterinary assistants and labora- tional title. tory animal caretakers to $55,120 for radio- Wages for workers in these occupations logic technologists and technicians. varied significantly. Whether to consider Other healthcare occupations not shown an occupation as having high or low wages in the table that may require a certificate depends on how it compared with the May include phlebotomists, home health aides, 2011 median annual wage of $34,460 for all dispensing opticians, endoscopy technicians, wage and salary workers. medical equipment preparers, and diagnostic Healthcare. Health professions and medical sonographers. related healthcare programs accounted for Personal and culinary services. About nearly half of all certificates earned in 2010– 131,000 certificates were awarded in fields 11: about 463,000 certificates. Table 1 shows related to personal and culinary services in Table 1: Healthcare-related occupations in which a certificate may be needed Percent of workers who reported needing the credential High school Occupations Postsecondary Associate’s Bachelor’s diploma or certificate degree degree equivalent Selected healthcare practitioners and technical Surgical technologists 44% 10% 27% 0% Emergency medical technicians and paramedics 41 15 5 12 Pharmacy technicians 39 16 1 0 Radiologic technologists 26 5 46 10 Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses 31 5 23 5 Selected healthcare support Massage therapists 88 3 0 0 Dental assistants 68 14 7 0 Medical transcriptionists 29 34 1 0 Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal 23 44 0 0 caretakers Medical assistants 23 41 22 1 Source: O*NET17 Winter 2012–13 • Occupational Outlook Quarterly 5 median annual wages for workers in these Firefighters led among occupations ranged from $19,430 for childcare protective service workers to $31,030 for fitness trainers and occupations that may aerobics instructors. require a certificate. Other personal and culinary services occupations not shown in the table that may require a certificate include skincare specialists, shampooers, private household cooks, barbers, and theatrical and performance makeup artists. Homeland security, law enforcement, and fire fighting. Fields related to homeland 2010–11. Table 2 shows selected personal care security, law enforcement, and fire fighting and service and food preparation and serving accounted for about 32,000 of the certificates related occupations that may require a certifi- earned in 2010–11. Table 2 shows selected cate. protective service occupations that may Employment growth for occupations in require a certificate. the table is projected to be at least average All of the occupations in the table are between 2010 and 2020, with personal care projected to have slower than average employ- aides, fitness trainers and aerobics instruc- ment growth between 2010 and 2020. Some of tors, and childcare workers having even faster the largest of these occupations are police and growth. Some of the largest of these occupa- sheriffs’ patrol officers, correctional officers tions are personal care aides and hairdressers, and jailers, and firefighters. Median annual hairstylists, and cosmetologists. In May 2011, wages in these occupations ranged from Table 2: Personal care and protective service occupations in which a certificate may be needed Percent of workers who reported needing the credential High school Occupations Postsecondary Associate’s Bachelor’s diploma or certificate degree degree equivalent Selected personal care and service and food preparation and serving related Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists 74% 6% 0% 0% Manicurists and pedicurists 43 34 0 0 Nannies 30 48 4 4 Personal care aides 22 59 1 0 Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors 17 17 17 25 Selected protective service Municipal firefighters 31 26 2 0 Municipal fire fighting and prevention supervisors 22 35 19 12 Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs 21 55 19 1 Criminal investigators and special agents 16 42 15 3 Correctional officers and jailers 15 57 5 0 Source: O*NET17 6 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2012–13 $38,990 for correctional officers and jailers to All of the occupations in the table are $71,770 for detectives and criminal investiga- projected to have average employment growth tors in May 2011. between 2010 and 2020, except for heating Other occupations in this group that are and air conditioning mechanics and install- not shown in the table but sometimes require a ers which are projected to have much faster certificate include fire inspectors and inves- than average employment growth. Some of the tigators, gaming surveillance officers and largest of these occupations are general main- gaming investigators, private detectives and tenance and repair workers, automotive ser- investigators, lifeguards, ski patrol, and other vice technicians and mechanics, and heating, recreational protective service workers, and air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics bailiffs. Homeland security related occupa- and installers. Median annual wages in May tions that may need a higher level certificate, 2011 ranged from $35,030 for general main- in addition to a bachelor’s degree, include tenance and repair workers to $53,960 for business continuity planners, emergency telecommunications equipment installers and management directors, and risk management repairers, except line. specialists. Mechanic and repair technologies Other mechanic and repair occupations and technicians. In 2010–11, about 89,000 not shown in the table that may require a cer- awards were conferred in mechanic and repair tificate include commercial divers, motorboat technologies and technician fields. Selected mechanics and service technicians, electronic occupations for installation, maintenance, and home entertainment equipment installers repair occupations are in table 3. and repairers, electrical power-line installers Table 3: Repair and production occupations in which a certificate may be needed Percent of workers who reported needing the credential High school Occupations Postsecondary Associate’s Bachelor’s diploma or certificate degree degree equivalent Selected installation, maintenance, and repair Automotive master mechanics 72% 8% 4% 0% Heating and air conditioning mechanics and 72 16 3 0 installers Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except 57 15 14 0 engines Telecommunications equipment installers and 51 15 21 0 repairers, except line installers Maintenance and repair workers, general 42 44 3 0 Selected production Tool and die makers 68 11 17 0 Machinists 50 34 5 0 Welders, cutters, and welder fitters 41 40 0 0 Computer-controlled machine tool operators, metal 32 48 3 1 and plastic Electromechanical equipment assemblers 24 53 0 0 Source: O*NET17 Winter 2012–13 • Occupational Outlook Quarterly 7 Welders, one of the largest of the production occupations, may need a certificate to work in some jobs. and repairers, and electronic motor vehicle wages for these occupations in May 2011 equipment installers and repairers. ranged from $37,640 for procurement clerks to Precision production. There were about $88,190 for industrial production managers. 29,000 certificates awarded in precision Other business occupations in which some production in 2010–11. Selected production workers reported needing a certificate include occupations that may require a certificate are property, real estate, and community asso- in table 3. ciation managers, farm products buyers and Employment in these occupations is pro- purchasing agents, medical or legal secretar- jected to grow at rates that are about average ies, assessors, and tax preparers. or lower between 2010 and 2020. Some of Engineering technologies and engineer- the largest of these occupations are machin- ing-related fields. In 2010–11, about 37,000 ists; welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers; certificates were awarded in fields related to and metal and plastic computer-controlled engineering and engineering technologies. machine tool operators. In May 2011, median Table 4 shows selected occupations in these annual wages for these occupations ranged fields that may require a certificate. from $31,730 for electromechanical equipment BLS projects slower than average employ- assemblers to $46,650 for tool and die makers. ment growth in most of these occupations Other production occupations that may between 2010 and 2020. Some of the largest require a certificate include metal and plastic of these occupations are electrical and elec- machine tool setters, operators, and tenders; tronics engineering technicians, architectural patternmakers; gas plant operators; model and civil drafters, and mechanical drafters. makers; and jewelers. May 2011 median annual wages ranged from Business, management, marketing, and $47,250 for architectural and civil drafters to support services. In 2010–11, about 66,000 $58,670 for engineering technicians, except certificates were awarded in fields related to drafters, all other. business, management, marketing, and sup- Other engineering occupations that may port services. Table 4 shows selected occupa- require a certificate include electrical and tions in these areas that may require a certifi- electronics drafters, civil engineering techni- cate. cians, electromechanical technicians, survey- Employment growth in these occupations ing and mapping technicians, and electrome- is projected to be about average or slower than chanical engineering technologists. A higher average between 2010 and 2020. Some of the level certificate, in addition to a bachelor’s largest of these occupations are claims adjust- degree, may be needed for occupations such ers, examiners, and investigators and indus- as marine engineer, industrial safety and trial production managers. Median annual health engineer, and validation engineer. 8 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2012–13 Computer and information sciences and Workers in computer- support services. People earned about 28,000 related occupations more certificates in this field in 2010–11. Table 4 often reported needing a shows selected computer occupations that may require a certificate. degree than a certificate. Employment growth for most of these occupations is projected to be average or faster than average between 2010 and 2020. Some of the largest of these occupations are computer Other occupations in this group that had support specialists; computer programmers; small percentages of workers who reported and information security analysts, Web devel- needing a certificate include information secu- opers, and computer network architects. In rity analysts, network and computer systems May 2011, median annual wages ranged from administrators, computer systems analysts, $47,660 for computer support specialists to systems software developers, and geospacial $79,930 for computer occupations, all other. information scientists and technologists. Table 4: Business, engineering, and computer occupations in which a certificate may be needed Percent of workers who reported needing the credential High school Occupations Postsecondary Associate’s Bachelor’s diploma or certificate degree degree equivalent Selected management, business and financial operations, and office and administrative support Government property inspectors and investigators 41% 29% * 6% Energy auditors 33 33 25 4 Procurement clerks 27 33 16 12 Insurance adjusters, examiners, and investigators 25 6 13 35 Industrial production managers 24 25 3 29 Selected architecture and engineering Manufacturing production technicians 32 9 27 27 Civil drafters 29 0 57 5 Mechanical drafters 22 1 40 23 Industrial engineering technicians 18 8 * 29 Electronics engineering technicians 15 7 66 13 Selected computer Web administrators 26 0 9 39 Computer user support specialists 15 12 18 29 Web developers 13 10 20 43 Computer systems engineers/architects 13 0 0 61 Computer programmers 11 6 5 78 * O*NET recommends supressing due to a high standard error. Source: O*NET17 Winter 2012–13 • Occupational Outlook Quarterly 9 Construction trades. The number of cer- Certificates may be tificates awarded in construction trades totaled required in many about 30,000 in 2010–11. Selected construc- of the fast-growing tion and extraction occupations that may require a certificate are shown in table 5. construction trades Employment for most occupations in the occupations. table is projected to grow faster than the average or much faster than the average between 2010 and 2020. Among the largest of these occupations are carpenters and plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters. May 2011 median annual wages ranged from $27,010 for helpers of pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters to $47,750 for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters. Other construction and extraction occupations in which workers may need a certificate include electricians, elevator installers and repairers, segmental pavers, stonemasons, and boilermakers. Transportation and material moving. Certificates awarded in transportation and Table 5: Construction and transportation occupations in which a certificate may be needed Percent of workers who reported needing the credential High school Occupations Postsecondary Associate’s Bachelor’s diploma or certificate degree degree equivalent Selected construction and extraction Pipe fitters and steamfitters 69% 26% 0% 0% Sheet metal workers 39 52 0 0 Plumbers 33 52 7 0 Rough carpenters 28 39 3 0 Helpers—Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and 27 * 0 0 steamfitters Selected transportation and material moving Bus drivers, transit and intercity 18 74 0 1 Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers 15 53 0 0 Automotive and watercraft service attendants 14 53 0 0 Industrial truck and tractor operators 13 74 0 0 First-line supervisors of transportation and 13 48 3 18 material-moving machine and vehicle operators * O*NET recommends supressing due to a high standard error. Source: O*NET17 10 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Winter 2012–13 Median annual earnings of U.S. workers, by highest level of educational attainment $80,000 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 No high High school Some Certiﬁcate Associate’s Bachelor’s Graduate school graduate college, degree degree degree diploma no degree Source: Center for Education and the Workforce analysis of Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) data using the combined 2004 and 2008 panels material moving fields numbered about career-related skills and might help them get 24,000 in 2010–11. Selected occupations in a job. this group that may require a certificate are In addition, data show that workers who shown in table 5. have a certificate often enjoy earnings pre- Employment growth in these occupations miums. A June 2012 report by the Center on is projected to be average or faster than aver- Education and the Workforce (CEW), which age between 2010 and 2020. The largest of used 2004 and 2008 Survey of Income and these occupations are heavy and tractor trailer Program Participation (SIPP) data, found that truck drivers and industrial truck and tractor people who have a certificate as their high- operators. May 2011 median annual wages est level of education earned, on average, 20 in these occupations ranged from $19,930 for percent more than those whose highest educa- automotive and watercraft service attendants tion level is a high school diploma. (See chart to $52,950 for first-line supervisors of trans- above.) portation and material moving machine and But the payoff for earning a certificate vehicle operators. isn’t the same for everyone. People who work Other transportation and material mov- in the occupation in which they earned their ing occupations that might require a certifi- certificate usually benefit more financially cate include ship engineers; crane and tower than those who work outside their certificate operators; motorboat operators; ship, boat, field. And a certificate isn’t always the most and barge mates; and transportation vehicle, direct path to entering an occupation. equipment, and systems inspectors, except aviation. Certificate-related employment To reap the benefits of a certificate, people Benefits and drawbacks typically must work in an occupation related to the award. Those who do, the CEW report to certificates says, earn 37 percent more than workers with a high school diploma and almost as much There are many reasons why people choose as workers with an associate’s degree. In to earn certificates. These awards give people contrast, those who work in an occupation Winter 2012–13 • Occupational Outlook Quarterly 11