Degree Vs. Certificate Programs: Which Is Right For You?

Even if you already have a job, the thought of furthering your career indeed has crossed your mind several times. After all, the workplace is such a competitive market, and if you want to remain a viable team member, you need to bring something new to the table constantly. Employers are more likely to retain people who embrace room for growth, professionally speaking. 

So, if you’re exploring the idea of advancing your employment, two of the most viable options would be degree and certificate programs. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. If you can’t decide which one will be most helpful to you, read on to learn more about each program. 

Why Get A Degree?

Degree programs carry a title with them, such as a bachelor’s, an associate’s, or a master’s degree, all of which can significantly give you a variety of career paths to choose from. Associate degrees usually take two years, while bachelor’s degrees start at the four-year mark. If you wish to get promoted or acquire a managerial position, earning a degree would be highly useful. 

Almost all types of careers require a degree title. The workplace can introduce you to cutthroat competition, and having a degree can absolutely give you an edge over other workers or applicants in the market. Frequently, degree courses are driven to produce well-rounded professionals armed with the right skills and base-level of knowledge that can be very helpful in completing work-related tasks. 

Benefits Of A Degree

Another thing to ponder is the availability of online degree courses, which should help you manage your schedule better. UCF’s online graduate degrees, for example, offer flexible schedules that you can tailor according to your needs and preferences. Additionally, these are some of the advantages of a degree holder: 

• Access to more job opportunities.
• Prepares you for a more specialized career.
• Equips you with skills that are proven to be attractive to employers.
• Higher earning potential.
• Helps you build and maintain a professional network.
• Increased economic stability.

Once you’ve completed your degree, you may find that the hunger for growth and development increases along with your skills. Being a degree holder introduces you to a broader pathway to advance your career. You’ll never know, today you may be working as a clerk, but once you’ve finished your degree, you might yearn for something not entirely related to clerical work, such as being a marketing expert or a head nurse. 

Should you decide to go for an online degree course, some of the most notable fields to consider would be education, business, information technology, engineering, accounting, and nursing. Although most courses will take years to complete, you can look into summer schools and accelerated courses if you want to graduate sooner, by maybe a year or so. That makes quite a difference, especially if you’re eager to jump start your career as quickly as possible. 

Why Get A Certificate Program?

A certificate is essentially a document that proves you’ve successfully completed a certain amount of training as a way of preparing you for a particular job. You can earn one from technical schools, community colleges, or vocational schools. 

If degree programs are more focused on versatility, getting a certificate would mean a narrowed-down approach to a particular industry. Depending on which certificate program you’ll get, classes will only equip you with essential topics related to your preferred industry. This means you’ll only be receiving a working knowledge of your chosen field.  

One benefit of a certificate is that it won’t take long before you can finish your class. Earning a certificate typically requires less than a year to complete, although some programs would take up to two years to finish. If you’re in the medical field or anything related to that industry, a certificate may be suitable for you. Since most certificate programs are vocational, there might also be limited courses to take, but they’re usually related to health and clinical sciences, mechanic, culinary services, and business.  

Benefits Of Earning A Certificate

If your objective is to further your career in a specific field or position, a certificate program might work best for you. However, keep in mind that a certificate won’t give you a degree title, which means you won’t qualify for positions requiring a minimum college degree. You can also check out are programming certificates worth the money?

To give you a better insight, here are other benefits of earning a certificate program: 

• You can potentially start a new career whether you decide to focus on a new industry or field.
• A certificate can be used as a temporary gateway to the workplace as you prepare for a college degree. This means having the ability to earn money for college.
• It boosts your credentials which can give you an edge when applying for jobs.
• It can help you refresh your knowledge in a specific field if you want to stay connected to it.

Since certificates are easier and faster to complete, they’re perfect for those who can’t commit to a four-year degree. Short courses and certificate programs are also available online, which means you can learn at your own pace and tailor your schedule more flexibly.  

Compared to degree programs, it’s easier to get into a vocational or technical school. You’ll only need a high school diploma to qualify, whereas college degrees would mean applying to universities and colleges first before you can get admitted. Certificates also have fewer courses since they primarily focus on specific skills related to your chosen field. That means fewer classes and more time to do other things, especially if you have a family to attend to. 

Choosing The Right Program For You

When choosing the right program, you have to consider several aspects, such as the cost and time it’ll take to complete your desired course. Which one will work best for your schedule? Which can you conveniently afford without having to sacrifice several aspects in your financial capacity? Only you can determine what will be the most appropriate career path to take. 

As you can see, both degree and certificate programs have their own merits. The pros and cons of both options could help you assess which program works best for your needs as an individual and as a professional. Either way, you’re doing the right thing in exploring the depths of your career and how you can further your education.