Are you looking to qualify for a big promotion? Stand out in a competitive job market? Brush up on your skills? Increase your salary potential? Secure a new career fast? These are some of the many reasons that an individual will pursue professional certification.

Professional certification is available in a variety of career fields, allowing individuals to showcase their expertise and enhance their job opportunities. In areas like healthcare, business, and manufacturing, many professional certifications can be accomplished after just a few years (or months!) of training and practice.

Let’s explore what professional certification is, why it’s beneficial, and some of the best certifications you can earn depending on your interests and goals.

What is professional certification?

Professional certification is a type of credential that validates (i.e. certifies) one’s skills, knowledge, and expertise within a specific career field. It is based upon specific standards and expectations set within a profession.

Typically, professional certifications are voluntary and earned as a way to advance or stand out within the workforce. Some employers and positions, however, require candidates to receive certification prior to starting their careers.

Certification is usually granted by professional organizations or associations within their fields. For example, the American Association of Critical Care Nurses offers many certifications for nursing professionals looking to advance or specialize in their roles. Common professions that offer certification include the below, with specific examples cited:

• Business (Accounting, Marketing, HR)
• Healthcare (Nursing, Dentistry, Emergency Response)
• Manufacturing (Machining, Welding, Automation)
• Teaching (Elementary, Postsecondary)
• Technology (IT, Cybersecurity)

The pathway to receiving professional certification is usually through an examination (written or hands-on) to evaluate one’s expertise. Educational prerequisites and experiential requirements may also apply, depending on the certification and profession.

What are the benefits of professional certification?

There are many advantages to pursuing professional certification, including the sheer fact that it can help advance your career. Below are some of the key benefits of earning certification in your profession:

Industry recognition and credibility

Professional certification recognizes that an individual meets industry standards, therefore establishing them as an expert in their field. This, in turn, builds professional credibility and respect among others in the industry.

Upward mobility

With an added layer of knowledge and expertise, certified professionals are more likely to qualify for advancement in the workforce. Professional certification can open doors to job promotions, leadership roles, and specialized projects for qualified professionals.

Higher salary potential

Certified professionals, who have taken the extra step to achieve certification, often get paid more than their non-certified counterparts. As employers recognize one’s commitment to the profession, they are more likely to see long-term compensation benefits.

Increased job prospects

While professional certifications aren’t required universally, many employers will actively seek out candidates who have become certified. Certification shows that an individual has established competency and credibility, and as a result, should require less on-the-job training and onboarding investment—a big draw among hiring managers.

What’s the difference between a professional certification and a certificate?

The terms “certification” and “certificate” sound very similar, and, in nature, they are! Both are pathways to career advancement. However, there are some key distinctions between the two.

Professional certification is awarded by organizations and associations within specific fields, granted to individuals who have proven their knowledge and expertise through a certification exam.

Certificates, most often short for postsecondary certificates, are awards granted by educational institutions such as colleges, universities, and vocational or technical schools. Certificates are earned after the completion of specific academic or training programs, helping to qualify an individual for a certain career. For example, those looking to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) will need to earn their certificate from a state-approved LPN program before earning their license to practice.

Postsecondary certificates are designed to get students into professions they love, and often do so relatively quickly. While many careers require college degrees, often taking four years or more to complete, certificate programs are available for fields where only short-term training is needed. For example, certificates can be found in fields like:

• Bookkeeping
• Business administration
• Design
• Manufacturing and machining
• Medical assisting
• Medical billing and coding
• Nursing assisting
• Practical nursing

All of the above postsecondary certificates are available through Goodwin University and can be completed in less than two years’ time.

Learn about our career-focused certificate programs here.

Some of the best professional certifications you can earn quickly

We’ve provided a list of some of our favorite certificate programs, but what are some examples of professional certifications? Let’s explore some of the best professional certifications you can pursue within common fields of study.

Professional Business Certifications You Can Achieve Quickly:

• Certified Administrative Professional (CAP)
• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
• Certified Bookkeeper (CB)
• Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
• Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CDMP)
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)
• Certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR or aPHR)
• Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor
• Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
• HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification
• Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)

Healthcare Certifications that Take 3 Years or Less:

• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS)
• Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT)
• Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
• Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)
• Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
• Certified Surgical Technologist (CST)
• Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN)
• Electrocardiograph (EKG) Technician
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-Basic)
• Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT)
• Occupational Therapy Aide
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)
• Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)

Manufacturing Certifications that Can Be Accomplished Fast:

• Certified Automation Professional (CAP)
• Certified Manufacturing Technologist (CMfgT)
• Certified Production Technician (CPT)
• Certified Quality Auditor (CQA)
• Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB)
• Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt (CSSYB)
• Lean Bronze Certification
• Maintenance & Reliability Technician Certification (CMRT)
• NIMS Machining Level I and Level II Certifications
• NIMS CNC Operator Certifications
• NIMS Quality Control Certifications
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
• Robotics Certification
• Welding Certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Welder)

Begin your certification journey today

Goodwin is a career-focused institution with a variety of certificate and degree programs available to individuals from all walks of life. Whether you are looking to go back to school to advance your current career, break into a new field of study, or brush up on your professional skills, we can help you get there. Our programs are built with industry and employer needs in mind, providing a clear path to professional certification when you’re ready.

Learn more by visiting us online today!