Postsecondary Education: The Case for Certification

In the pursuit of education beyond high school to prepare for the job market, there is a “middle road” between high school and university that is proving to be an excellent option for many people who want to focus on specific career paths. Organizations like International Career Institute and many junior and community colleges across the US offer skills certification programs that are affordable, time-efficient, and offer optimal employment opportunities in certain vocations.

There was a time when postsecondary education in the US meant either going straight into a bachelor’s degree program or starting with an associate degree and transferring to a four-year program. This pathway was universal, independent of career goals, and for hiring companies having a degree was an “of course” requirement to be considered for employment.

The times have changed, and mightily. The value of a four-year degree has been called into question for a number of reasons, notably the mounting costs of this option and the student debt crisis that plagues young people trying to get a foothold in adulthood.

Alongside the cost, the time required to obtain a degree and the uncertain marketability of the education acquired are factors that are creating skepticism. Expecting high school graduates to devote additional years primarily to education instead of looking to the job market is a big ask.

“I spent four years and tens of thousands of dollars for THIS?” is a cry heard more and more from young people across the country.

Too often a bachelor’s program doesn’t deliver the kind of return on the time and money investment that students and their parents anticipate. A large number of graduates take off their mortarboards only to find that there aren’t jobs for them, or the jobs that they have a shot at don’t reach the level of earnings that they had been led to believe would be there post-graduation.

However, in spite of the waning value of many four-year programs, education beyond high school is still preferred for many jobs in the US. Postsecondary education is also the way to optimize earning potential in virtually all occupational fields and securing employment that pays well is a primary reason for pursuing postsecondary education. According to the Center on Education and the Workforce, workers with educational credentials beyond high school earn more median income than those with only high school diplomas.

The type of educational credentials needed depends on the type of work or career one is pursuing. There are certain vocations—doctor, lawyer, or engineer for example—that do require a bachelor’s degree. In these examples, in fact, additional postgraduate education is needed.

In many cases, though, career goals don’t require the time and money investment needed for a four-year program. There is an excellent option for many people who want to focus on specific career paths: skills certification. The range of vocations that can be pursued via certification is large, encompassing business, management, design, legal, criminology, finance, and health among numerous others.

Certification programs are affordable and relatively quick routes to well-paying employment for many students. In some vocations, in fact, certificate holders can earn a better salary than workers holding a two- or four-year degree.

Not all certification programs are created equal, and it is important to ask the right questions to determine with program is the best for a given career goal. Among the questions to answer are:

• What is the time commitment for the program? Some organizations, particularly those with physical campuses, have a set calendar of classes. Those that focus on distance education, like International Career Institute, offer their courses and curricula online. This means that students can fit their studies into their own schedules rather than the other way around. In addition, many online learning programs allow students to set their own pace for course completion, which can offer added value for people who are already in the workforce or have other life commitments.
• What are the faculty member’s qualifications? It is important that the instructors and other teaching aides are knowledgeable both about the course of study and about best teaching practices.
• For online learning, will students have live interactions with faculty? Though online coursework is convenient, it is also important that students have a learning structure that includes live, real time interaction with instructional staff.
• How much will it cost? This is of course a large consideration. In obtaining pricing, be sure to examine what services and materials are included in that price. International Career Institute, for example, include all materials a student will need as part of the course price.
• Are there financing options? Though certification programs cost far less than degree programs, there still might be a need for financing. Get details about financing options available through the educational organization and if there are installment payment plans that can be pursued.
• Credibility. This may be the last item on this list, but it is certainly not least. Make sure the certification programs under consideration are appropriately accredited. This ensure a high standard of education. Also important, find out what connections the organization has to employers in the desired career field and how it assists its graduates to obtain employment.

In today’s economy, postsecondary skills certification can offer as many if not more opportunities than traditional four-year degree programs for many vocations. With effective due diligence, a student can select the certification program that is the best fit for the desired profession and can be ready to enter the workforce in a timely manner, well-prepared for a successful career.