A Degree or a Certificate? What’s the Difference…

Due to the global pandemic of 2020 businesses were forced to close which sent employees home with little to no pay. With everyone staying home, this led to a surge in technology and left many to rethink their career paths. A certificate in a specific field can be affordable and an effective solution for a different career route. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4 million Americans quit their jobs in July 2021. People want better pay, better benefits, flexibility, less stress, and certificates can do just that.

What's the difference?

A degree is an academic title you receive for completing courses at an accredited college or university. Degrees usually take 2-6 years which may include Associates, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate's. On the other hand, a certificate is a document that indicates expertise of a specific field. So, if an individual has no degree or only an Associates degree you can still apply and get hired.

The key difference between degrees and certification are both time and cost. So, a degree can take anywhere between 2-6 years to complete and cost students thousands of dollars. However, a certificate can take weeks, months, or even up to a year to complete depending on the program and still maintain the same salary range. Anyone can apply and take a course to obtain a certificate. Many certificates require only a high school diploma and there's few that require a college or bachelors degree. I hear stories from professionals who obtained many certifications and sit right next to people with advanced degrees only to receive the same salary.

What's the price & which field should I go after?

Well, it depends. The world is leaning towards health & technology so please follow the wave. We use our phones or some sort of technology everyday & every second. To find some of these programs you simply have to do a google search and understand employers prefer potential workers to acquire new and updated industry information. For example, AWS Certified Solutions Architect is one of the most known cloud computing certifications offered by Amazon. The AWS program can cost you anywhere between $150 to $300 to take and has an average annual salary of $113,000. Another example, a Phlebotomy class may take a few months with an average salary of $35,000 and above. All you have to pay for are your study materials and the exam itself.

Here's some considerations for notable certificates:

• Certified Information Security Manager Certificate

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional Certificate

• Associate Android Developer (Google)*

• MCSD: App Builder (Microsoft)*

• Project Management Professional Certificate

• Certified Associate in Project Management Certificate

• Certified ScrumMaster Certificate

• Web Development Certificate

• Cyber Security Certificate

• Big Data Certificate

• Salesforce Certificate

• AI Certificate

Websites to register for certificates:

• Udemy

• PMI.ORG

• Coursera

• Khan Academy

• Shaw Academy

• Skillshare

• Linkedin Learning

Dephanie, founder of the Ninety8percent podcast explains how she obtained her certification at a very young age and landed at a profession with experts who have advanced degrees.

Check out her podcast below:

Apple podcast users

Spotify users