The Rise of Professional Certificates
Professional certificates have become increasingly more popular in the United States. In fact, they currently make up 22% of postsecondary credentials compared to just 6% in 1980 (according to a recent report by Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce).
According to the Institute for College Access and Success, about 3% of the workforce – or 4 million workers – have certificates.
The rise in professional certificates throughout the country is largely due to their significantly lower cost and shorter time commitment than a graduate degree. It’s also an ideal way for college graduates and/or working professionals to get additional professional and practical training, improve or expand professional skills, or explore alternate careers while still working part or full-time.
The Growing Credibility of Professional Certificates
We recently conducted a survey of HR managers and recruiters across the country (with the help of Impulse Research Corp*), and results proved that certificate programs are widely viewed as a viable way to close the skills gap and teach adults relevant job market skills. The statistical data shows that hiring managers are becoming increasingly comfortable with applicants seeking to change or enhance their careers through completion of certificate programs.
Our recent study also showed that 82 percent of Human Resources managers and recruiters said obtaining a certificate is one of the best ways for professionals to keep current or upgrade their job market skills, and 89 percent said obtaining a certificate is a helpful step in changing careers.
Additionally, 75 percent of HR managers stated that if a job candidate cannot find work in a related field, they would consider a certificate program a good alternative for gaining related work experience.**
Professional Certificate vs. Master’s Degree
One of the most popular questions we get is, “how does a certificate program compare to a Master’s Degree?” Most Master’s Degree programs take about 2 years to complete, while the Empowered UCLA Extension certificate programs are designed to be completed in-full within one year (sometimes less). Our certificate programs are also significantly less expensive than a Master’s Degree, and as our survey shows, they are widely accepted in the workplace.
You can complete the Empowered UCLA Extension program for a fraction of the cost of a Master’s Degree, and potentially transform your career in half the time.
Here are some comparisons for you:
| School | Program Type | Program Length | Program Cost | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate Program | Empowered UCLA Extension | All Certificates | One Year, Online, Part-Time | $8,400 | Personal Career Counseling Included |
| Top State School | University of Florida | MBA | One Year, Potential Campus/Online Combo, Full-Time | $40,130 | Non-Resident Tuition |
| Private School | Northwestern or Harvard | Full-Time MBA | Two Years, On Campus, Full-Time | $150,000 | |
| School | Program Type | Program Length | Program Cost | Notes | |
| Certificate Program | Empowered UCLA Extension | All Certificates | One Year, Online, Part-Time | $8,400 | Personal Career Counseling Included |
| Top State School | University of Florida | MS Computer Science and Engineering | One Year, Potential Campus/Online Combo, Full-Time | $30,000 (approximately) | Non-Resident Tuition |
| Private School | Northwestern | MS Information Technology | One Year, On Campus, Full-Time | $30,600 |
Only you know your financial situation, and what sort of time-commitment you can realistically afford to invest in continuing your education. But we believe that for many, Empowered UCLA Extension is a fast, comprehensive professional program at an affordable price with extensive career support.
*ABOUT IMPULSE RESEARCH Since 1982, Impulse Research has been an award-winning full-service communications and marketing research firm with significant experience and expertise in all public opinion research methodologies, receiving the Public Relations Society of America's Silver Anvil and the American Marketing Association's Effie Award for research supporting and evaluating public relations and marketing campaigns. ( www.impulseresearch.com )
**This survey was conducted via telephone with a random sample of 303 Human Resource professionals and headhunters who work for small and medium/large companies throughout the country. Research was conducted in June and July 2012. All survey work was funded by Empowered Careers.
