Certificates & Degrees

Certificates & Degrees

Provided by Indeed.com

Certificate vs. Degree: What's the Difference?

When hiring for a position, many employers look for candidates who have received a certain amount of training or education in that career field. You can receive this type of training by completing a certificate or degree program. Whether you choose to earn a certificate or a degree depends on your resources and the type of job you want to pursue. In this article, we will explain the difference between the two so you can determine which one will benefit you the most.

What is a certificate?

A certificate is a document stating you have completed a certain amount of training in preparation for a specific job. You can earn a certificate by taking courses at a community college, technical school or vocational school. Most certificate programs prepare people for technical or skills-based jobs.

What is a certificate?

Earning a certificate can help you get a job in your desired field or advance in your career. You might also earn a certificate to prepare for an associate or bachelor’s degree or to supplement your current degree. Some jobs and states require a particular certification to get hired in that field.

What is a degree?

A degree is an academic title you receive after completing several years of education in a certain subject. The four types of degrees include:

-Associate

-Bachelor’s

-Master’s

-Doctoral

What is a degree?

Many jobs require a degree in their specified field to get hired, including:

-Physical therapist

-Engineer Airplane pilot

-Marketing manager

-Financial advisor or manager

-Architect Art director

-Scientist

Having a degree can also qualify you for more advanced or higher-paying positions.

ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE

These degrees cover two-year programs that provide training for entry-level jobs.

Associate-level programs are commonly associated with community colleges and technical schools focusing on specific vocations. These degrees require a two-year investment in time.

They’re great if you’re interested in specific vocations that don’t require additional training before entering the workforce.

Another benefit is that transferable associate programs let students complete general education credits and transfer them over to a four-year university or college.

ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE

This is an option many students use to save money. Common associate degrees include:

Associate of Arts (AA)

Associate of Science (AS)

Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

If you’re looking to enter the workforce quickly or want to save money through credit transfer, an associate’s degree program is helpful.

BACHELOR’S DEGREE

This degree type is the most common one at four-year institutions.

An undergraduate bachelor’s degree normally takes four years to complete. Enrolling in a bachelor’s degree program requires students to choose a specific study major and follow that track.

Common bachelor’s degree majors include:

-History -Biology -English

-Finance -Communications

Bachelor degree recipients are theoretically qualified to work in either entry-level or management-level positions immediately, depending on their career field. More importantly, anyone looking to pursue graduate-level study must first obtain a bachelor’s degree.

BACHELOR’S DEGREE

Common bachelor’s degrees include:

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)

Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS)

MASTER’S DEGREE

This is the first step in a postgraduate path.

Master’s degree programs are postgraduate programs that allow students to specialize in a specific area of study. Normally, they take one to two years for completion.

However, unlike a bachelor’s program, master’s degree programs require more effort to get in than GPAs and SAT test scores. Enrolling in a master’s degree program requires meeting the basic prerequisites:

-Undergraduate degree

-Minimum GPA

-Graduate entrance exam acceptable score

MASTER’S DEGREE

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a common entrance exam used by programs to gauge applicants. Also, once admitted, master’s degree candidates complete either a thesis or capstone project to graduate.

A master’s degree is helpful if you want to qualify for executive-level job positions. For example, an MBA has traditionally been seen as a gatekeeper for employees looking to advance significantly up the corporate ladder.

Moreover, if you want to pursue a doctorate, many programs require both bachelor’s and master’s degrees first. Common master’s degree types include:

-Master of Arts (MA)

-Master of Science (MS)

-Master of Business Administration (MBA)

-Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

DOCTORAL DEGREES

This level is the highest postgraduate education degree you can obtain.

Doctoral degrees are the top of the mountain degree-wise. Also known as Ph.D. programs, these are the most advanced degrees possible and require extensive work to be admitted.

Most doctorate degree programs require applicants to already have a master’s degree but this rule isn’t universal. Other common requirements include submitting various standardized test scores and recommendation letters.

Once accepted into a program, expect to spend several years working towards your degree. Part of that work includes completing either a dissertation and/or a major research project.

DOCTORAL DEGREES

Expect additional hours of hands-on work with real patients during residency for a medical-related doctorate. Ph.D. graduates are qualified to work in various high-level business or research positions, as well as teaching at the professor-level.

The most common doctorate degrees include:

-Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

-Juris Doctor (J.D.)

-Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)

-Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)

Certificate vs. Degree: The Main Differences

The difference between certificate and degree programs typically involves the time and cost to earn them. They also differ in the number of courses you must take and the amount of knowledge you gain.

Certificate vs. Degree: Time Commitment

Certificates take less time to earn than degrees. You can typically get a certificate within a few months to two years, depending on the field. Associate degrees typically take two years, bachelor’s degrees take four years, master’s degrees take an additional one to two years and doctoral degrees take at least an additional two years to earn. Some degree programs do offer summer school or accelerated courses that allow you to graduate a year sooner.

Certificate vs. Degree: Requirements

Nearly all degree programs require students to have first earned a high school diploma. While many certificate programs require a high school diploma as well, some do not. These include certifications for truck driving, restaurant management, mechanic work, carpentry and more.

If you meet the basic requirements for a certificate, which often include earning a high school diploma, you can enroll in the program of your choice. To get accepted into a bachelor’s program, however, you must apply for and be accepted by the college or university. The admissions office will decide whether to accept your application based on your grades, standardized test scores and extracurricular activities.

Certificate vs. Degree: Requirements

Similarly, you must first earn a bachelor’s degree and have passed a standardized test like the Graduate Record Examination before you can apply for a master’s or doctoral degree program. Some doctoral degree programs require a master’s, while others only require a bachelor’s.

Certificate vs. Degree: Coursework

Degrees typically provide individuals with a greater depth of knowledge than certificates. Certificate programs usually focus on teaching students specific and practical skills related to that career field. Someone in a radiologic technician certification program, for instance, is only going to learn about diagnostic imaging. Degrees provide a general education in several key subjects and require students to complete a certain number of classes or credits in subjects such as math, English and science. Degrees include more courses than certificates, which is one of the reasons degrees take longer to earn.

How to Choose Between a Certificate and a Degree

Base your decision to pursue a certificate vs. degree on your career goals, time and resources. When choosing between the two, consider the following questions:

1. Determine how quickly you need to earn your credentials. If you simply need to learn the practical skills necessary for a certain job and want to learn them quickly, you might choose to earn a certificate. If you have several years to dedicate to your education, you might pursue a degree.

How to Choose Between a Certificate and a Degree

2.Think about balancing work and school. If you are currently working full-time but want to earn a credential to improve your job opportunities and earning potential, you might choose a certificate. You can continue working in your current position as a veterinary assistant, for instance, while earning your vet assistant certificate from a community college during the evenings or weekends. 

3. Consider the field you want to work in. If you are passionate about styling hair or skilled at fixing HVAC systems, you can get a job faster and with less expense by earning your certificate in that field than by applying for a degree. If you want to be a doctor or a lawyer, however, you will need to earn one or more degrees to get hired.

How to Choose Between a Certificate and a Degree

4. Plan how far you want to advance in your career. Whether you pursue a certificate or a degree might depend on your education and career goals. A degree can often provide you with more opportunities and higher salaries than a certificate. You might also earn a certificate to give you the foundation and prerequisites needed to get a degree. For instance, you might first complete a computer coding certification program to prepare you for a degree in computer science. 

5. Consider where you are in your career currently. If you are looking for an entry-level job, you might benefit from a certificate. For instance, if you want to be a chef, you can enter the workforce right away after earning a certificate in culinary arts. You always have the option to earn a culinary degree in the future. If you have work experience and are interested in a management position, you might benefit from a degree, which is a requirement for many upper-level positions.