Summary: Certifications demonstrate expertise in a specific knowledge or skills. This type of career education typically require a test, criteria, or specific activities to pass the certification exam.
Certifications Offer Another Type of Career Learning
Have you ever wondered about an easy way to stand out to employers? Certifications can show off your expertise, interest in a particular career, or transferable skills and apply to various industries, including information technology, project management, hospitality, and medicine. In this article, we’ll discuss what certifications are and why they are valuable for your career development.
Why is a certification important?
A certification is a credential an individual earns to demonstrate specific knowledge and skills. The certification is usually industry-, technology- or role-specific and offered by a professional organization or a company specializing in a specific field. Most certifications require a test, criteria, or activity to earn the credentials. There are certifications for individuals just starting their careers and ones for people with more job experience.
How are certifications career assets?
Certifications are a way to demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in particular areas and are used in industries including information technology, project management, hospitality, human resources, finance, and medicine. Some employers require a certification to get a job. Certifications are a great way to stand out to an employer because they show that you have an interest in a particular topic, the ability to learn new concepts and apply them, and the dedication to follow through.
Certifications can also be a great way to level up your career as a form of professional development. Having a certification can often increase or impact your salary positively. According to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), individuals in 2021 with certification credentials earned 38% more median weekly earnings than individuals who do not have certifications.
| Certification | Licensure |
| Proof someone has met certain standards related to a specific set of skills and knowledge | Issued to identify that the holder has the legal right to practice in a specific field |
| Voluntary to perform the duties of a job | Required to perform the duties of a job |
| Offered by organization or company | Issued by a government agency |
Tips and Reminders for Certifications
Choose the Certification for the Career That Interests You
Take a look at job descriptions for careers that interest you. What are the required certifications and preferred certifications for those roles? After you have identified certifications that are valued and sought after in your career field, research what it takes to obtain the certification. The certification provider should clearly outline what skills and knowledge they expect you to demonstrate to receive the certification. These specific topics are called certification or exam objectives. Some may have a specific age, education, work experience, or hours of training requirements. All of the certifications will involve some preparation to meet the certification requirements.
Prepare for Your Certification
The content for specific certifications can be very in-depth and requires time to learn and prepare for the exam. Certification or exam objectives are a great place to start to see what content you already know and will need to learn to succeed. Look at the length of the exam and the types of questions to get an understanding of what the exam will look like.
Many certification programs also offer exam preparation courses. These exam preparation courses can serve as a way to organize and structure your studies and ensure that you have covered the topics necessary for your intended certification. Reputable certification preparation programs should give you written or video content to review and include practice activities or labs and practice exams where applicable to help you practice. Make sure that you have a plan as to how you are going to study and when you are planning to take your exam.
Get Your Certification
After you have prepared for your certification, the next step is to book your certification exam or activity. Some certification programs allow you to choose when you take your exam and if you prefer to take it online or in person at an examination center. Other certification exams are only offered on specific days and may require you to attend in person. Demonstrating certain skills during a live activity or submitting documentation may also be required as a part of your certification process. The certification provider will be your best source of information about all the pieces needed to earn your well-deserved designation.
Maintain Your Certification
While there are some certifications that you can take once and maintain forever, other certifications require that you retake the exam over a set period of time. Some certifications require that you continue learning about the field in which you are certified. These activities are called Continuing Education (CE) or Continuing Education Units (CEUs). There are many ways to earn CEs and CEUs, including taking courses, attending workshops, presenting, and completing a certain number of work hours in the field.
Certifications Takeaways
Certifications are a great way to stand out to employers, get the jobs you want, and increase your earning potential. To receive a certification, you will need to research the certifications desired in your field; learn about the certification requirements; study, prepare for, and complete the certification requirements; and be ready to show off your shiny certification on your résumé and job search sites.
We’ve done some of the research work for you. Tallo currently offers certifications and exam courses for certification preparation in the IT, medical fields, and more. Advance your career with the certification that will prepare you for success.
