Professional certifications can help one advance faster in their career, especially in highly specialized companies such as human resources, accounting, or information technology. However, not all certifications are created equal, but some ensure professional competence in tandem with a degree or work experience.
In this article, we describe the difference between the three types of certification and their importance in companies.
What are certifications?
Certifications are designated credentials earned by an individual to verify their legitimacy and competence to perform a job. Hence, certification is typically displayed as a document stating that as a professional, you’ve been trained, educated, and prepared to meet a specific set of criteria for your role. This statement is awarded only after you’ve passed the proper assessments administered by a recognized third-party credentialing institution.
What is the difference between certifications and licensure?
Certifications can be seen as professional credentials typically earned through an organization or educational institution.
Licensure can be seen to be those credentials that are required by law before practicing your job. Therefore, licensure is different from professional certification since is required by law as stated above, and it’s also obtained through a state agency.
What is the importance of choosing a trustworthy credentialing body?
One of the important of choosing a trustworthy credentialing body is that most credentials are often treated as currency and as such they can be used to gain favor among clients or prospective employers. Hence it can be built upon for exponential growth. For credentials to be taken at face value, the credentialing institutions from which they’re acquired must be a universally trusted body. Employers must be able to trust that credentialing materials remain accurate and up to date and use top-quality content. Also, some institutions are trusted to set the standards of an industry and develop the necessary training to prepare individuals to enter or advance in the field of work they’re trained in.
What are the advantages of certification?
The advantages of certification as a credential are many. For instance, obtaining professional certification displays your dedication to your profession and verifies that you’re well-trained to effectively use the tools of your industry. Therefore, the time and effort to obtain these certifications can show potential employers that you are a valuable contributor to your profession and help you gain recognition for your commitment to continuous learning and self-improvement.
The following are the advantages of a professionally certified profession.
1. Earning potential
Perhaps the most immediately coveted benefit of being professionally certified in your field is the increase you see in your earning potential. Not only will you be hired in at a higher position (that comes with higher starting pay), you can look forward to receiving better raises and bonuses in the future, especially if you remain up to date on your certification’s renewals and new advancements in your field.
2. Expansion of knowledge and skills
Keeping up to date on emerging industry trends and technology can help you seamlessly integrate new methods and processes into your current routine. Therefore, making the effort to continue to grow your knowledge and skills can allow you to remain ahead of others in your field in terms of both expertise and efficiency. Hence, you can look forward to being more productive while continuously increasing the quality of your output and even inventing new products, tools, or processes that increase your value exponentially.
3. Professional Credibility
Professional certifications are becoming increasingly valuable to employers, leading to many companies requiring said certifications to be hired as an employee or consultant. Not only do they consider it a demonstration of your professionalism and adherence to the highest industry standards, but it also shows that you’re willing to keep learning. Nevertheless, these qualities can help increase your professional credibility within your professional network, with your clients/employer, and in your industry as a whole.
4. Efficiency
Beginning your career with the foundation that professional certifications provide means that you’re already ahead. The extra training, exclusive information, and advanced knowledge gained from the additional training can ensure that you’re ready for employment and require less training than other recruits. Employers appreciate this efficiency and forethought, as it saves them money and valuable resources. Overall, earning professional certifications helps you to maximize your efficiency and effectiveness from day one.
What are the types of certifications?
There are three types of certification, which includes:
1. Corporate
Corporate certifications are internal certifications created by a corporation for certification purposes within that company and are generally not portable to other corporations. Some examples include:
. Jet.com’s Category Specialist certifications
. Pilot/Flying J’s Management Development certifications, offered through Pilot Flying J University
. Goldman Sachs’ New Analyst and New Associates certifications, offered through Goldman Sachs University
. Enterprise’s Management Training certifications
. Walgreens’ retail, corporate, and pharmacy certification programs, offered through Walgreens University
2. Product-specific
These certifications, otherwise known as role-specific certifications, are specific to certain products and are intended to be carried with the holder across companies that use that specific product. This type of certification is common in inbound marketing and information technology (IT) industries, where professionals are certified to work with certain software or hardware products. For instance, examples of product-specific certifications include:
. IASSC (Lean Six Sigma organizational structure methodology)
. Software certifications, e.g. SalesForce, Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite
. Google (Analytics, AdWords, Publisher)
. HubSpot (Sales, Content, Inbound Marketing, Social Media), obtained through HubSpot Academy
3. Profession-wide
The broadest type of certification is profession-wide, a type of certification that is portable to wherever the certified professional may work. For example, a certified public accountant can practice as a CPA across the accounting profession. Other examples might include:
. CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)
.CIPM (Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement)
. RA (Registered Architect)
. CPL (Commercial Pilot License)
.CMP (Certified Meeting Professional)
4. Business analyst certifications
Business analysts work with companies to analyze processes, products, services, and systems to improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability. Wherefore, they typically use data and information technology (IT) resources to help decision-makers move their companies forward.
There are several business analyst certifications. Although, popular choices by professionals in this field have been the Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) . Also, the IIBA Agile Analysis Certification (IIBA-AAC). The IIBA-AAC is a stand-alone certification that designates a business analyst’s ability to adapt and perform in changing environments.
5. Marketing Certifications
Marketing is a competitive industry and a certification can demonstrate your expertise when applying for a position. Note, that social media and marketing analytics certifications are available from Facebook, Google, Analytics, Hootsuite, and many more.
6. Human resources certifications
If you’re employed in the field of human resources (HR), consider a certification that shows potential employers you’ve taken the initiative to pursue this designation. Hence, recruiters seek those who hold HR certifications because they have demonstrated leadership. While there are several types of HR certifications, recruiters most often seek candidates with the Professional in Human Resources (PHR). Also, the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation. Consider these designations when looking to further your career opportunities
7. Sales certifications
Many sales professionals choose to pursue additional training and certifications through specific programs designed to enhance their careers. For instance, Challenger Sales, Spin selling, and Sandler Training are all sales methods that require learning and implementing techniques that help sales professionals achieve their goals. Besides strengthening their persuasive soft skills and expanding their knowledge of sales, certifications help them stay ahead of their counterparts and build upon past experiences.