There are many steps that you can take to further your career, and a lot of these are in the realm of academics or education. With a large number of options that lay in front of you – certificates, diplomas and degrees, among others – it can get quite overwhelming to choose the right way forward for your individual needs and requirements. If you want to make a better and more informed decision about what type of qualifications you should be investing your time and money into, this brief guide could be helpful in pointing out the differences between certificates vs degrees.
Before getting into the technicalities, it is important to note that there is no single right way forward. A certificate is different from a degree but you can get both of them – or either – or none, depending on what your career aspirations look like. Here is something that may be helpful!
Certificate
A certification course is a tool for professional development, which can come handy if you are looking to improve your skill set or gain additional knowledge of a certain subject by enrolling yourself into a well-structured program. Most certificate courses involve a well-defined framework that helps you achieve your learning objectives in a relatively short period of time. The time frame is of great importance here, as the structure of the course is usually dependent on the amount of time that the course is supposed to last. Some of the major arguments – both for and against certificate courses – in the certificates vs degree debate are centered around this time factor.
Average Time It Takes to Complete
There is no specific time frame when it comes to certification courses. While most certificates take less than a year to be earned, there may be certain courses that take longer than a year – maybe even two years. The length of the course will depend on the subject that you are trying to study and the institution that is offering the certificate course.
Requirements to Enroll
The requirements to enroll in a certificate program are usually minimal, but they can differ from course to course. There may be some type of professional certifications that have more prerequisites that you need to meet than other more general certifications that have lower requirements. If you are looking to get certificates to meet some credit requirements for school, there may be a few requirements but those are generally very basic.
Average Cost
The average cost of earning a certificate also differs depending on the type of course that you are looking to complete. For example, a professional IT certification may cost more than a basic English language certification that you need to earn some extra credits for college. Similarly, a language certification may cost you different amounts of money, depending on the popularity of the language and the intensity of the course.
Average Salaries
There is no exact scale of salaries that you can turn to if you are looking at certification programs. As was discussed in many of the earlier parts, there are many different types of certifications. While some may not have much of a difference on your existing salary, if you are completing a certification course recommended by your place of work, you may be eligible for a raise upon completion of the course.
Degree
A degree is vastly different from a certificate, as it is a full expedition into the realm of focused learning. There are many different types of degrees – primarily an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree – depending on the level of education that you are looking at. This is an in-depth method of education, where you choose what you want to study and take away from what you have studied. A certification can never compete with a degree, but it can be used as an aid, in addition to the degree that you choose to pursue. A degree is usually geared towards a career path that you hope to follow. Here are some of the major features of a degree, which will help you understand the certificates vs degree arguments in a better way.
Average Time It Takes to Complete
The amount of time that you will take to complete a degree depends on the nature of the degree. For example, if you are looking to complete an associate degree at a community college or vocational/technical college, it will take you about two years. If you are planning to enroll in a bachelor’s degree, it will take you approximately four years to complete – three years for accelerated programs. Master’s degrees usually take another one or two years (even more), depending on the speed with which you collect the required credits.
Requirements to Enroll
As the term degree is quite wide and all encompassing, the requirements for enrolment differ according to the nature of the degree that you are looking to pursue. For bachelor’s degrees, you need a decent GPA, essays, letters of recommendation and so on, depending on the requirements of the university or college that you are applying to. The requirements for master’s degrees include all of this and more – mostly your GRE or GMAT score.
Average Cost
Degrees usually cost significantly more than certification programs. Again, the average cost depends on the nature of the degree and the institutions that you are applying to. For example, a bachelor’s degree at a public institution in the state will cost you significantly lower – about $10,000 – than the cost of a degree at an out-of-state school. Private institutions cost even more.
Average Salaries
The salary that you can get after the completion of a degree also depends on the degree that you are pursuing. While a bachelor’s degree can get you an average salary of about $50,000, a master’s degree can take your average salary over $100,000, depending on your line of education.
Wrap-Up
Finally, it is important to understand that a certificate is not a replacement for a degree in any way. If you are applying to a job with a minimum degree requirement, a certification will not cut it. However, certificate courses are a great way to improve your existing skills or acquire new ones, as well as providing solid proof of your dedication to learning.