An Overview of Professional Certifications

Professional certifications are used in a variety of occupations. Sometimes a worker is certified to use a specific type of equipment or perform a certain task. Certification is sometimes required, sometimes not, but it always looks good on a resume. If you are certified in your job area but another applicant is not, you may improve your chances of getting an interview or being hired.

It may be that you do not need to graduate from a technical school or college to do the job, but that certification will provide sufficient education. Sometimes certification is in addition to formal education, as in the case of doctors being "board certified" or accountants passing a CPA exam.

How helpful are certifications?

If your job or field requires certification, you should definitely be certified. Sometimes, certification may be required by the government, depending upon your job.

If your occupation has an optional certification, consider obtaining it. The added education will help you if you are looking for a job and may also help you obtain higher pay, depending upon your field. Often people will be certified in lieu of education. That is fine for many jobs if formal education is not a requirement for the field. However, if formal education can be obtained, it may hold more credibility than certification.

If your particular field does not have a formal certification, perhaps there are other ways to be certified. For example, in the field of training, certification is not required. However many trainers are "certified instructors" for an occupation or specific training course. In that case, certification in a specific area of training can be helpful and it can mean the difference between getting hired or not. Another example would be for office professionals to become Microsoft Certified Office® Specialist. Though not required to work in the field of business administration, it provides specific training in one area of the job that may prove helpful down the road.

How do you find out about certifications?

You can learn about certifications for your chosen occupation by joining professional associations. Often these organizations will sponsor certification programs and host study groups.

You can also talk to people who are performing the job you're seeking. Ask them if they needed special education or certification to be hired. In addition, speak with your manager or supervisor and ask them what certifications they would recommend for you. You can even do some research on the Internet or at the library.

If you are in school studying for a specific vocation, your instructors will usually be aware of certification programs. Inquire if these certifications are required or optional. Even if they are optional, consider getting certified prior to graduation so you are ready to take a job. Every little skill you can add to your resume will only help you.

The importance of recertification

To stay competitive in the job market, it's important not to allow your certifications to expire (if there is an expiration date). Some certifications may require that you obtain a certain number of "continuing education" credits prior to being recertified. For example, as some of you may already know, the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) offers two certifications: Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) and Certified Administrative Professional (CAP). After five years, if you have not earned 90 continuing education points, your certification will lapse. You can obtain the required 90 points by taking the recertification courses listed on the IAAP website.

You may wonder why organizations such as IAAP require recertification. It's not just to get extra money from you and make life difficult. In order for a certification to continue to represent high standards, those who hold the certification must continuously demonstrate and maintain those high standards. They must be kept up-to-date on changes as they happen, so their knowledge never becomes "stale."

Also, it's beneficial to you as an individual to continuously learn new things. It makes you more marketable and keeps you fresh. The rapid changes in technology alone demonstrate how important it is to remain current. Recertification is simply a part of this process.

Bottom-line, take advantage of any certification program that is important in your chosen field. You will reap the benefits as much as (if not more) than the organization you serve.

With a PhD in Human Resources Organizational Development and adult education, Tess Price is here to help answer all of your training and career development questions. Utilize her expertise to help expand your skills and grow your career. Visit our Career and Education Services Section for more information on building the career of your dreams.