By: The Capella University Editorial Team
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Having a digital badge, academic program certificate or industry certification in addition to your degree may give you an advantage in the job market by differentiating your experience and expertise.
These credentials may help you prepare direct entry into an industry and provide flexibility in your career. Here’s a look at three non-degree opportunities for professionals and the career value of each.
A digital badge is a credential that shows learning or achievement from a course, skill, event or other formal or informal activity, with the issuing organization setting the criteria for earning it. Each badge includes an icon and verifiable data, such as the issue date and skills demonstrated, that holders can share with employers, peers and academic institutions on LinkedIn and other social media channels.
An academic certificate program is a structured set of college courses in a specialized subject, awarded by the college or university once students complete its requirements. Admission requirements and the number of courses vary by program. Coursework builds critical thinking skills and demonstrates competency by completion.
Capella offers graduate certificates in:
Credits earned in a Capella certificate program are generally designed to apply toward a related degree program, though the specific courses that transfer depend on the certificate and degree combination.
The transferability of Capella quarter credits or program points to another institution is solely at the discretion of that institution. It is the student’s responsibility to contact that institution to confirm whether Capella quarter credits or program points will be accepted.
List an academic certificate in the education section of a resume, with the issuing institution, certificate name and completion date.
Unlike an academic certificate, a professional certification is awarded by an external organization and shows a person met its eligibility and assessment requirements. Requirements vary by issuer and may include work experience, an application, education and an exam. Prep courses can help candidates get ready, but they don’t necessarily fulfill an issuer’s eligibility requirements.
Many certifications are issued by professional organizations. Examples include the PMP, CISSP and SHRM-CP. Keeping one current varies by issuer – you might pay a renewal fee, log continuing education hours or get reassessed periodically.
People often list industry certifications on a resume and, when the issuer permits, use the credential’s acronym after their name.
Capella’s BS in IT, Information Assurance and Cybersecurity lets students earn industry-recognized certifications embedded in coursework – including Google IT Support, CompTIA A+ and AWS certifications – through Capella’s partnership with Coursera’s Career Academy, at no additional cost.
Certificates are not Capella credit-bearing. If this Capella and Coursera partnership ends, individuals will be responsible for the cost of completing the remaining portion of any uncompleted Career Academy professional certificate program.
The right choice depends on your goals – what you need to demonstrate and to whom.
If you’re looking to provide an electronic record of your learning achievement and development, a digital badge may be a good option.
Choose a professional certification when an employer, industry or licensing body recognizes an external credential.
If you want to advance or change your career and would like to update your skill set, consider pairing that professional certification with a similar academic certificate program.
Professional certifications and other prior learning may also qualify for degree credit through Capella’s Credit for Prior Learning program.
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