Many people head to community college or junior college without much idea what they want to do for a career. As a result, many students leave with a general associate’s degree in the arts or sciences that doesn’t necessarily apply to any particular field. That’s where a post associate certificate comes in. If you have completed an associate’s degree and are now seeking more specific career training, a post associate certificate could be a great option for you. A post associate certificate can also be referred to as a professional certificate. In many cases, it’s the step in between an associate’s degree and a bachelor’s degree. A post associate certificate degree takes less time to earn than a bachelor’s degree while providing you with focused training in the career field of your choice.
Benefits of a Post Associate Certificate
Post associate certificates are an excellent option for students who wish to further their education because they are less expensive and take less time than a bachelor’s degree while giving students a career-focused and extremely useful education. In most cases, a post associate certificate is designed to help students break into specific job fields or positions. Post associate certificates are available in a wide variety of fields and help students become uniquely qualified for jobs that require post-secondary education.
Another great benefit of a post associate certificate is that it typically only takes about a year or less to earn. Many post associate certificates can be earned from community colleges, undergraduate universities, liberal arts colleges, and online accredited programs. With a post associate certificate you can expect to earn substantially more than you would with just a high school diploma and more than you would with simply an associate’s degree.
Types of Post Associate Certificates
Post associate certificates can be earned in a wide variety of fields. Most post associate certificates are centered on a specific job field or even one specific career. Work areas in which you can earn a post associate certificate include:
- Accounting
- Aviation
- Business
- Chiropractic
- Computer Technology
- Environment
- Economic Development
- Language Education
- Legal Affairs
- Logistics & Transport
- Medicine
- Project Management
A number of post associate certificates can be applied to a wide variety of industries. For example, a post associate certificate in business can be useful in almost any job. Likewise, a variety of medicinal post associate certificates can be earned to qualify students for positions like personal trainers, medical assistants, and several other positions.
Popular Career Options with a Post-Associate Certificate
There are a number of popular careers that don’t require a bachelor’s degree but do look for candidates that have at least an associate’s degree. Having a post associate certificate helps you stand out even further when applying for some of these popular jobs:
- Flight Attendant
- Dental Hygienist
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Occupational Therapist Assistant
- Desktop Publisher
- Web Designer
- IT Consultant
- Broadcast Technician
- Sound Engineer
Some of these professions require specialized professional certificates. Others simply prefer them. Whatever you want to do, a post associate certificate helps you stand apart from the crowd and gives you a unique education that better qualifies you for jobs like these.
How to Earn a Post-Associate Certificate
Post associate certificates can be earned at community colleges, junior colleges, universities, and through online college programs. Many people opt to earn their post associate certificate through an online program. This is because online post associate certificate programs allow flexibility that simply cannot be found in a classroom setting. When you earn your certificate from the comfort of your own home, you get the privilege of setting your own schedule and working at your own pace. Many people who choose to earn their post associate certificate online are able to do so in about a year. Once you have your post associate certificate, you can look forward to more job opportunities and better pay for decades to come.