Getting an Education on a Budget
If money is no object, you have plenty of time, and you have few personal commitments, a traditional post-secondary education might be for you. However, many of us do not have these luxuries in abundance. Does that mean you have to settle for less? Not if you consider a certificate program to prepare you for a professional career.
Upon completion of a certificate program, you will be awarded a certificate, rather than a degree. Sound inferior? Think again. Consider the benefits associated with taking a certificate program.
Benefits of a Certificate Program
For many, the biggest plus is the price tag. As college and university tuition rates increase, even an average education at these institutions is becoming less and less affordable. Debt load after graduation often leaves students with a heavy financial burden and anxiety about paying it off. Certificate programs are shorter in length and can even be completed online, which results in much lower tuition costs.
Because of the reduced length of the programs, students are able to finish their schooling and start a job a lot faster than with traditional courses. What could end up being a 3 to 4 year time investment at a college or university can be reduced to anywhere from 3 to 12 months with a certificate program. Instead of years spent at school, you’ll be able to look back at time spent on the job, gaining valuable experience.
Besides saving time and money, certificate courses are designed to work with your existing schedule. Busy people with family or personal commitments can still get the training they need, without putting other responsibilities on hold. These are just a few of the benefits of a certificate program.
Take a Certificate Program Online
Career Step, an online education and training provider, focuses solely on the importance of equipping students with the skills and knowledge they need, without all the frills of attending a physical school. Online courses allow students to study at their own pace, fitting in their schoolwork around other events happening in their lives. You’ll feel the freedom and dignity of learning without a rigid class schedule, and yet you’ll never be left on your own. Qualified instructors are readily available to give one-on-one assistance.
The specialized curriculum of certificate programs streamlines the learning process so that you’re job-ready as soon as you graduate. From medical transcriptionist to software engineer, you’ll be able to achieve your career goals without a huge dent in your pocketbook and with your personal and family life still on track.