A certificate trains you for a specific job and can take a few weeks to about a year. An associate degree usually takes about two years of full-time study and prepares you either for work or for transfer. A bachelor’s degree usually takes about four years and is required for many professional careers. The right choice depends on the job you want and what that field actually requires where you live.
How the three credentials differ
- Certificate. Narrow and skills focused. Offered by community colleges, technical schools and some universities, either for college credit or as noncredit training. Some prepare you for an industry exam or a state license.
- Associate degree. Usually about 60 semester credits. An associate of arts or associate of science is designed to transfer as the first half of a bachelor’s. An associate of applied science is built for a job and may transfer less fully.
- Bachelor’s degree. Usually about 120 semester credits, combining general education with a major. Required for many professional roles and for graduate school.
One distinction trips people up: a certificate comes from a school, while an industry certification or a license comes from passing an exam set by an industry group or a state board. Some jobs require the exam or license, not just the course.
Which jobs value each
Often a certificate or short program
Many skilled trades and health support roles start here, such as welding, entry-level HVAC work, commercial driving and cosmetology, which also needs a state license. See the career guides for welders, truck drivers and cosmetologists.
Often an associate degree
Several licensed health careers commonly start with an associate degree, including dental hygiene, radiologic technology and veterinary technology, and an associate degree is one route to becoming a registered nurse. See dental hygienists, radiologic technologists and nurses.
Usually a bachelor’s or more
Teaching, accounting, engineering and many business and management roles generally expect a bachelor’s degree. See teachers and accountants, or browse career paths.
Requirements vary by state and employer. Read real job postings in your area and check your state licensing board before choosing a program.
How credentials can stack
A stackable credential counts toward the next one, so a short program now does not have to be a dead end later.
- A certificate earned for credit at a community college can apply toward an associate degree in the same field.
- An associate degree can transfer toward a bachelor’s, especially under a transfer agreement, or through an adult degree completion program.
- Industry certifications and licenses sometimes earn college credit through credit for prior learning.
- Work experience in the field strengthens each next step, from apprenticeship applications to transfer essays.
Noncredit certificates are often faster and cheaper, but they usually do not count toward a degree without extra steps. Before you enroll, ask: is this certificate for credit, which courses apply to which degree, and do the credits transfer to the four-year colleges I might consider?
Questions to help you decide
- What do job postings in my area actually require?
- Does the job need a license or exam, and does this program prepare me for it?
- How soon do I need to earn a steady income?
- Can I work while I study, or would a paid apprenticeship fit better?
- Will I likely want a higher credential later, and will these credits count toward it?
- What will it cost, and is the program eligible for aid? Credit programs often are, and some short programs may qualify for Workforce Pell grants.
Where a mentor helps
Choosing a credential is a research project followed by a commitment. A mentor helps a student or young adult compare real options, talk with people in the field, and then follow through on applications and the first term. A mentor is not an academic advisor or admissions counselor; the college confirms how credits apply. Learn more about career and education mentoring and see our hub on paths after high school.
Related
- Community college vs university
- Trade school vs college
- Is a coding bootcamp worth it?
- Paths after high school
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) in High School
Common questions
Is a certificate as good as a degree?
For some jobs, yes; a certificate plus a license can be exactly what employers want. For roles that require a degree, it is not a substitute, though a for-credit certificate can count toward one later.
What is the difference between an AA, AS and AAS?
AA and AS degrees are generally designed to transfer into a bachelor’s program. An AAS is job focused and may transfer only partly, so ask before you enroll if a bachelor’s is a possibility.
Can I transfer an associate degree to a four-year college?
Often, especially with a transfer agreement between the colleges. Confirm with the four-year college how your credits apply to the major you want.
Can I get financial aid for a certificate program?
Many for-credit certificate programs at eligible colleges qualify for federal aid, and some short programs may qualify for Workforce Pell. Ask the college’s financial aid office.
Get started
Trying to choose the right credential? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.