How to Sign Up for a Certification Program
20 April, 2019
Many people think of getting a certification when they want a raise in their salary. But, getting a certification doesn't necessarily has to do with salary raise. It could be other reasons like establishing yourself as an expert on a subject. Whatever purpose you have in mind, it is important to do research carefully to avoid wasting money on a certification program that will not add any value to you.
Step by Step Guide on Selecting Certification
The first step is to determine the reasons why you want to take the certification program. If you are looking for a raise in the salary, do research on the top paying certification and see if there is any certification that is relevant to your job that you can enrol. If you are interested in career progression, then, you probably need to only take a course that can refresh your skills.
A certification course is usually short and easy to complete. So, if you have the budget, you may want to consider enrolling and completing as many certifications as possible. When people see your resume has a lot of certifications, they will feel that you are serious and passionate about the job you are applying. Thus, the employer is more likely to hire you.
As you must know, certification is different from an education course. The certification course is a course that you take to get certified for knowledge or skill. An education course is a lengthy academic course like a diploma or degree that takes 2 - 4 years to complete. Therefore, before joining a certification course, make sure you already receive education in the field. In this way, it will be easy to pick up the points when the instructor is delivering the lecture in the seminar.
Before enrolling, spend time to do research on the certification. It is important that the certification is from a credible institute like Atton institute. The institute that issues it must be in existence for many years. Just to be sure, you can ask the alumni and read reviews to find out whether the certification is being recommended.
Next, go through the program criteria and find out what topics are covered. The program should have some kind of endorsements/recognition that are approved by your company. You also want to check how long the course will last. If you have limited time to spare, you should consider the accelerated course that only last for a few days.
Finally, take into account the cost to benefit ratio before joining. A free certification course does not make you stand out. Go for a paid certification course to demonstrate that you are willing to make the investment to upgrade yourself and be in the field.
Remember, you have to keep retaking certification programs every few years to keep your skills fresh. For example, certifications like PMP has an expiry date of 3 years. To ensure you don't forget to refresh your skills, create a calendar and mark down the dates to keep track of the expiry of your certifications so that you can retake the course promptly.
Here is a quick overview of the 6 things you should do to find the right certification program:
1. Ask yourself why you want to join a certification
2. Prepare yourself by enrolling in prerequisite programs that link towards the certification.
3. Carefully research on the certification program details.
4. Make sure the certification program is accredited and approved for a job promotion.
5. Join a course that adds value to your resume.
6. Retake a certification course to stay updated in the industry.
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