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Can an Online Certificate Program Advance My Career Options?

Last Updated January 5, 2021

A woman standing beside a huge window with one of her hands against the window looking outside.

Enrolling in an online certificate program can be an excellent way to enhance your resume and improve your career opportunities. Whether you’re looking to improve your prospects for advancement in your current position or seeking to stand out to prospective employers, you can benefit from completing an online certificate program from an accredited educational institution.

Advantages of an Online Certificate Program

While there may be no substitute for real-world work experience, professionals typically require formal training to develop industry-standard skills and knowledge to help secure job opportunities. An online certificate program can be one of the most convenient training options for working professionals, because it allows them to attend class and complete assignments on their own time while also keeping up with the demands of a full-time job.

Completing an online certificate program may also show an employer that you are dedicated to your job, and are motivated to improve your performance through continuing education in the field. In addition to gaining new skills and knowledge you can apply immediately on the job, you can prove that you have the ability to manage work, school and personal obligations. Committing the time to finish a two-to-three month online certificate program – as opposed to one-day seminars or workshops – is an accomplishment, and may help you get noticed by employers.

What Jobs Require Completion of an Online Certificate Program?

For a position that requires specialized training, an online certificate program can give candidates an edge. If you hold a degree in a different field than the one you are looking to work in, completing an online certificate program may help show that you have gained the skills and credentials to compete with others who majored in that field. While entry-level roles may have less stringent education requirements, completion of an online certificate program or other in-depth training is generally required for advancement.

Generally, an online certificate program helps prepare students to earn industry certification. This may be an important consideration for certain positions that mandate certification. For example, many project management jobs are available only to those who are certified as a PMP® or CAPM®, and contract management positions often require a CCCM, CFCM or CPCM credential. For those who aspire to the highest-level Six Sigma careers, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt is typically essential.

Complete a 100% Online Certificate Program From Villanova University

When considering options for an online certificate program, it’s usually a good idea to seek out training from a well-known university that is regionally accredited and nationally recognized. Villanova University has accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Villanova offers intensive, non-degree, online certificate programs in many career fields. In addition to broadening skill sets and enhancing résumés, Villanova’s online certificate programs can also help prepare professionals for industry certification. Each program is offered 100% online through a flexible, video-based e-learning platform. You can choose from a variety of individual certificate courses and certificate programs in the following fields, with certification exam prep as noted:

      • Applied Project Management
        Prepare for the PMP® certification exam from the Project Management Institute (PMI)
      • Lean Six Sigma
        Prepare for Villanova’s 100% online Six Sigma certification exams: Six Sigma Green Belt, Lean Sensei, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt
      • Contract Management
        Prepare for the CFCM, CCCM and CPCM certification exams from the National Contract Management Association (NCMA)
      • Business Analysis
        Prepare for the CCBA® and CBAP® certification exams from the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA)®
      • Human Resources
        Prepare for the SHRM-CP® and SHRM-SCP® certification exams from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)®
      • Agile
        Prepare for the PMI-ACP® certification exam from PMI, PSM certification exam from Scrum.org and Villanova’s Professional Certification in Agile & Scrum (PCAS)

No matter which online certificate program you enroll in, you can experience advantages of Villanova’s professional education, including:

      • Learning from expert instructors with years of experience in their respective fields
      • Attending live lectures, completing assignments and taking exams 100% online, wherever is convenient for you
      • Viewing course lectures via streaming video
      • Supplementing your course lessons with weekly live interactive sessions
      • Communicating with your instructors and fellow students through online message boards, two-way voice over IP (VOIP), live chat rooms, virtual white boards and email

When you complete an online certificate program through Villanova, you can gain valuable skills while upgrading your résumé with respected credentials from a prestigious university. In a matter of weeks, you can be on your way to completing an online certificate program that can help transform your career potential!

PMI, PMP and PMI-ACP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.