No matter what industry you are working in already or planning to enter, having a few certifications and skills is always a plus point.

As you successfully complete a certificate course from a reputed university, the chances of getting a promotion, increase in your wages, or switching your job eventually rises. Certificate courses vary in length, from a few months to years, with classes in the evening, nights, weekends and even online; these courses will provide you with the advanced skills that are required to grow as a professional in your career. But, it is also to be kept in mind that there are several certificate courses that require you to take exams (it helps in getting a job), some might require preparation from 3 to 6 months as well. So before you get yourself enrolled into one, make sure you are ready for it.

Some of the best course options are listed below:

Systems Security: With the advent of technological advancements, there is a huge increase in hacking. Every now and then we hear about cyber crime and to curb that, a systems security personnel comes into picture. With a high paying package that could go up to $130,000, a certificate course in system security will teach you how to protect your employer’s data and infrastructure from attacks. This profession is meant for people familiar with computer and coding as well.

IT Certifications: IT certifications like MCSE, RHEL, Java, CCNA VMware etc. are widely in demand (some experience always helps with certifications). Just with some on-the-job experience of 2-3 years, you can easily take home $100k+. Always try to do some small term courses even when you are working, it helps a lot in getting a new job and also keeps you updated with the ever changing industry requirements.

Website Designing: There are thousands of websites that come live every single day, every business wants to have a digital presence and hence, finding a job will not be tough. These courses usually cover a wide range of topics required to successfully create a website i.e. everything from coding the website to designing graphics and also working with different types of multimedia. The average salary ranges from $40,000 to $70,000 depending on the company as well as the task in hand. The biggest advantage of a web designer is the option to freelance your services while maintaining a full-time job.

Medical Transcriptionist & Coding: Medical transcriptionists and coders play a very important role in the insurance claim process and are mostly hired by insurance companies and hospitals. A certificate course in this domain will teach you the different codes used to process medical claims. It will also provide training in creating and reading the alphanumeric code which is used by the industry. Average salaries range from $25,000 to $50,000 and finding a job is not a difficult task since every medical office in the country requires such professionals.

Interpreter of Sign Language: If you have an outgoing personality and like to be independent in your work, this certificate course will allow you to act as an interpreter for the deaf. There can be plenty of job options available in schools, universities, social services, and businesses, hence, finding a job is easy. Average pay is $37,000-$40,000.

Veterinary Assistant: If you love animals and want to work with them and for their benefit, this might be the right certificate course for you. If you become a veterinary assistant, the course will teach you how to work with different animals, take care of different animals, how to help the veterinarians in the office. Salaries range from $15,000 to $35,000.

Nitika Sharma
Freelance Writer/ Blogger/ Content Strategist