If you’re in the market for a lucrative career change, boost your appeal by checking out our list of certifications. There’s a wide range of easy certifications to get online that can lead to multiple high-paying certification jobs. Read on for an in-depth look at short certifications that pay well, including business management and tech skills in data analytics.
What Is a Certification?
A certification is a recognition received from standard-setting organizations in a specific industry. These are a direct result of mastery of a skill or profession that’s observed through an assessment process.
Difference Between Certification and Certificate
| Certification | Certificate |
| Obtained through evaluation and assessment | Obtained from a learning process |
| Prerequisite involves professional experience | Open to aspiring and established professionals |
| Given by prominent third-party organizations | Given by educational courses or institutions |
Can Certification Help Me Earn More Money?
Yes, certifications can help you earn more money. They’re also highly valuable in your job search. According to Statista, 63 percent of prospective employers acknowledge that certifications are important in the hiring process.
Certifications are also beneficial if you are considering a career change at 35, 40, or any other point in life. These certifications present potential applicants as more employable and provide a higher chance of obtaining a job offer.
Tech Fields That Require Certification
Below are some popular certification programs within the tech industry. These fields require certification, which permits a potential for growth. These certifications vary in length and period of time and depend on the complexity of the specifics within each career field.
Data Analytics
Data analytics jobs require a level of expertise and skill to be successful. Holding a certification in specific aspects of data analytics can separate job seekers and career builders from other data analytics professionals. Certifications also establish those who hold them as experts on a facet of data analytics.
Best Data Analytics Certifications
- CCA Data Analyst
- Azure Enterprise Data Analyst Associate
- GDPR Data Protection
Penetration Testing
Certifications in penetration testing, or ethical hacking, are a great way to further hone on-the-job skills in this career path. Specialized skills via industry certifications can be very beneficial to job growth in penetration testing.
Best Penetration Testing Certifications
- EC-Council’s Certified Penetration Tester (CPENT)
- Python For Pentesters
- Web Application Penetration Testing
Incident Handling
Incident handling occupations expect extensive formal training through relevant work experience and professional certification. Professionals in this field can earn certifications in various training programs that will allow them to perform a variety of on-the-job duties with greater skill and efficiency, in turn making them a greater asset to their employers.
Best Incident Handling Certifications
- EC-Council’s Certified Incident Handler (ECIH)
- Certified SOC Analyst (CSA)
- Certified Threat Intelligence Analyst (CTIA)
Cyber Security
Cyber security certifications are a great job-training tool to obtain in this branch of the industry in addition to a high school diploma or a four-year degree. These certifications can help professionals sharpen cyber security skills, and they can also help in the career progression of a tech professional. There are a wide variety of cyber security jobs that require certifications.
Best Cyber Security Certifications
- EC-Council’s Certified Cloud Security Engineer (CCSE)
- Cybersecurity Architect Expert
- CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)
Computer Network
Computer network certifications are a great staple to acquire from certain technical training programs in addition to a bachelor’s degree. Aside from job experience, certifications will allow computer network professionals to acquire the necessary supporting documents that are crucial for growth potential in this career choice.
Best Computer Network Certifications
- CompTIA Cloud+
- CompTIA Linux+
- CompTIA Server+
Short Certifications That Pay Well
The following list details five short certifications that pay well, ranging from the healthcare industry to trade schools. While interested professionals will need advanced skills and in-depth work experience to obtain these certifications, each certification program and licensing exam process is quick.
Phlebotomy Certification | 1 Hour
Provided by the National Phlebotomy Association (NPA), this quick certification exam has an application fee of $170. Applicants must have at least one year of paid or volunteer experience. Clinical experience is not accepted.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certification | 2 Hours
This certification program is provided by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. Applicants need to have in-demand skills and the proper college degree to apply for this certification. It costs $98 to register for the exam.
Registered Congenital Cardiac Sonographer (RCCS) Certification | 3 Hours
This certification, provided by Cardiovascular Credentialing International, ensures that those who pass the exam are capable of using medical tools for cardiovascular purposes. It costs $365 to register for the certification exam, and interested parties must have at least 2 years of full-time experience in using cardiac ultrasound before they register.
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) Certified Technician | 12 Months
This certification is facilitated by the College of Staten Island. It has an application fee of $2,895 and the training course lasts for about one year. It prepares you for three exams, the HVAC Excellence Core and Professional Technician exams, the NATE Core and Specialty Test exams, and the EPA 608 certification exam.
These courses teach you how to properly troubleshoot air conditioning systems and refrigeration systems, and they also provide other hands-on training materials. It allows skilled workers to learn different types of refrigeration mechanics. This certification is perfect for a mechanic or technician who specializes in these types of machinery.
Certified Electrical Safety Compliance Professional (CESCP) | 12 Months
In this certification program, professionals are taught the safety protocols involved in working with various types of electrical systems. The training lasts for 12 months. The fee for the end-of-training examination costs $350, and professionals must also pay a $150 recertification fee every three years.
Easy Certifications to Get Online
Below are some easy online certification programs that provide hands-on experiences to their students. These are quick online programs from Udemy that interested parties can pursue at their own pace.
- Project Management Certification Training. This is a project management professional training program that teaches students different management methodologies and their proper application.
- Scrum Certification. This Scrum online course offers a ton of resources to gain a better handle on the SCRUM method of management.
- Salesforce Administrator Certification. This Salesforce online course provides the technical skills needed to understand Salesforce’s cloud-based software.
- Java Certification Course. The Java certification course offers the necessary information for becoming a Java developer. Those who pass the course will have demonstrated an understanding of the basic and intermediate tasks and actions in Java.
- Tableau Data Analyst Certification. The Tableau certification teaches all the features within the program and explains how to properly use the program for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
High-Paying Certification Jobs
Below are some well-paying jobs that you can obtain after enrolling in a certification program. The high-paying job list below is a great primer on the various compensation and demands for professionals with these certifications. The annual salary data below was taken from Payscale.
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
Information security managers handle various information security processes. This profession is under the branch of cyber security and these types of professions typically list certifications as prerequisites. These professionals earn an average salary of $129,000.
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
A security systems analyst with this type of certification signals to employers that they have the proper knowledge of information system security standards and regulations. These professionals, who earn an annual salary of around $120,000, have the appropriate communication skills in the field that can help them in their careers.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
These solutions architects are well-skilled in AWS and its best practices. They rectify concerns by providing solutions within the AWS system. They also design various systems that foolproof the mainframe and troubleshoot and debug any issues. AWS solutions architects can expect to make an average salary of $117,000.
Project Management Professional (PMP)
A certified PMP is highly knowledgeable in team management and executive pursuits. Project management education is crucial for people in supervisory positions. Professionals in this field are flexible and can work in multiple departments or handle an apprenticeship program. The average annual salary is $110,000 for project management professionals.
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
CSMs are highly adaptable professionals in any tech industry. They have a similar skillset to PMPs, as both oversee operations at a managerial level. An example of a Scrum framework is when things are done in sprints. These are short, usually weekly, tasks that are more amenable and easy to handle. Certified ScrumMasters can expect to make an average annual salary of $109,000.
Top Providers for Certificate Programs
Below are some popular options that offer online certificate programs to enroll in instead of pursuing certification. They offer resource guides that have excellent options for online training in different sectors.
Udemy
Udemy is an online marketplace for various training courses and classes on myriad topics. Its target market is young and aspiring professionals who want to upskill or explore different sectors. The website has a large selection of online courses both free and paid.
Coursera
Coursera is a massive open online course (MOOC) provider of numerous subjects and fields. The site has numerous resource guides, both free and paid, that offer obtain online certifications. It also has online colleges that award degrees to elevate those who are motivated in their career journeys.
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edX
edX is a MOOC created by Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This website has multiple online courses from top universities such as Berkeley, Brown, and Stanford University. It also contains more than 2,800 learning materials that are full of informative lessons and practical knowledge.
Should I Get a Certification?
Yes, you should get a certification. Whether it is a computer science certification or a certification in phlebotomy, certifications pave the way to a high-paying career. They’re a direct result of expertise and tenure. Obtaining a certification is a surefire way to becoming an industry expert in your chosen field.
Certifications That Pay Well FAQ
Yes, getting a certification is worth it. By pursuing certification, you’re unlocking lucrative career opportunities as you advance in your journey. It’s also a milestone, a signifier that you’ve accumulated enough skill over time to warrant recognition.
Yes, you might experience some difficulties as you pursue certification. Most require prior skill and work experience before you’re permitted to enroll. Keep this in mind as you pursue various certifications in your industry.
No, there are no free certifications. There are, however, a ton of free certificates you can obtain. Certifications are handed out by a third party through several layers of assessments and exams. For the most part, certifications are awarded once you’ve garnered the necessary skills and experience.
No, coding bootcamps do not give certifications. Coding bootcamps give out certificates of completion because they’re an educational organization that provides its students with practical knowledge. Try any of the free coding bootcamps if you want to experience several training sessions.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
