Acquiring a sales certificate is one way to show your excellence and expertise in the field and stand out to potential employers. An undergraduate or graduate certificate is a great sales training program that will teach you about a broad range of sales topics.
In this guide, we’ll examine different colleges and universities offering sales college certificates, and we’ll share some job opportunities open to certificate holders. We’ll also cover sales certification programs for seasoned professionals to earn a new credential that can help you find a new job or ask for a raise.
What Is a Sales Certificate College Program?
A sales certificate college program is designed to give students foundational knowledge of the sales process. Students will gain vital skills needed to succeed in business-to-business or direct customer sales roles. A certificate is a credit-based academic program that takes less time than a traditional degree program.
What’s the Difference Between a College Sales Certificate and Professional Certification in Sales?
The main difference between a certificate and a certification is that a college certificate is an academic credential awarded by colleges and universities. On the other hand, a certification is an exam provided by a nationally-recognized industry organization to verify the expertise of a sales professional.
Sales College Certificate vs Sales Certification: Key Differences
| Sales Certificate | Sales Certification |
|---|---|
| Academic credential provided by a university or college | Administered by career organizations or industry groups |
| Doesn’t require a lot of experience, open to newcomers | Usually requires a specific number of hours of work experience |
| Can be a step to earning a graduate or undergraduate degree | Unrelated to getting a degree or formal education |
How Long Does It Take To Get a Sales Certificate at College?
It only takes a year or less to get a sales certificate at college. The more courses you are willing to take simultaneously, the faster you can complete your program. The quickest programs can be completed in just one semester.
Best Sales Certificate Undergraduate Programs
| School | Program Name | Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University | Certificate in Sales and Marketing Essentials | $552/credit hour |
| Iowa State University | Undergraduate Certificate in Professional Sales | $361.58/credit (in state); $1,048.42 (out of state) |
| Ohio University | Certificate in Sales | $527/credit hour (in state); $1,001/credit hour (out of state) |
| Plymouth State University | Certificate in Medical Sales | $11,870/12 to 18 credits (in state); $22,250/12 to 18 credits (out of state) |
| The University of Alabama at Birmingham | Certificate in Professional Sales | $368/semester hour (in state); $884/semester hour (out of state) |
| University of Central Missouri | Certificate in Professional Selling | $268/credit hour (in state); $536/credit hour (out of state) |
| University of Kentucky | Undergraduate Certificate in Sales | $6,242/full-time semester (in state); $15,647/full-time semester (out of state) |
| University of Minnesota | Undergraduate Certificate in Sales | $520.50/credit (resident); $1,235.50/credit (out of state) |
| University of Nebraska | Undergraduate Certificate in Sales Excellence |
$259/credit hour (in state); $830/credit hour (out of state) |
| University of South Florida | Certificate in Sales | $213.67/credit (in state); $577.47/credit (out of state) |
Best Undergraduate Sales Certificate Programs: Explained
An undergraduate sales certificate program helps you understand the modern sales landscape, which will give you an advantage as a professional in the sales industry. Below are some of the colleges and universities that offer this certificate with details on coursework.
Sales College Certificate Program vs Sales Associate Degree
A sales college certificate program gives you an overview of specific topics in sales. On the other hand, a sales associate degree is an introductory program that will help you understand effective sales strategies as well as cover general education requirements.
These two types of programs differ from each other in the length of the program, program requirements, and coursework. Here is some more information on the factors that set these programs apart:
- Program length. Since certificate programs are more narrow with their coursework, students can complete them within less than a year. In contrast, an associate degree is typically 60 credits and takes two years to finish.
- Training scope. A certificate program is a contained training program to teach you specific career skills. An associate degree teaches you how to think critically about a wide range of subjects and prepares you for a bachelor’s degree.
- Flexibility of coursework. An associate degree includes general education requirements, major education requirements, and several elective options. In contrast, a sales college certificate is mostly required courses with one or two elective options.
Best Online Associate Degrees
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Best Associate Degrees
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Is an Undergraduate Sales Certificate Worth It?
Yes, an undergraduate sales certificate is worth it because it teaches you skills you can use in any sales field. You’ll learn how to communicate with customers or clients respectfully and successfully. You’ll learn more about different selling strategies and marketing promotions.
Best Sales Certificate Graduate Programs
| School | Program Name | Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport University | Graduate Certificate in Sales Leadership | $959/credit |
| Northeastern University | Graduate Certificate in Sales Management | $29,500 (whole program) |
| Ohio University | Graduate Certificate in Strategic Sales and Sales Leadership | $240/credit hour (in state); $243/credit hour (out of state) |
| University of California Los Angeles | Certificate in Professional Selling and Sales Management | $5050 (whole program) |
| University of Cincinnati | Graduate Certificate in Professional Selling and Sales Management | $100/credit hour |
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Best Graduate Sales Certificate Programs Explained
Graduate sales certificates are beneficial for sales professionals who have worked in sales for a while. They’ll be able to learn about the newest marketing trends and sales technologies. These certificates also help students learn how to increase sales performance using sales analytics. Below are some universities that offer graduate sales certificates.
Sales Graduate Certificate Program vs Sales Master’s Degree
A sales graduate certificate program is different from a sales master’s degree in that it is shorter and less expensive. A master’s degree program often includes a capstone project, research project, or internship to help students build professional skills. Below is more information that students should know in order to decide whether they should pursue a graduate certificate or master’s degree.
- Cost. A graduate certificate requires fewer credits than a sales master’s degree, which means that the program costs less than a master’s degree.
- Academic Path. A sales master’s degree leads to a student earning a full academic degree, whereas a sales graduate certificate program does not. However, credits earned during a graduate certificate program can usually be applied to a master’s degree.
- Set of skills. A master’s degree covers a broader scope, giving students a chance to develop a wider skill set in sales. On the other hand, a sales graduate certificate program might only cover a few topics.
Best Online Master’s Degrees
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Best Master’s Degrees
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Is a Graduate Sales Certificate Worth It?
Yes, a graduate sales certificate is worth it because you’ll learn about advanced sales topics, such as sales leadership and the best practices for selecting sales talent. You’ll also learn how to incorporate performance management processes into your sales career. A graduate sales certificate helps you reach management-level career opportunities.
Sales Certificate Program Coursework
A sales certificate program contains a lot of important courses that will help you in your career. The coursework is the heart of every certificate program. Below are commonly required courses that you might find in a sales certificate program.
Sales Force Management
In this course, students will learn about the responsibilities of a sales manager when it comes to building, leading, and directing a salesforce. Students will dive deeper into structuring and designing sales territories, sales forecasting, and other leadership roles such as hiring and managing salespeople.
Personal Selling
In this course, students will learn about the process of selling effectively. The concepts learned through this course will not just be applicable in a business environment but also in interpersonal settings. This course includes a lot of student interaction since you’ll need to practice selling techniques for different sales situations.
Sales Communication
Through this course, students will gain a better understanding of the basics of sales communication, such as written, listening, and verbal skills. You’ll learn how to develop a written selling plan and practice communicating with prospective leads.
Principles of Marketing
While marketing is slightly different from sales, the principles of marketing are extremely relevant to sales professionals. Students will learn about pricing strategies, promotional activities, distribution channel selection, and product innovation.
Advanced Professional Selling
In this course, students will learn more about the advanced theories and practices of personal selling using sales technology and relationship marketing. Other topics included are prospecting, territory management, and customer service. Students will transform their new tools into practice through different simulated selling situations.
Best Online College Courses for Credit
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What Can You Do With a Sales Certificate from College?
With a sales certificate, you can become a sales representative in a wide variety of industries. As of 2020, the largest group working in sales consisted of 1.57 million sales representatives for manufacturing and wholesale industries in the US. Some common roles for sales professionals are listed below.
Best Sales Jobs and Careers With a Certificate
| Job Role | Average Salary | Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Manager | $127,490 | $959/credit |
| Sales Engineer | $103,710 | $29,500 (whole program) |
| Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representative | $62,890 | $240/credit hour (in state); $243/credit hour (out of state) |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $49,840 | $5050 (whole program) |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $48,340 | $100/credit hour |
Best Sales Certificate Jobs and Careers: Explained
The best sales certificate jobs and careers include entry-level and more advanced roles. We’ll examine these jobs below and explain what you need to meet the requirements for these positions.
Should I Also Get a Sales Certification?
Yes, you should get a sales certification because it is one way to prove your skills to employers. There are beginner and advanced sales certifications. Whether you’re just starting out or have been in the field for a while, certifications are a great way to show your sales skills and move forward in your career.
Best Sales Certifications
- Certified Sales Development Representative. The organization that gives this certification is the American Association of Inside Sales Professionals. This certification is for sales professionals who are just entering the field and want to create a solid foundation for their career in sales. The certification exam includes a practical role-playing exercise and costs $575 for members and $720 for non-members.
- Certified Inside Sales Professional. This certification is also given by the American Association of Inside Sales Professionals. This is recommended for those who already have experience in sales. The cost is $875 for members and $1,020 for nonmembers. To maintain this certification after three years, participants need to attend conferences, local meetings, or webinars and training events.
- Certified Professional Sales Leader. This certification is given by the National Association of Sales Professionals, which checks your sales strategies and teaches you effective work habits. This program is for small business owners, sales managers, or salespeople looking to move into leadership positions. The leadership course and exam cost $795.
Best Professional Certifications
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Is a College Certificate for Sales Worth It?
Yes, a college certificate for sales is worth it because you’ll be able to learn advanced sales strategies that will help you land a job in sales. A certificate program also gives you the opportunity to interact and collaborate with your peers and network with your professors.
Sales Certificates FAQ
The best sales certificate for a sales manager is a graduate sales certificate. Graduate sales certificates are programs for sales professionals that teach leadership and management skills to prepare you to lead a sales team. You’ll learn how to handle people and how to find and train good employees.
Sales certifications are important because they are assessments that verify your skills and test your knowledge. Getting a sales certification is also a way to land better opportunities by showing a future employer that you have specific skills that are important in sales.
No, you can’t get a certification for free. All certifications cost money to take. In some cases, you can save money by taking only the certification exam and skipping an optional exam preparation course.
You should get a sales college certificate when aiming for an entry-level job because the topics covered in an undergraduate sales certificate will teach you basic sales strategies and technologies. You should get a graduate sales certificate when you want to grow more in the field and advance to leadership roles.
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