Posted by Earning a huge salary after a short program has been the dream of many which makes short certificate programs that pay well to be sorted after.
By undergoing a short certificate programs that pay well you can achieve that dream of getting a good salary even after investing a short amount of time. This can be self-fulfilling and an affordable way of starting a new career that will be worth your while.
The knowledge and skills gained during the certificate program become readily useful as they are well-streamlined to meet the needs of the career you are going into.
This article focuses on bringing to the fore, the various short certificate programs that pay well while stressing the potential benefits that you will enjoy after you have finished the program.
Table of Contents
Advantages of Short Certificate Programs that Pay Well
There are many reasons why you may choose to start a career using short certificate programs. Some of these reasons are highlighted here and underscore the benefits of engaging in these programs.
1. Career Startup in a Shorter period:
Many of these certificate programs can be over and done with within a period of about 1 to 6 months depending on the type of certification program you will decide to enroll in.
This can be compared to bachelor’s degree programs that can be done within 6 months, but these certificate programs are better as they are arguably more attractive in terms of future benefits.
2. Affordability:
Short certificate programs are expected to deliver specific skills within a short period which enables those who enrol to pay a reasonable sum of money for it.
The cost-effectiveness of these programs in comparison to conventional means of acquiring these skills is not in doubt.
This relies on the idea that the knowledge being offered to the students is very specific and devoid of the bogus nature of conventional programs.
3. Flexibility:
Some short certificate programs that pay well allow for flexibility as you acquire the knowledge and skills from the program.
These flexible natures include but are not limited to part-time, scheduled, and online programs.
4. Networking Opportunities:
While completing certificate programs, you will have the opportunity to meet and interact with industry professionals, instructors, and fellow students.
Having connections with these individuals enables you to have mentorship and properly build a career in your field of study.
25 Short Certificate Programs That Pay Well
Here is the list of short certificate programs that pay well… In-depth details of each program are given to enable you to make an informed decision in forging a path in your career.
1. Cloud Infrastructure
Job Opportunities: Cloud Architect, Cloud Engineer
Salary: $120,000 – $335,000
Cloud infrastructure certificate program you the opportunity to know the collection of hardware and software components that are necessary for providing computing resources while supporting the adequate delivery of cloud services over the internet.
Cloud infrastructure is said to be a vital part of cloud computing which is designed to deliver on-demand access to diverse amounts of computing resources which does not need direct management by the user.
For Cloud Architect or Cloud Engineer certificate programs, each can be completed in about 2-3 days depending on your commitment to studying and how quickly you can assimilate the information in the program.
2. AI Certification
Job Opportunities: Deep Learning Engineer, AI Engineer, AI Researcher
Salary: $144,800 per year
There are many Artificial Intelligence certifications you can get. As one of the short certificate programs that pay well, AI Certification can easily set you up for a good career.
There is vast career potential using AI Certification because of the high demand for professionals with AI skills, and jobs requiring AI expertise are estimated and projected to grow by 71% over the next decade.
This high demand is a result of the increased importance of AI and is virtually impacted by the adoption of AI across all sectors, leading to a plethora of exciting career opportunities in research, development, implementation, and management of AI systems.
The duration of this program is about 8 weeks.
3. Google Certified Professional Data Engineer
Job Opportunities: Data Engineer
Salary: $130,000 per year
This program enables professional Data Engineers to make data usable and valuable for others by training them in the collection transformation, and publishing of data.
By undergoing this certificate program, you will be able to evaluate and select products and services to meet business and regulatory requirements.
A Professional Data Engineer creates and manages robust data processing systems. This includes the ability to design, build, deploy, monitor, maintain, and secure data processing workloads.
The certificate program gives you the ability to:
- Design data processing systems
- Ingest and process the data
- Store the data
- Prepare and use data for analysis
- Maintain and automate data workloads
Generally, the program is slated to last for 2 hours but it comes with the recommendation of experience in using Google Cloud of about 3 years.
However, there are no prerequisites for enrolling in the program.
4. AWS Certified Solutions Architect– Associate
Job Opportunities: Cloud Architect
Salary: $159,033 per year
The AWS Solutions Architect certification is one of the best certificate programs online that you can easily achieve and it is also a high-paying program.
This program will equip you with the expertise in designing and deploying scalable systems on the AWS platform, aid in the designs of cloud infrastructures, referencing architectures, or deployment of systems and applications.
AWS recommends a year of hands-on experience designing systems on its platform before taking this exam.
It is recommended that you get AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification as a prerequisite for getting this certification.
5. CRISC– Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control
Job Opportunities: Senior Manager for Information Security (CISO / CSO / ISO)
Salary: $151,995 per year
CRISC is one of the short certificate programs that pay well. This certificate program aims to train individuals due to the drastic increase in security breaches in the I.T. world.
Certified Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) certification is offered by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) to help professionals develop skills related to risk in I.T.
Moreover, the enrolled I.T. professionals are given the necessary knowledge needed to identify, evaluate, and manage I.T. risk and to plan and implement necessary control measures and frameworks.
There are 4 core aspects of this certificate program:
- IT Risk Identification
- IT Risk Assessment
- Risk Response and Mitigation
- Risk Control, Monitoring and Reporting.
6. CISSP– Certified Information Systems Security Professional
Job Opportunities: Information Security
Salary: $151,853
This high-paying short certificate program is run by (ISC)² credentials and validates your cybersecurity expertise and years of experience.
Arguably, earning the CISSP certification is comparable to earning a master’s degree in I.T. security. It gives I.T. professionals the relevant capacity and skill to efficiently design, implement, and manage cybersecurity programs and frameworks.
The CISSP certificate program covers 8 areas of information security, namely:
- Security and Risk Management
- Asset Security
- Security Architecture and Engineering
- Communication and Network Security
- Identity and Access Management (IAM)
- Security Assessment and Testing
- Security Operations
- Software Development Security
The pre-requisite for obtaining the CISSP certificate is that you need to have about five years of relevant work experience where you are paid in two or more of the CISSP domains.
Alternatively, you can take the certification exam and become an Associate of (ISC)² and obtain 6 years of experience to earn your CISSP.
7. CISM – Certified Information Security Manager
Job Opportunities: Information Security
Salary: $149,246 per year
When seeking short certificate programs that pay well? Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification offered by ISACA is of that comes to mind.
CISM is a certificate program that validates a professional’s ability to manage, design, and assess an enterprise’s information security.
During the program, you will be evaluated in 4 core areas:
- Information Security Governance
- Information Risk Management
- Information Security Program Development and Management
- Information Security Incident Management.
To qualify for the program, you must meet the 5 years experience benchmark requirement.
8. Salesforce Certification
Job Opportunities: Salesforce Administrator, Salesforce Architect, Developer, Salesforce Manager, Salesforce Consultant, etc.
Salary: $117,026 per year
Salesforce is a Customer Relationship Management (CMS) platform with a customer base of more than 150,000 across the world.
This software helps you carry out essential business operations using its self-sufficient applications for marketing, Sales, and client service.
Salesforce is a fully customizable, cloud-based, and flexible platform that can save client information, produce useful data insights, manage marketing and sales campaigns, and support customer communications.
Some required skills to excel in the program include JavaScript, Visualforce, MySQL, Apex, Native, MavensMate, etc.
6 weeks of committed learning can ensure that you gain this certificate.
9. Big Data Certification
Job Opportunities: Big Data Engineer, Big Data Developer, Big Data Administrator, Big Data Visualizer, etc.
Salary: $103,000 per year
The Big Data certificate program allows you to utilize technology in converting massive data into something useful and valuable form for businesses and, consequently, improve business operations.
This program is useful in organizing datasets that are too big to be examined and elicited with the help of conventional methods.
After undergoing the program, Big Data Engineers must be able to develop, maintain, test, and evaluate big data solutions; create big data solutions and develop highly flexible distributed systems and high-performing algorithms simultaneously.
Some skills may become handy in going through the course: Python, Spar, Hadoop, Java, Linux, C++, PHP, Ruby, SQL, R, Tableau, Statistics, etc.
This certificate program can be completed within 6 weeks.
10. Cyber Security Certification
Job Opportunities: Cybersecurity Specialist, Cybersecurity Engineer, Cybersecurity Analyst
Salary: $99,800
Cyber security certificate programs deal with the application of technologies, processes, and controls to protect systems, networks, programs, devices, and data from cyber-attacks.
The primary objective of cyber security is to reduce the risk of cyber-attacks while protecting against the unauthorized exploitation of systems, networks, and technologies.
Whether you wish to look at all available cyber security courses online or wish to go to college for it, cyber security certificate programs remain one of the best short certificate programs that pay well.
Some cyber security courses can last for as little as 10 weeks.
11. Real Estate Agent
Job Opportunities: Real estate broker
Salary: $74,000 per year
Real estate has a lot of potential to make you rich. So, undergoing this course as one of the short certificate programs that pay well is worth it.
To get started, you will need a real estate license which takes about four to six months to train online or in a classroom before you can obtain the relevant license.
After getting your license, you can begin working under the supervision of a broker and start making money.
Nevertheless, you can become a full-fledged real estate broker after years of practice and experience.
12. Digital Marketing Certification
Job Opportunities: Digital Marketing Executive, Digital Marketing Consultant, Digital Marketing Specialist
Salary: $73,000 per year
Digital Marketing is one of the modern short certificate programs that pay well due to its evolution and popularity in the I.T. world.
Digital Marketing professionals are in high demand in the job market and are responsible for ensuring the proper marketing of businesses including their products or services.
A Digital Marketing Professional is among other things responsible for data analytics, search engine optimisation (SEO), mobile advertising, email & content marketing.
This program is usually short… You can spend as little as 6 months to learn the entire course.
13. HVACR Certification
Job Opportunities: HVAC Technician
Salary: $50,500
HVACR certification technicians are trained to be responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing heating, cooling, and refrigeration systems.
HVACR is the acronym for Heating, Ventilation, Air conditioning, and refrigeration.
HVACR mechanics and installers known as technicians work on the heating, ventilation, cooling, and refrigeration of systems that control the temperature and air quality in buildings.
HVAC certification is the certification for HVAC or HVAC-R technicians and is meant to validate the technician’s training, experience, and qualifications to perform installations and repairs.
The pre-requisite for enrolling to become a certified HVAC-R professional is a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
14. PMP® – Project Management Professional
Job Opportunities: Project Manager
Salary: $148,900.
The Project Management Institute (PMI®) or Project Management Professional (PMP) are prestigious project management certification for project managers.
These certification programs aid project managers in having the experience, prowess, and knowledge to define, organize, and manage projects from start to finish.
The prerequisites for enrolling in any of these certificate programs are that the candidates must have a four-year degree, three years of experience leading projects, and 35 hours of project management education or a CAPM® Certification.
Alternatively, the candidates must have a high school diploma, five years of experience, and 35 hours of project management education/training or hold the CAPM® Certification.
14. Medical Coder/Medical Biller
Job Opportunities: Medical Coder/Biller
Salary: $43,980 per year
When looking at the medical field for short certificate programs that pay well, medical coders and billers top the charts in terms of the huge salary and the demand for their services in the medical industry, as they help to smooth out the medical payment process.
By definition, medical billing and coding is the process of identifying diagnoses, medical tests, treatments, and procedures found in clinical documentation and then transcribing this patient data into standardized codes to bill government and commercial payers for physician reimbursement.
The roles of medical coders/billers include coding and decoding the procedures and diagnosis codes by following CMS guidelines.
Looking for a high pay in a lucrative field? Medical coding certification is a great option for you.
15. National Funeral Directors (NFDA) Certification
Job Opportunities: Funeral Director
Salary: $47,500
A funeral director, who is also known as an undertaker or mortician, is a professional involved in the business of funeral rites with the tasks of embalming and burial or cremation of the dead, as well as the arrangements for the funeral ceremony.
NFDA certification is offered by the National Funeral Directors Association, which is aimed at training funeral directors to be professional in carrying out their activities.
16. Firefighting Certification
Job Opportunities: Firefighter
Salary: $47,500 per year
Being a Firefighter is an important and noble job. Although there are risks involved in having this career, the salary is still attractive.
Although there may be no specific licensure that is required by the fire department, you may be expected to write an exam and attend a physical ability test that would prove that you can handle the rigors of the job.
Applying to fire departments is the first step in getting started on this job. Fire departments usually hire individuals every one or two years. But, the time frame is peculiar to each city’s fire department.
Being a certified Emergency Medical Technician or EMT is mandatory for this career even though you may not have been certified as of the time of application.
17. Certified Data Professional (CDP)
Job Opportunities: Application Analyst
Salary: $95,000
CDP certification is an upgraded version of the Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) which was created and offered by the ICCP from 2004 until 2015 before it was upgraded to the CDP.
The CDP certificate program uses broad and current industry scenario questions to examine and test candidates’ professional competence and knowledge.
18. NCP-MCI – Nutanix Certified Professional – Multi-cloud Infrastructure
Job Opportunities: Systems Architect
Salary: $142,810 per year
The Nutanix Certified Professional – Multicloud Infrastructure (NCP-MCI) certification is one of the short certificate programs that pay well. This program aims to recognize a professional’s skills and abilities to deploy, administer, and troubleshoot Nutanix AOS in the Enterprise Cloud.
To earn this certification, you are expected to pass the Multi-cloud Infrastructure exam.
Among other things, NCP-MCI professionals undergo training to acquire the essential knowledge and skills needed to deploy and manage a Nutanix environment.
19. Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
Job Opportunities: Cloud Architect, Cloud Engineer.
Salary: $121,420
The Azure Administrator Associate certificate program allows you to have a job role as a Cloud Architect or Cloud Engineer as it validates your ability as a Cloud administrator to manage an Azure instance, ranging from storage to security and networking.
To get this Azure Administrator Associate certificate, you need to have an in-depth understanding of the services across Microsoft’s full IT lifecycle and pass: AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator.
Candidates will gain the needed skills to make recommendations on services used for better performance, scale, provision, and size. They must monitor and adjust resources as appropriate.
20. DevOps Certification
Job Opportunities: DevOps Architect, DevOps Engineer, Build Engineer, DevOps Consultant, DevOps Test Analyst
Salary: $105,000 per year
DevOps is an interesting Computer Science related career that encloses the benefits of different tools to automatize and integrate the processes between software development and IT teams which encourages robust software releases, together with the development and testing of the products.
This certificate program involves various aspects including integration of source control, designing version control strategy, implementing code flow, developing infrastructure management, mobile DevOps strategy, and management of application configuration.
The expected duration to get this certificate can be as little as 6 Weeks.
21. Data Science Certification
Job Opportunities: Data Scientist, Data Analyst, Data Engineer
Salary: $121,731 per year
Data science seeks to combine mathematics and statistics, Artificial intelligence (AI), programming, advanced analytics, and machine learning with expertise on a specific subject matter to uncover actionable insights hidden in an organization’s data.
Getting a certification in Data Science is useful and quite lucrative. But, there are certain aspects that you need to understand before getting this certification.
These include: Identifying valuable and usable data sources, automatizing data gathering, working on structured and unstructured data, identifying trends and patterns using in-depth analysis, developing ML algorithms, suggesting predictive models, and data visualization.
Certain skill sets may come in handy in this program such as data collection, data analytics, data processing, Tableau, Hadoop, statistics, algebra, Python, C++, Scala, Java, R, SQL, etc.
You can conveniently go through a Data Science certification program in about 8 weeks. Combining the short period it takes to get this certificate and the huge remuneration awaiting you, is what makes this program one of the short certificate programs that pay well.
22. VCP-DVC – VMware Certified Professional – Data Center Virtualization
Job Opportunities: Systems/Enterprise Architect
Salary: $132,947
The VMware Certified Professional – Data Center Virtualization certification seeks to empower organizations to adopt digital environments, improve experiences, and streamline operations and workflows.
The VCP-DCV certification gives proof of a professional’s prowess and ability to design, implement, manage, and troubleshoot a vSphere infrastructure.
The prerequisites for getting this certification are that candidates must attend at least one course offered by an authorized training provider or reseller, and have at least six months of experience working with the latest version of vSphere, VMware’s server virtualization software.
23. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Job Opportunities: Nursing Assistant
Salary: $30,024
This program also made the list of short certificate programs that pay well for the medical field.
The requirements may vary by state, therefore, you must choose from among state-approved certificate programs. On completion of your training, you can begin working for healthcare organizations or in medical offices. Nursing assistant jobs are expected to grow 8% in the next 10 years, which is faster than average.
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) programs train you to offer direct care to patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and home care as the program is a vital part of a larger care team, as they assist patients with a range of basic needs, including eating, bathing, grooming, mobility, etc.
20. Commercial Truck Driver
Job Opportunities: Truck Driver
Salary: $59,370
The time required to develop your driving skills to become a commercial truck driver is quite short as it takes about 3 to 6 months to complete training after which you can start your career as a truck driver.
Candidates interested can take training from a truck driving school, community college, or other certified institutions. After being certified, you can choose to work for companies or become a self-employed truck driver.
25. Audio and Sound Technician Certification
Job Opportunities: Audio and Sound Technician
Salary: $48,000 per year
A sound technician is responsible for handling assembling, operating, and maintaining the technical equipment used for recordings.
As part of their job description, they are needed to test every piece of equipment in sound systems and recordings to ensure optimum results and sound quality. With their input, sounds can be recorded, enhanced, amplified, mixed, or reproduced.
This certification program is conducted by many institutions where candidates are trained to identify the sound requirements for a given task or situation and perform adjustments to get the best results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Difference Between Short Certificate Programs and Traditional Degrees?
Traditional degrees are structured to have a broader curriculum. In contrast to this, a short certificate program is designed to quickly develop you in a specific skill.
It is more time-efficient and affordable for you to gain expertise and skills which are in high demand in your field of study.
Are short certificate programs recognized by employers?
Yes, many short certificate programs are not only recognized by employers but also serve as an edge for you to have in your career.
The value obtained from short certificate programs is often developed in collaboration with industry experts which ensures that graduates gain practical skills that are directly applicable in their workplace.
How do I choose the right short certificate programs that pay well?
There are quite a number factors you should consider when choosing from the list of short certificate programs that pay well.
Factors such as career goals, the demand for specific skills in the job market, the significance of the program in your field of study, and financial benefit to be accrued from the program.
Looking for programs that are in alignment with your industry and interests is vital in choosing the right short certificate programs.
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Conclusion
Short certificate programs that pay well offer many benefits to both you and consequently your employer.
Several advantages of these programs include the ease and time efficiency of completing the courses, the cost-effectiveness of going through the courses, and the networking opportunities that abound after finishing the courses.
The programs are meant to deliver precise skill sets to you without a bogus curriculum.
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