What Is a Professional Certificate?

In a rapidly evolving job market, staying ahead means constantly refining and expanding your skill set. A professional certificate represents a key stepping stone in this journey, offering specialized training and education that aligns with industry standards and requirements. 

professional certificate

Graphic Design Elements for Non-Designers

4.7

(1,085 ratings)

40,382 already enrolled

Beginner level

Learn More

Average time: 1 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Print Design, textual elements and manipulation, online design, Color Theory, Graphic Design, textual elements

Types of professional certificates

Professional certificates are training or educational courses and programs designed to equip learners with specific skills in a particular subject area. Certificates confirm that you can demonstrate knowledge in a field of study and you’ve completed a set of relevant courses.

Professional certificates come in many forms, each designed to cater to specific career goals, skill levels, and industry demands. Accredited colleges and universities—as well as many national professional associations—offer professional certificate programs. From technology and business to health care and creative arts, these credentials can validate your expertise and commitment to professional development. While professional certificates do not equate to or result in a college degree, they can qualify you for other credentials depending on your profession, such as a state license. 

The type of professional certificate you pursue should align with your career goals. Ask yourself if the skills you’ll gain by completing the program will help advance your career, are relevant to your field or profession, and provide long-term benefits—like higher earnings or promotions to better-paying positions.

Industry-specific certificates

Industry-specific certificates let you focus on specialized skills often required in specific sectors, such as IT, health care, and engineering. The goal of industry-specific certificates is to show mastery of a specific tool, topic, or concept within a certain industry. Some industry-specific professional certificate programs include: 

• IBM Machine Learning Professional Certificate: Designed for professionals who want to prepare for a career in machine learning or deepen their knowledge of the field, the program includes six courses covering topics that range from exploratory data analysis for machine learning to supervised, unsupervised, and deep learning. 

• Google UX Design Professional Certificate: This foundational certificate program is ideal for anyone who wants to enter or advance in the field of UX design. You will have the opportunity to learn key UX design concepts and gain essential skills, like conducting research to test designs and building prototypes and wireframes. 

• SAP Technology Consultant Professional Certificate: Study to become a technology consultant specifically for SAP software systems. This is a beginner-level program that includes seven courses to help you build core skills in understanding the types of software solutions SAP Partners and customers want and how to provide them. You'll explore consulting in general as well as specific to SAP, discover customer engagement principles, and have the opportunity to design and implement an SAP Solution. 

• CVS Health Call Center Customer Service Professional Certificate: Develop job-ready skills as you pursue a role as a call center customer service representative in the health care field. With four courses that typically take two months total to complete, you can learn how to have positive interactions with customers and create smooth solutions for them.

Skill-based certificates

Skill-based certificates target the development of particular skills, including coding, digital marketing, and design. The goal of these certificates is to provide you with skills that you can use right away. Skill-based training can help you master a specific craft and acquire new skills in your industry. Some of these certificates include: 

• Intuit Academy Bookkeeping Professional Certificate: With this program, you can learn key bookkeeping concepts, such as double-entry bookkeeping, bank reconciliations, and financial statements. You'll also be exposed to key accounting concepts, including assets, liabilities, and equity. Earning this four-course professional certificate can typically help you qualify for a career in bookkeeping.

• Google IT Support Professional Certificate: Learn foundational skills in IT support, system administration, troubleshooting, networking, and more with this IT certificate. It is designed for anyone who wants to develop their tech support skills. You don’t need prior experience to enroll in this program, making it a great choice for beginners who want to pursue careers in IT support. 

• IBM Data Science Professional Certificate: You can prepare for a career as a data scientist with IBM’s certificate program, which does not require any prior experience to enroll. Learn in-demand AI skills like machine learning, data visualization, data analysis, and SQL. The course also includes hands-on learning in data science skills. 

• Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate: You can enter or become more accomplished in the high-demand social media marketing field by earning this six-course professional certificate. Along with brand management, content marketing, digital marketing, and performance advertisement, you'll also have the opportunity to gain must-have generative AI skills and learn how to optimize social media marketing campaigns.

Leadership and management certificates

Leadership and management certificate programs aim to offer educational opportunities for professionals looking to enhance their leadership capabilities and managerial skills. Many professionals enroll in these types of professional certificate courses as a way to continue their education and stay updated on evolving skills and methods in a specific industry. Consider these professional certificates in team leadership: 

• Google Project Management Professional Certificate: This project management program offered by Google focuses on providing a foundational understanding of project management while developing in-demand skills. The six-course program focuses on tangible skills that include developing a project plan and building a project schedule, as well as principles of Agile project management and pillars of Scrum.

What does a professional certificate do?

Professional certificates serve as a testament to your knowledge and skills in a particular area, making you a more attractive candidate to employers. They bridge the gap between academic education and practical, real-world expertise, enabling you to apply the latest industry practices and technologies effectively.

Professional certificate vs. certification

While a professional certificate confirms that you have completed a course or program of study, certifications confirm that you are “certified.” This means that you have acquired certain skills or knowledge by meeting specific requirements—like passing an exam or completing a certain amount of training. Earning a certificate does not equate to certification in a skill or topic. In some industries, you may have to earn a certification to enter into or advance into other roles in the field. 

Educational institutions typically award certificates, while national or international professional organizations and associations grant certifications. 

Who uses professional certificates?

A wide array of individuals—from recent graduates looking to enter the workforce with a competitive advantage to seasoned professionals seeking to update their skills or pivot to new career paths—use professional certificates. Employers also use certificates as a means of assessing the credibility of candidates during the hiring process. This means professional certificates can also help increase your professional credibility within your industry.

Pros and cons of using professional certificates

Earning a professional certificate comes with numerous benefits, including increased job opportunities, potential salary boosts, and enhanced professional credibility. However, candidates should also consider factors like the time and financial investment required to obtain these credentials.

Advantages: Career advancement and validation of expertise

Irrespective of whether you hold a degree, whether you’re a seasoned working professional or brand new to the job market, professional certificates can be instrumental in career advancement opportunities and all of the benefits that come with it. Professional certificate programs are typically very attainable and require few prerequisites, if any, for entry into the program. Consider earning a professional certificate to access these career-boosting advantages: 

• Opens up more job placement opportunities 

• Increases earning potential 

• Saves money as a cost-effective way to gain credentials/experience 

• Positions you to enter the job market or make a career change quicker 

• Demonstrates proficiency in desirable skills 

• Acts as a tangible way to demonstrate knowledge and abilities within an industry 

Disadvantages: Cost and time commitment may be significant for some individuals

Professional certificates may not fit everyone’s needs. Depending on many factors—like your financial situation, career goals, and family life—enrolling in a professional certificate program might not match up with your needs. However, even if you want to earn a professional certificate and feel like it’s the right career move for you, it helps to consider a few potential disadvantages. This way, you can better navigate the process of choosing and completing a program. Weigh out some of these considerations before choosing to pursue a professional certificate: 

• Some programs can be expensive

• Programs may take months to complete 

• Course schedules can be rigorous/time-consuming 

• Some professions require specific certifications and testing

How to get started with professional certificates

Starting your journey toward earning a professional certificate involves identifying your career goals, researching relevant certificates, and selecting a program that fits your needs. 

Based on your specific industry or profession, consider researching the current job market to assess the benefits the certification may have for you. Is the certificate one that is in demand in your industry? Does the certificate program teach you the desired skills and knowledge for your current or prospective position? Try to narrow down programs that help you qualify for a specific position, and make sure the certificate is relevant to the roles and responsibilities of that position. Before choosing a program, review course reviews and ratings and read through course descriptions.

To find specific professional certificates, try looking on the websites of professional organizations within a specific industry or look through reputable organizations or universities/colleges that offer online courses. Another great resource for finding a certificate program is to check with your employer for professional development opportunities. 

Taking the next steps on Coursera 

Earning a professional certificate online is an excellent way to advance in your career. You can find many different types of professional certificates online, some with very few entry requirements.

Coursera offers many Professional Certificate courses online from top-rated universities, colleges, and more. From technical to interpersonal skills, you can find a Professional Certificate program that helps you grow professionally and meet your goals.

If you want to gain skills in project management, consider enrolling in the Google Project Management Professional Certificate on Coursera. For acquiring in-demand cybersecurity skills, try the Microsoft Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate, also available on Coursera. 

Want to explore multiple industries or skills? With Coursera Plus, you get unlimited access to more than 10,000 courses, Projects, Specializations, and Professional Certificate programs in a variety of domains, including data science, business, computer science, health, personal development, humanities, and more.

professional certificate

Graphic Design Elements for Non-Designers

4.7

(1,085 ratings)

40,382 already enrolled

Beginner level

Learn More

Average time: 1 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Print Design, textual elements and manipulation, online design, Color Theory, Graphic Design, textual elements

professional certificate

Graphic Design

Make Compelling Design. Learn and apply the principles of graphic design towards a comprehensive branding project.

4.7

(17,179 ratings)

407,725 already enrolled

Beginner level

Learn More

Average time: 2 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Art History, Branding Communication, Visual Communication, Typography, Graphic Design, Adobe Indesign, Art, Creativity, Graphics, History, Graphic Arts, Adobe Illustrator, Design Theory, Color Theory, Adobe Photoshop

Build job-ready skills with a Coursera Plus subscription

Start 7-day free trial

• Get access to 10,000+ learning programs from world-class universities and companies, including Google, Yale, Salesforce, and more
• Try different courses and find your best fit at no additional cost
• Earn certificates for learning programs you complete
• A subscription price of $59/month, cancel anytime

Start 7-day free trial