Certificate programs can lead to good jobs
For the AJC
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Need a job — or a better job — in this tough job market? A short-term certificate program could be just the ticket to add new skills to your résumé in a hurry.
Georgia universities and technical colleges offer a variety of certificates ranging from industrial to clinical to professional skills. Many lead directly to in-demand jobs in growing industries such as IT, legal, health care and transportation.
Photos by Leita Cowart / Special
Amy Williams got a certificate at Emory’s Center for Life Long Learning, then she was hired by instructor Adam Rosenkoetter.
Dr. Joe Forese,Instructor of the Certified Nursing Assistant classes at Kennesaw State University, instructs student Kelen Simao on how to properly insert a needle using a plastic arm in phlebotomy class.
Dr. Joe Forese, Instructor of the Certified Nursing Assistant classes at Kennesaw State University, instructs student (seated) Larry Lutzaker, Jessee Buddenhagen, and Nicole Magliochetti (far right) on how to draw blood from a patient.
Amy Williams had a degree in computer science and worked as a programmer for 15 years before her children were born. Staying home to raise her family, she worked part time as a secretary. “When my oldest was a high school senior and getting ready to go to college, I knew I had to do something to make more money and challenge myself,” Williams said. “I knew I needed more current computer skills.” Using Web sites all the time, she wondered whether she could create them.
Williams chose the Web design and Web development certificates offered through Emory University’s Center for Life Long Learning.
“It was truly a professional program, not just something you’d do in your spare time. The class schedules were convenient, and after talking with advisers, I knew I was going to learn the latest practices,” Williams said. “As soon as I started, I loved it. I felt like a fish that had been out of water.”
She put in a lot of hours at night, but she was proud of her ability to go back to school and succeed.
“It showed my kids that if you really want something, you have to work for it,” she said.
Eleven proficiency tests, two capstone projects and a year later, she graduated in fall 2007 and was immediately hired by one of her Emory instructors, Adam Rosenkoetter, a partner with Sol Design. She considers the certificates a great investment.
“Web design and development comes down to talent and finding the right people, but having a certificate is very valuable in the marketplace. It tells employers that you have taken specific classes and learned basic skills,” Rosenkoetter said. His students come to Emory to ramp up their skills or to change careers. They find jobs in an expanding industry as companies continually retool and upgrade their Web sites.
Kenya Vickers’ decision to complete a paralegal certificate at Emory’s Center for Life Long Learning was simple.
“I didn’t have $100,000 for law school, but I always had an interest in the legal field,” she said. With a bachelor’s degree in science and engineering, Vickers had worked in the engineering arena but found it a poor fit.
“I found myself watching the clock every day, but when you’re doing things you like, it’s different. Now, I’m excited about what I’m doing,” Vickers said. She graduated second in her class and found a paralegal position through Emory’s job board at the Banta Immigration Law firm.
“The legal profession is a good place to be when the economy is bad,” said Cicely Barber, instructor for Emory’s paralegal program and owner of Litigation Training Solutions. “There will always be litigation.” Paralegals start out in law firms, corporations and government agencies making $30,000 to $40,000 on average, but the monetary rewards increase quickly as they gain experience. Emory’s paralegal certificate costs about $6,000 and takes six months to complete.
“That’s a small price to pay and a small chunk of time to get a whole new skill set and career,” Barber said.
Continuing Education at Kennesaw State University targets its certificate programs to market demand.
“By offering 40 unique certificate programs in many of the fastest-growing career tracks, we’re helping people gain the essential skills necessary to remain competitive in today’s changing job market,” said Barbara S. Calhoun, dean of continuing education at KSU.
The professional programs strive to offer the best education — from working experts in the field — at the most affordable price, said Karen LaMarsh, director of program development. “We create a very successful learning experience for the person returning to school.”
With staff shortages in all areas of health care, KSU’s phlebotomy, EKG technician, medical office assistant, medical billing and insurance specialist, certified nursing assistant, and pharmacy technician certificate programs are booming.
“Workers who have gone through several jobs and are asking ‘Where can I go and not be laid-off?’ are finding an answer in health care,” LaMarsh said. The seven- to 13-week certificates offer intense training in jobs with plenty of room to grow.
“A certificate can be a way to test-drive a field to see if it’s right or a steppingstone to a higher degree. Many CNAs go on to become nurses or physician assistants later,” she said.
The Technical College System of Georgia offers certificates in 33 technical colleges across Georgia. Certificates help students enter old, but growing fields, like welding, automotive technology and early childhood education, as well as emerging fields like geographic information systems.
Certificates range from 10 weeks to a year. They include entry-level programs — such as a new law enforcement certificate to prepare candidates for police and sheriff’s departments — and advanced certificates that upgrade workers’ skills.
“A radiologic technologist, for instance, might complete a certificate in mammography or sonography to gain additional skills for a better job,” said Teresa Resch, executive director for academic affairs for the Technical College System of Georgia.
Technical college certificates are embedding in diploma and associate degree programs, so students can keep learning if they choose. Most Georgia residents qualify for HOPE grants, which pay tuition for a credit certificate or diploma program. The job placement rate for technical college graduates is about 90 percent, Resch said.
Anthony Rojo, computer sciences division director at Gwinnett Technical College, has seen computer science enrollments increase by 29 percent from spring 2007 to spring 2008. Gwinnett Tech recently became a Microsoft IT Academy, offering faculty and students more resources and discounted rates on certification exams. Students are enrolled in networking, programming, Web site design, computer simulation/game development and information security programs to compete for jobs with starting salaries of $30,000 to $55,000. Computer workers continually come back for certificates in new software to upgrade their skills.
“In a tight employment market, more people go back to school for retraining to become more competitive,” Rojo said.
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