Did you know there are major differencies between certificates and the value and credibility they offer? One certificate type is more valuable and credible than the other one. Do you know all the certificate types and which one you should be looking for?
Certificate
In general the most well known Worldwide word describing any type of accomplishment available and shareable in paper form or as pdf file (or other format) confirming you earned recognition as a person who obtained certain skill, amount of knowledge or presented required performance. I will compare for you types of certificates issued upon an successful online course completion. Certificates have a different credibility and value when studied online and "offline" (school, university, other type of class course or training). I will describe for you certificates commonly used in online study. All the descriptions are in general, just to help you to know what online course to choose, as in each country are different measures on how to evaluate certificate levels, amount of knowledge completed by learner and study hours.
Certificate of Completion/Achievement
Certificate on its own doesn't have much value. You will receive a certificate of completion upon the end of the course. This type of certificate doesn't confirm whether you actually learned anything or at least went through the all study materials provided. This certificate only presents the fact you got to the end of the course. It doesn't offer to potential employers almost any value but it can show you are eager to learn, self-motivated and certificate is certainly motivation for you to finish the course.
Award
Awards are recognised as any qualification with up to 130 hours of studying. Awards are issued by recognized governing body and are accreddited within the specific field. Such certificate has a value for employers eventhough it's the lowest certificate type (except the certificate of completion/achievement). A course offering this type of certificate usually include at least one essay/assignment and/or test/exam.
Nanodegree
A course with the quaility content made by professionals within their field requiring from 60 to 140 hours studying time in general. This type of course is mostly recognized by employers and professionals within their field. Such course contain several assignments and exam/test or hands on project to gain not just a theory but experience as well. This type of courses usually doesn't go as deep into the topic as professional certificate but equips you with on demand skills.
Professional Certificate
A course providing a professional certificate is designed to focus on a specific job or set of skills to enhance your potential. Proffesional certificate might require from 40 up to 360 studying hours in general. This type of certificate might offer a full range of skills neccessary for your development and usually contains levels of knowledge from entry level to advanced. Such a course can be highly specific and can in some case contain only advanced knowledge or intermediate to advanced. Professional certificate can be even more expensive than certificate and in some cases even more expensive than a diploma because it deals with specific skills/job and require deep knowledge for a course creator to convey and a learner to recieve and undertstand. Part of the professional certificate might be getting also hands on skills or projects within the field. Such course can prepare you for a credible and widely recognized exam within your field or an exam can be part of the course itself. Such courses usually include multiple assignments, essays and in most cases hands on project.
Certificate
Certificates are recognised as any qualification with between 130 and 370 hours of studying. Don't confuse the word certificate in general with the specific type of certificate - certificate. I know, it's quite confusing. This level of certificate presents the proof you have more than just entry level knowledge within the field. A course offering this type of certificate usually include several essays/assignments and/or a final test/exam. The knowledge gained from such a course goes usually more deep than just an entry level knowledge.
Micro Masters Degree
This type of certificate is fairly new but offers several advantages. You will gain knowledge worth of 160-450 hours of studying, you can get a college credits which can be used in further studies and micro master degree is 20-35% of master degree program on university/college. Such courses are made by universities/colleges and have several individual courses. Each micro master degree course can have 4-8 shorter courses and you can study them one by one or all at the same time. You will have to pass several assignments, essays and in most cases proctored exam in each course ensuring the course and certificate credibility and whether you really gained knowledge presented in the course. In some cases as part of the course can be hands on project.
Diploma
Diplomas are recognised as any qualification that has over 370 hours. Diploma can be in most cases intermediate to advanced level of knowledge in the field or set of skills. Diplomas are highly recognized by employers and can earn you even university/college credits towards your degree or further studies. If you are willing to spend the time it requires for completion and are prepared for a higher cost (compared with previous certificate types described) it can help you to get a promotion or a better job.
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