Welcome to Certificate Programs Career Path Community! 

Here you will learn about entry-level, mid-level, and senior-level career paths that you can pursue with your certificate. You will also find information here such as jobs, resources, courses, videos, and events specific to your major. Embrace your career and academic journey and get ready to embark upon career exploration that will lead to a more meaningful and informed career plan as you complete your education and beyond.

What Can I Do With My Certificate?

Certificates are a great compliment to a degree program or can be used as a stand-alone credential to demonstrate your competencies as a specialist in your field. Opportunities are available in all industries and within all organizations!

If your interest is in applying the knowledge you gain from online accounting courses toward an entry-level job in bookkeeping, accounting and auditing – each role critical to the financial health of an organization – there are many possible career paths where you could benefit from an accredited accounting certification program online:

  • Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerk: In this role, you may oversee a company’s financial inputs and outputs and budget. You may be responsible for maintaining the books showing all accounts payable and receivable. You may also be in charge of processing payroll and completing other work such as producing financial reports and making general ledger entries. The 2022 median pay for these clerks was $45,860.1
  • Accounting technician or assistant: These entry-level roles involve managing day-to-day accounting tasks. You may prepare financial reports, handle petty cash or conduct general office administration such as invoicing and communicating with vendors. General accounting duties are the hallmark of this role, including reconciling bank statements, recording revenue or managing accounts receivable and customer billing.
  • Auditing clerk: Attention to detail is a particular must with this role, as the auditing clerk will combine bookkeeping, accounting and general financial recording for an organization. Ensuring accuracy across all financial documents is key.
  • Financial clerk: Administrative financial work is one part of this role, while the main responsibilities include record keeping and financial reporting. The 2022 median salary for the role was $45,570.1
  • Accounts payable and accounts receivable administrator: Every company has money that goes out and comes in, and needs a professional to manage that flow. Serving as an administrator of accounts payable, accounts receivable or both means you may track that cash flow and ensure that bills are paid on time, on an incoming and outgoing basis.

The demand for professionals with accounting certificates and accounting degrees is rising, creating a strong job market for those with an accounting background. In 2021 alone, about 1.4 million were employed as accountants or auditors. And forensic accountants have become crucial to business since – according to a 2022 survey, 46% of surveyed organizations experienced fraud or other economic crime in 2020 and 2021, totaling billions of dollars in financial loss.

When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors — like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that accountants and auditors who’ve earned professional recognition should have an advantage in the job market.1

And that works out well for those pursuing SNHU’s online Fraud Examiner Certificate, because the forensic accounting courses you’ll take can help prepare you for the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) exam.

What can a CFE certification do for your career? According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), it can help you3:

  • Increase your earnings – CFEs make about 17% more than their non-certified colleagues
  • Increase your marketability — CFE is known as the standard of excellence in the field and nearly 90% of Fortune 500® companies employ at least one CFE
  • Impact your company’s bottom line — Companies with CFEs on staff uncover fraud about 40% sooner

Forensic accountants also have plenty of choices as to where they could work.

Forensic accounting combines accounting principles with the detection and prevention of fraud against the government, corporations, organizations and individuals.

The demand for professionals with accounting certificates and accounting degrees is rising, creating a strong job market for those with an accounting background. In 2021 alone, about 1.4 million were employed as accountants or auditors.1 And forensic accountants have become crucial to business since – according to a 2022 survey, 46% of surveyed organizations experienced fraud or other economic crime in 2020 and 2021, totaling billions of dollars in financial loss.

Understanding the Numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors — like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that accountants and auditors who’ve earned professional recognition should have an advantage in the job market.1

And that works out well for those pursuing SNHU’s online Fraud Examiner Certificate, because the forensic accounting courses you’ll take can help prepare you for the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) exam.

In today’s fluid workforce environment, the future of HR is strategic partnership. Whatever the trends – automation, diversity, financial literacy, telecommuting – HR will continue to manage the workforce needs of organizations in nearly every job sector.

As a program aligned with SHRM competencies, the undergraduate HR management certificate can also help differentiate you from other graduates in your field.

You’ll also be ready for a variety of entry-level positions, including:

  • Human resources specialist. Help recruit, screen and interview job candidates. Once a candidate is hired, you may handle employee relations, compensation and benefits, and training.
  • Human resources assistant/coordinator. Responsible for maintaining personnel records, you might prepare reports, file employment records or maintain classified employee information.
  • Labor relations specialist. Help resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiating collective bargaining agreements and coordinating employee grievance procedures.
  • Employment specialist. Recruit people with the right skill sets for roles at organizations that need the talent.
  • Client services representative. Take care of clients’ questions and concerns.

With Southern New Hampshire University’s online Leadership of Nonprofit Organizations Graduate Certificate, you position yourself to manage a diverse range of nonprofit organizations. 

Because there are so many types of nonprofits, you should be able to find an area you’re passionate about. In data released in 2018, the National Council of Nonprofits shared numbers of registered charitable nonprofits; the top 5 subsectors1 include:

  • Human services: 353,909
  • Religion-related, spiritual development: 298,227
  • Education (excluding higher education): 184,114
  • Arts, culture, humanities: 119,763
  • Public/societal benefit and community improvement: 94,794

Earning your graduate certificate in marketing can help you compete for highly coveted marketing positions. You’ll gain a keen understanding of the tools, technology and tactics needed to successfully market goods and services – in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors.

According to the BLS, people in marketing roles can find themselves:

  • Working with department heads to discuss budgets, contracts and marketing plans
  • Planning multi-channel promotional advertising campaigns for broadcast, print, digital and more
  • Initiating market research studies and analyzing findings to understand consumer behavior
  • Meeting with clients to discuss ongoing marketing efforts
  • Overseeing the hiring and management of advertising, promotions and marketing staff

As operations and supply chain management spending continues to outpace the rest of the economy, career opportunities with traditional manufacturers and retailers, operations and supply chain management consulting firms and transportation providers should remain strong.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of logisticians – those who analyze and coordinate an organization’s supply chain – is projected to grow 28% through 2031, which is much faster than the average growth rate for all U.S. occupations.With reported median annual pay of $77,030 in 2021, salaries for these roles also far exceed median annual wages for all U.S. workers ($45,760).1

The operations and supply chain management graduate certificate program prepares you to compete for this growing number of high-paying jobs.

As long as there are projects to be done, there will be a need for people to manage them.

In the United States, roles in project management are expected to grow fastest in software development – 14% through 2030.2

Globally, industries that should see the most growth through 20302 include:

  • Manufacturing and construction
  • Information and publishing
  • Finance and insurance
  • Management and professional services
  • Utilities
  • Oil and gas

Students who successfully complete QSO 645: Project Management for PMP Certification as part of their Graduate Certificate in Project Management will meet the 35 hours of project management education required in order to take the PMP exam.

Through SNHU’s relationship with the Project Management Institute (PMI)®, this program is designed to give students the education, experience and guidance needed to prepare for the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam.

An optional course in this program satisfies the 35 hours of project management education required to apply for the PMP® exam. In addition, we require all PMP course instructors to complete the PMI® Authorized Training Partner Train the Trainer – PMP Exam Prep Program, which equips our faculty with the authority to deliver PMP® exam prep and training content to PMI’s quality standards for the revised exam, which went into effect in January 2021.

Students who choose to pursue their PMP certification will find that this in-demand, industry-recognized credential can add significant value to their skillset, open up new opportunities and help boost their career growth and earning potential.

Public administration is interdisciplinary and collaborative at its core. Many jobs use public administration concepts to help an organization reach its goals. Some of these opportunities include:

  • Budget analyst. Already have a background in business or accounting? You could combine your knack for numbers with your new public administration skill set to help agencies and organizations coordinate their finances. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, budget analysts made a median annual salary of $87,680 in 2022.1
  • Compliance officer. Examine operations of government agencies and businesses to evaluate their compliance with laws and regulations. Compliance officers earned a median annual wage of $76,980 in 2022, according to the BLS.1
  • Political Scientists. If you’re a policy wonk, a job in political science could be for you. You’ll help support an organization’s political agenda by analyzing and current policies through surveys, economic data, and election results. The BLS reports political scientists made a median annual salary of $126,140 in 2022.1
  • Public relations and fundraising manager. Be the point person for a political campaign or nonprofit. On the PR side, you’ll manage internal and external communications. When it comes to fundraising, you’ll have the duty of cultivating donors. According to the BLS, public relations and fundraising managers made a median annual salary of $126,620 in 2022.1
  • Urban or regional planner. Want to revitalize communities to provide improved economic, environmental and social wellness? Working with city officials and government agencies, you’ll identify a community’s needs and solve them through planning, zoning and developing for land use plans and programs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, urban and regional planners made a median annual salary of $79,540 in 2022.1

The demand for public administrators is growing as well. According to the BLS, jobs for these administration and management roles should increase though 20321:

  • Administrative services managers: 5%
  • Social and community services managers: 9%
  • Medical and health services managers: 28%

Six Sigma is one of the most commonly used quality management methods in the modern business world, and Black Belt certification is a way to show off your expertise. Our online Six Sigma Black Belt graduate certificate program provides the educational knowledge that can help you prepare for Six Sigma Black Belt certification.

In the Six Sigma Black Belt Graduate Certificate program, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills needed to help you establish process improvements in quality assurance, systems and process engineering, logistics, supply chain management, operations management and procurement.

These skills are highly sought after by businesses and supply chains and are especially beneficial to professionals in manufacturing, engineering, operations and executive positions. After completing the program, you might explore positions like:

  • General/operations manager. Be in charge of the planning, strategies and policies that help organizations reach their goals in an efficient manner. You’ll oversee large strategic initiatives and direct daily business operations. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual salary of $122,860 for this role in 2022.1
  • Industrial production manager. Want to work in manufacturing? Coordinate, plan and direct production operations within an organization. You’ll put your knowledge of scheduling, budgeting and data analysis to work to streamline the production process. According to the BLS, industrial production managers made a median annual salary of $107,560 in 2022.1
  • Management analyst. Find ways to increase efficiency in an organization. You’ll analyze data to advise managers on how they can improve their businesses by reducing costs and increasing revenue. BLS reports a median annual wage of $95,290 for management analysts in 2022.1

Finishing your graduate certificate and earning the distinction as a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt could help give you a competitive advantage in the job market. Not only do these accomplishments qualify your expertise, but they could also signal to employers that you’re a hard worker who’s serious about professional development.

This program is designed to help you prepare for the Six Sigma Black Belt certification exam. However, it neither guarantees to help satisfy the eligibility requirements for taking a Six Sigma Black Belt certification exam nor ensures a passing grade on a Six Sigma Black Belt certification exam.

Social media certainly isn’t just about showing off vacation photos or what you ate for breakfast. It’s come a long way – and continues to be a necessary tool for businesses.

For many organizations, it’s the ultimate resource for making and keeping connections with consumers. With so much of social media happening in real time, your audience can create more loyalty with your brand – all because you responded within minutes, and with humanity.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6% growth for advertising, promotions and marketing managers through 2032 — faster than the average of all occupations.1

These managers could see employment growth in a variety of industries, because so many organizations today make use of social media. Companies today need to manage their digital marketing campaigns and connect with their audiences through websites, social media or even on live chats.

Because the digital platform has such a far reach, these campaigns can reach a target audience with more ease – putting products and services in front of the consumers who are more likely to purchase them.

The median annual pay for advertising, promotions and marketing managers in 2022 was $138,730.1

Understanding the Numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors — like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

As operations and supply chain management spending continues to outpace the rest of the economy, career opportunities with traditional manufacturers and retailers, operations and supply chain management consulting firms and transportation providers should remain strong.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of logisticians – those who analyze and coordinate an organization’s supply chain – is projected to grow 28% through 2031, which is much faster than the average growth rate for all U.S. occupations.With reported median annual pay of $77,030 in 2021, salaries for these roles also far exceed median annual wages for all U.S. workers ($45,760).1

The operations and supply chain management graduate certificate program prepares you to compete for this growing number of high-paying jobs.

Understanding the Numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors — like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

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