School of PE Blog

The path to professional advancement is a long one. The main desire within any career field is to maintain a long-term relationship with the field you’re in: to find a fulfilling path toward retirement that can help develop your skills along the way. Over the course of twenty to forty years, you’ll sit in seminars, webinars, classes, and every variation of the learning environment with the hope that it will advance your career, leading to better time distribution, better pay, and more opportunities to showcase your skills. Certification exams are an important step on the path to advancement, and through exam review courses, you’ll be given the knowledge and experience necessary to pass these validation exams. Here, we’ll discuss the benefits of becoming professionally certified within your field, highly desired certifications, and how to choose the right exam review courses for you.

Certifications are a worthwhile investment into a person’s present and future career, offering beneficial opportunities for growth and advancement. Here are a few of the benefits that come as a result of becoming professionally certified.

Proof of skill mastery- There are two main paths to certification. The certification itself isn’t supposed to impart more information. Instead, it’s a validation of knowledge and skill for both the certification seeker and any future employer. The paths to certification can come in the form of experience or in the form of book learning at institutions. Usually, it’s a mix of both. Either way, the validation of knowledge is proof to anybody needing to know.

Increases your skill level- While certifications offer proof of skill mastery, exam review courses come with a comprehensive understanding of facts, processes, materials, and everything a person needs to know within their field. As they work through the exam review course, there is an inevitable increase in understanding of information. Some review courses also require a practical assignment that helps grow the student’s experience as well, effectively increasing their skill level along the way.

Competitive advantage over peers- Not only does a professional certification prove something to you as the exam taker, but it also provides proof to an employer that they’re hiring (or maintaining) somebody who knows what they’re doing and can effectively handle the tasks given. This gives the certified professional an advantage over other candidates in the field who may have the knowledge to do the job effectively but don’t have the desired validation of knowledge.

Higher earning potential- The more a person knows, the more valuable they become. Of course, the question in the end is, valuable to who? Regardless, with this validation of skill, there comes a much higher threshold for earning potential. For example, Project Management Professional (PMP) certified workers reported median salaries that were 25% higher than those who were not certified.

Potential tuition and certification reimbursement when you’ve made yourself more valuable to the company- Most companies right now have realized the benefits of having certified professionals and also paying for some further professional development. As a result, they’re willing to either cover some of the money used for certification or reimburse a portion. Other companies have professional certification opportunities built directly into their business model, and becoming certified in your field comes as a result of employment there anyway. Either way, it pays to be certified.

Certifications with crossover potential are certifications that prove competency in a variety of fields that can be moved from one industry to another. For example, they’re not specific to any one niche like nursing or engineering certifications. Instead, these are areas in which several industries can benefit from the knowledge of that professional.

Project Management Professional- This is an industry-recognized certification for project managers. It demonstrates that the candidate has the education, skill, and experience necessary to lead and direct projects across various industries. Project managers initiate and design the project at large and delegate the individual tasks to a team of people with diverse skill sets that allow the team to generate ideas and complete the project in a unique way.

Human Resources Certification- Human resources professionals are responsible for recruiting and managing employee interactions, as well as making and executing company policies. They’re also responsible for legal work within the company. Nearly every large company has a human resources department in need of qualified professionals. Certifications in HR prove that a person knows and understands their responsibilities and can execute tasks efficiently.

Leadership and Management Certifications- Leadership is a 21st-century skill that is highly sought after in today’s business market. It takes a lot to be a good leader: humility, intuition, and the ability to motivate a team and drive them towards success individually and collectively. Managing a group of people and their projects takes qualities that many people possess, and everybody can learn. Leadership certifications prove that a person has these desired qualities and can drive success for the company.

Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP)- A CPSP is one of the most recognized transferrable certifications. The focus of the certification is to teach new habits that drive successful outcomes and help organizations reach their goals. A CPSP not only works toward selling company products to customers. They also work towards developing relationships with these customers in a way that creates a bond with the company as well. Having a CPSP as a team member is a valuable resource.

Foreign Language Certifications- Becoming certified in foreign languages allows a company to diversify its target demographic into different cultures. An employee with language fluency is a valuable team member already. However, by taking the extra step to certify them and gain this credential for the employee, the company gains the credential along with them. This allows them to engage with customers in their native language and become an authority in their niche.

Business Analyst- A business analyst takes a deep look at every facet of organizational structure to identify their needs and define better business solutions for growth. They facilitate interactions between a company, its stakeholders, and a team ready to create solutions. Business analyst certifications acknowledge the person as competent, knowledgeable, and successful within their role.

Certification is an important step in advancing your career, whether you plan on staying with your current company or transferring to another in the future. Participating in exam review courses is a beneficial step in passing certification exams, and it’s important to choose the right one for you.

Consider your professional goals- Depending on your goals, your exam prep course will look different than others. If you’re trying to take a fast-track approach to career advancement, then finding a self-paced course and treating it like a second job might be a great option. Conversely, if speed isn’t necessary, then using a course that employs the help of field professionals at a slower pace would be better.

Talk to your employer and other industry professionals- Oftentimes, your employer will have solid advice to give towards your advancement opportunities. They may also offer tuition reimbursement for your review course in exchange for company loyalty.

Check with your local schools- If a local school or university has the course you’re looking for, this is an excellent option to choose from. You’ll be able to network in person on occasion and develop relationships with industry professionals within your area.

Understand your time management skills- Do you have the ability to compartmentalize your responsibilities and relegate them to specific time slots? No? Perhaps a guided exam review course is a better option. The benefit of these is that the responsibility of deciding when to work on a given day is taken off your shoulders, and you only have to follow along with the instructor and complete assignments as they come.

Find one that fits your lifestyle- Are you active with small pockets of time in your day? Or do you have lots of familial responsibilities that can’t be negotiated? Do you have a loud family and an inability to focus with any amount of noise? An in-person review may be what you need to complete your course successfully and pass the certification exam.

Whether your plans are to stay with your current company or transfer to another field altogether, the path to career advancement is not linear. There is no one right answer nor one direct path you can take. Determining what’s best for your lifestyle and your career goals is the first step in gaining professional certifications. Finding the right exam review course is then next. Find one that works for you and your lifestyle and one that enables you to reach your goals, whatever they are.

Increase your value to your employer and open doors to new opportunities with a professional certification. School of PE's comprehensive review courses are designed to help you succeed. Gain the knowledge and credentials that employers seek by enrolling in a course today!