Get Involved With Certification Programs

​No matter what your work situation is, getting a certification can be helpful. If you're job hunting, certifications help you stand out from the crowd. If you already have a job, it ensures you are up-to-date in your field. In both cases, holding one lets you strengthen your resume by giving proof of your skills.

Certifications (or licenses) are even required for some jobs. A few examples include nursing, computer hardware, and trade work such as carpentry and HVAC.

Where and How

Getting certified is a broad topic. After all, there are certification programs for tons of different jobs. There are also career training programs that aren't connected directly to certification but can help you get the needed knowledge. You'll probably have to take a case-by-case approach when you explore certifications. However, you can follow the general guidelines below to get started.

Specialized Programs

You might be able to earn certifications through provider-approved programs. In these programs, you'll get certified by passing an exam. These programs may also have classroom learning or some other form of studying tied into them. You may be able to take these through the organization giving the exam or through a partner organization. All of this varies by certification, so you'll need to do your research. This way, you can find out where you'll need to go to take your exam and possible courses.

In most cases, the only thing you're required to do is pass the exam. However, this is difficult to do without studying. Completing a provider-approved program ensures you're learning everything you need to know in order to pass. When you're looking at certifications, be sure to check if there are any official programs for each one.

A good place to start looking for these programs is our WIOA Approved Training Programs search tool.

Community College Programs

You can also get certified through your local community college. Many of these colleges have their own certificate programs aimed at working adults. For example, you may find programs for fields like:

• Networking
• Nursing
• Electronics
• HVAC
• Computer Administration
• Help Desk

In these programs, you'll take courses to help you prepare for your certification exam and career. Some programs even include unrelated, but useful courses, like Employability Skills.

If you'd like to explore other community colleges in Illinois, a good place to start is the Community College Board.

Other School-Based Programs

In addition to community colleges, you may find similar training programs in other schools outside of the traditional 4-year universities. These include:

• Technical and Vocational Schools
• Trade Schools
• Art and Design Schools
• Adult Education Providers
  

To start looking for these, check out our Public & Private Training Programs search tool. Also, try taking a look at ILCCO's Adult Education search.

Self-Study

On the other hand, you can choose to study by yourself for an exam. If you do this, be prepared to work hard! Certification tests can be long and include a lot of specific information. If you study yourself, you're taking on the responsibility to know everything you need to study for the exam.

A good way to start is by getting an exam blueprint, also known as a text plan. This will tell you what will be on the exam and what topics you need to study the most.¹ You can study any way you like, through things like online courses and books. No matter what you do, make sure you're following the plan!

Also, depending on the certification, you may even be able to find official test prep materials. These can include practice questions, training modules, etc. If you do this, make sure what you're using is official.

Get Started

Once you've found a certification program, it's time to get started! First, find out exactly what certification you want to earn. Follow the steps below:

1. See which certifications you can find in your field. This goes especially if you're in IT, where there are tons of certificates for different skills and sub-fields.
2. Find out what you'll have to do to earn these certifications. Some are entry-level, while others require you to have other certifications first. Not all of them have the same requirements, so be sure to check for each one. Explore your options for studying and preparing for your exam.
3. See which certifications are the most valuable in your industry. Entry-level certificates are great to have. However, higher-level ones help you stand out more.
4. See how much it will cost to get each certification. Make sure you can afford fees for classes, exams, and other things you'll need to do.

It would be impossible to list every possible certification in this article. There are simply too many out there. To get you started, here are a few examples:

• Microsoft provides various tech-related certifications. These include Technical Associate (MTA), Solutions Associate (MCSA), and Solutions Expert (MCSE).
• CompTIA has several certifications for IT professionals. A few examples are A+, Network+, and Security+.
• A Project Management Professional (PMP) certification can work in various fields.
• Amazon Web Services provides the AWS Certified Solution Architect certification. It is highly valued in the tech industry.