Best Online Business Certificate Programs

The need to either complete an online certificate or a degree in business have the same goal: give the student the required skills required in the business field. Completing either of these programs also allows the student to help widen their career choices and networking for future employment. What is different about these two types of educational paths lies in the course program structure, time commitment, and cost. Completing the online degree option allows the student to broaden their knowledge and improve their understanding at a deeper level of the business field. The certificate program usually takes one year to complete while a degree in this field can last anywhere from two to four years. There is a difference in cost between an online certificate program and a degree because of the different number of courses that are required.

In order to determine whether the school of your choice for your online business program has been accredited, it is advised to choose those only that have been vetted through the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). This accreditation body exists to serve business at the international level. Another accreditation at the same level is called the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), but it only covers bachelor and master degree business programs. By making sure that the school you have chosen is accredited by the ACBSP you can be confident that it offers a high-quality education and one that can provide many future opportunities.

Before a student decides to apply for an online certificate in business, there are many important factors to consider including finances, time commitment, and career options. Of course, the two most apparent factors that one should consider first are their finances and time commitment. It costs less and takes less time to complete an online certificate in business as opposed to getting a business degree.

One should also consider that the online certificate in business program also advances one's career by the attraction of employers. It can provide the student with related experience through internships or study programs. Another benefit of the certificate program is that it gives the student the option to decide whether to continue with a full degree program. The credits earned during the certificate program could also be used toward a continuation education program. Lastly, an online type of education allows the student to complete course requirements remotely, which is a big attraction for those who live at a far distance from their enrolled institution. This is also an attraction for who work full or part-time.

The skills and knowledge obtained after completing an online certificate program in business include those in marketing, finance, accounting, starting your own business, and softer-skills in team management, decision-making, and leadership. Students in such a program also have the opportunity to apply these skills using exercises that are more practical. These skills adequately provide the student with the ability to manage a corporation and the many problems that become associated with it. The student can also learn about managing financial issues such as investments and capitalization.

Acquiring these skills after obtaining the certificate can help widen the student's career options with typical professions such as a personal assistant, administrative assistant, accounting clerk, purchasing assistant, and project assistant.

Administrative Assistant

With the above skills obtained from the certificate program, a career as an administrative assistant is typical. They maintain and schedule appointments and meetings. They handle most communication within a company that involves billing and inventory. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), secretaries and administrative assistants made a median annual salary of $40,990 in 2020.

Accounting Clerk

Improving skills in accounting and finances from completion of a business certificate can lead to employment such as an accounting clerk. In this role the employee handles all types of financial transactions from banks to other record bills and ledger accounts. They may also assist in customer service with the public and vendors. The salary for an accounting clerk can range from $29,000 for entry level to $33,000 for late career.

Project Assistant

In a project assistant's role, softer-skills, such as management, decision-making, and leadership, gained during the online certificate program in business become extremely important. Employees in this profession use these skills to issue reports on a company's performance among keeping its team members updated through communication. The salary for a project assistant ranges from $33,000 for entry level to $44,000 for late career.

Continued Education after an Online Business Certificate Program

After completing an online business certificate program, the graduate becomes more employable and widens their career choices. A high school student who completes such a program in business can readily enter the workforce or can decide whether or not to continue education by enrolling in a full-time bachelor degree program. Students who possess the certificate after completion of the program, can usually transfer these credits toward an associate or bachelor's degree. Someone who already is working in the business field can also benefit from obtaining the certificate as it gives them additional skills in management and marketing, which is crucial when working in a corporation or if they own their own business. Another benefit of completing a certificate program in business is great for someone who wants to change careers into the business field.

Students enrolled for an online certificate program in business take courses at their own pace whereby they may start at different times of the year. To make completion of the program even faster, students may be given credit for relevant work or internships that they may have completed. The following are some of the main courses offered for a certificate program in business:

• Accounting - the student learns about the principles of accounting In a business setting and how to apply them to properly manage a company.
• Fundamentals of Marketing - this course will teach the student about marketing and how it relates to promotion, consumer trends, and distribution. They will also explore how to use different marketing tools such as email strategies and social media.
• Human Resources Management - in this course, the student will explore about the basics of human resource management through the hiring employee process, training, and management.

There are also courses in business administration, marketing, and sales that are designed to cover the fundamentals as well as elective courses as described below:

International Finance

In this course the student will learn about how foreign corporations are being financed through their portfolio management. They will become familiar with investment decision that companies make as well as debt and risk management. The students will also investigate capital flows and foreign exchange operations. The concepts of hedging will also be discussed.

Building Digital Brands

In this course, the student will learn about the latest developments in brand building of a company through the digital market. They will understand how to start a brand using real examples through email marketing campaigns and social media. Branding and its evolution in an organization will also be discussed along with ideas for its improvement.

The time it usually takes to complete an online certificate program in business is about 1.5 years. Some programs offer courses at semester type schedules while others allow the student to take them at different times of the year in which they last for 8 weeks. Students who enroll in the latter type of programs obtain their certificate earlier. As an example, the online certificate programs in business that is offered at Georgetown University must be completed within a two-year period. Shorter programs that last as little as one year can be taken at the University of Delaware. Longer programs of study would include those that require the student to combine an internship or some form of practical work experience.

An online certificate in business can be acquired by high school students to quickly enter the business field or can be used for working professionals in a non-business career. For the high school student this is a great alternative to those that do not have the resources or time to obtain a four-year degree. For the working professional, such a certificate would allow them obtained additional skills in business, which would increase their opportunities in the field. Before deciding if this program is right for you, it is wise to consider the costs involved, location, and program length and format.

The average cost for a certificate program in business could be around $5,000. Keep in mind that because of the lower price of these programs, it is more difficult to obtain student loans. If you are already a working professional, you might not want to commute a great distance to the college or university where classes would be held. In this case, the choice of an online program would be the perfect fit. There are also schools that offer hybrid programs where courses are offered both on campus and online. Consider that programs that are fully online can save you a significant amount in terms of transportation.

The choice of whether the school is public or private should also be considered. Selecting a public school would allow better opportunity for scholarships while private schools can have smaller class sizes and offer more one-on-one contact with the professors. Lastly, program length should be taken into account. Typically, the certificate program lasts an average of 1.5 years, but take longer for full time working professionals who opt to study part-time.

To get into an online business certificate program the requirements can vary with the following:

• Minimum age of 18 years
• High school diploma or higher degree
• Official transcripts from previous high school or college
• GPA of 1.5 or higher
• ACT or SAT scores

In some cases where the ACT or SAT scores are not required, these can be used as a supplement for a lower GPA. Some schools also require that incoming students have had at least high school math and writing. Depending on the school, there is either an application process whereby it is reviewed twice per year such as in October and March or exists as open-enrollment without an application. Open-enrollment means that a student can select and pay for courses one by one or all at the same time. For international students, a TOEFL is not required, but they must be able to communicate proficiently in English and at a substantial level to complete their coursework.

The cost of an online business certificate program varies from school to school but has an average of $5,000. As an example, the cost of each course in a certificate program could be $1,055, and with 6 courses that are required in the program, the total becomes $6,330.

Financial Aid & Scholarship Resources for Online Business Certificate Programs

Financial aid does exist for online business certificate programs such as the Professional and Continuing Studies Scholarship, which is for enrolling students who are either credit or non-credit based, and earn less than $39,000 as a family of four or earn $19,000 as an individual. Applicants must also be financially independent from their parents or a guardian, not enrolled in an undergraduate program, US citizen, and are not receiving any financial aid from their employer.

Other funding options available are through employers with full tuition covered. This has to be set up by the employer and school program. Some schools also accept federal agency training funds. This type of aid is available to federal employees and covers some or all costs of a certificate program. Under this assistance, travel costs are also reimbursed. Private education loans exist in which students have to get in contact with specific lenders, and if eligible, the full amount of tuition will be covered.