Is a business administration certificate worth it? Earning business certificates can help you enhance your skill set and polish your resume.
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By earning a business administration certificate online, you might be able to develop your expertise, increase your appeal as a job candidate, and bolster your position in your organization.
Is a Business Administration Certificate Worth It?
Yes, a business administration certificate is worth it for many students. Earning this type of credential can look good on your resume. It can even help you get better at your job or take steps toward advancement.
Some Certificate in Business Administration programs can help you enter the business workforce for the first time. The skills that you learn in course topics like business law and management fundamentals might help you secure an entry-level job in the field.
Alternatively, maybe you’ve been working in a business setting for several years. You have a lot of knowledge about the ins and outs of the business world, but you don’t have a degree to match.
A certification program can be an opportunity to increase your knowledge. It can also allow you to demonstrate that you’re an informed, well-trained professional who’s poised for success. In that way, a certificate can be an asset to your resume.
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the business and finance sector are expected to grow at a 5% rate over the next ten years. With a certificate, you might be in a better position to benefit from that growth.
Plus, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that management jobs will also increase at a 5% rate during that period. By proving yourself through a certificate program, you might be in a better position to secure a leadership role.
Earning a certificate can have personal merits as well. For one thing, it can be a confidence booster to see official letters behind your name.
Also, taking certification courses and exams can give you a chance to try out an educational experience. If you enjoy it, you might decide to continue working toward an associate or bachelors degree.
What Are the Best Certifications to Have in Business?
Which certification you should pursue depends on your interests and goals, but certifications to consider include:
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). This certificate encompasses working on project teams.
- Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP). This program is designed for professionals who specialize in evaluating business issues and coming up with solutions.
- Professional Certificate in Team Leadership. This certification helps you develop your leadership skills, including how to motivate teams and communicate effectively.
- Project Management Professional (PMP). This program is dedicated to planning for and running each step of an endeavor, so it can help prepare you for project oversight.
- SAP Certified Application Associate – CRM. In preparation for this certificate, you may become more proficient with SAP CRM software and how to integrate it with other applications.
Some programs require a certain level of experience or education, so you’ll have to determine your readiness for any certificates that catch your interest. Also, some certificates are for general business study, and others focus on specific areas of the field—perhaps one that’s right up your alley!
5 Things You Can Do with a Business Administration Certificate
Completing a business administration certification can help you develop a career in sales, administration, finance, management, or another business specialty. The five career suggestions below may help you identify the job path that’s right for you.
1. Sales Manager
As a sales manager, you can oversee a sales team. As a leader, you can encourage your salespeople to meet quotas and gain new customers.
Other responsibilities might include planning a budget for the sales department, brainstorming promotional offers, and resolving disputes with upset customers. Some sales managers work in retail settings, including shopping malls, discount stores, and car dealerships. Others head up teams that sell products directly to businesses.
2. Administrative Assistant
An administrative assistant’s tasks can include answering phones, filing paperwork, and coordinating schedules. In this role, you might also be tasked with managing financial records, entering computer data, or reviewing documents for errors.
Administrative assistants work at all levels of a business. Some are responsible for heading up the organization’s main office. Others serve as the assistant to one of the company’s executives.
3. Loan Officer
If you have experience in sales or banking, you might qualify to become a loan officer. In this job, you can help customers secure loans. Common employers include banks, mortgage companies, and car dealerships.
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A loan officer’s responsibilities can entail speaking with customers, helping them fill out paperwork, and double-checking the information they provide. Some loan officers are also in charge of deciding whether to grant the loans.
4. Purchasing Agent
Retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, and other organizations depend on purchasing agents to coordinate their supplies of materials or goods.
If you work as a purchasing agent, you might identify suppliers, negotiate deals, and handle contracts. You could also be responsible for keeping good records and overseeing delivery schedules.
This job can sometimes involve regular travel. A purchasing agent might need to attend trade shows, tour manufacturing plants, and meet with vendors.
5. Logisticians
Supply chain coordinators are often called logisticians. If you work as a logistician, you might oversee the transportation of goods and materials from one place to another.
Logisticians can also be in charge of procurement or warehousing. Improving efficiency might be a constant goal. Modern supply chain work typically requires using software programs to coordinate processes, so it can help to be comfortable with technology.
Business Administration Certificate Alternatives
Business administration certifications aren’t the only ways to enhance your resume as an undergraduate. You can also choose to pursue a different type of certificate or study for an associate degree.
- Certificate in Accounting. To prepare for a career in bookkeeping, you can take classes on spreadsheets, payroll, cash flows, and financial statements.
- Certificate in Paralegal Studies. In a paralegal program, you can learn to research laws, interview clients, and manage paperwork so that you can prepare for a position as an assistant in a legal setting.
- Associates in Business Administration. An associate degree program can help prepare you for the workforce through general education courses and a business core, with classes that introduce finance and marketing fundamentals.
To figure out which program is best for you, you can review curriculum lists to see how the classes align with your professional goals.
Business Administration Careers & Salaries
Business is a diverse field with many different job opportunities, including ones that don’t require a college degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in business and finance pay an average annual salary of $72,250.
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Sales Managers | $132,290 |
| Logisticians | $76,270 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $66,690 |
| Loan Officers | $63,960 |
| Food Service Managers | $56,590 |
| Tax Examiners, Tax Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $55,640 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $42,410 |
| Financial Clerks | $41,520 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $40,990 |
| Bill and Account Collectors | $38,100 |
Although some companies will hire candidates with business certificates for the above positions, qualification requirements can vary among employers. Some companies may prefer candidates who have an associate or bachelors degree.
What Can I Do with a Business Administration Certificate?
Earning a business administration certificate can help you enhance your office skills. As a result, you may be equipped to perform the duties of an accounting clerk, an administrative assistant, or a financial clerk.
Business studies also emphasize leadership skills. Your credentials can help you find work as a manager in various industries, such as food service or sales. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, sales managers are often employed by retailers and wholesalers.
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Studying project management may help equip you to oversee supply chain interactions as a logistician. Your financial training can also be helpful in pursuing a job as a loan officer or a state tax collector.
What’s the Difference Between a Certificate vs. Degree in Business Administration?
The courses for a business certificate and a business administration degree can overlap, but there are differences between these two educational paths.
| Business Administration Certificate | Business Administration Degree |
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Both certificates and degrees can generally be earned through online programs.
What’s the Difference Between Business Administration vs. Business Management?
Administrators and managers keep businesses running smoothly. Understanding the focus of each discipline can help you decide which path to pursue.
| Business Administration | Business Management |
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Entry-level business jobs often require overlapping skills. As you advance, your specialization may play a bigger role in the direction that your career goes.
Can You Transfer Classes from a Certificate to a Degree?
You’ll likely be able to transfer some of your certificate coursework into a degree program. Earning a certificate is a short-term commitment that gives you a chance to try out college classes. If things go well, you might decide that earning a degree is your next goal.
Transferring your certificate courses into a degree program could mean that you’ll need fewer classes to reach graduation. Certificate courses are most likely to transfer if they’re from an accredited college. The process of transferring credits can also go more smoothly if you choose schools that have pre-arranged articulation agreements.
Getting Your Business Administration Certificate Online
Although you may have a head for business, you may not have college credentials to back up your skills. Sure, enrolling in a part time DBA program or earning an online MBA is worth it for many students more experienced in business. But if you are comparatively new to the business professions, earning business certifications online can develop your abilities and demonstrate your business know-how to potential employers.
A certificate can be a beneficial addition to your resume. It might also help you work toward a business administration degree online, or, if your work schedule permits, in a traditional classroom-based program. Some certificate courses can even count for transfer credit so that you can enter an associate or bachelor’s program with a solid foundation.
If you’re ready to advance your career and education, you may want to consider earning a business administration certificate online. You can check out various certificate programs from accredited colleges to find the one that’s best for you.
