Most successful people will agree that a continuous thirst for knowledge is a key element to achieving success personally and professionally. Certification programs are more important now than in any previous time in our history, and the benefits are tangible: career advancement, financial reward, professional recognition and empowerment. Although certifications programs can be a significant investment of time, resources and cost, they help to provide recognition for your specialized knowledge and skill sets. This is a significant benefit when it comes to landing opportunities on projects, clients and ultimately business revenues.
Key benefits of professional certification:
1. Competitive Advantage
Professional development through training and certification which others have not achieved provides you and your company significant competitive advantages. It differentiates you from other industry professionals, illustrating your commitment and knowledge in a specific topic, bolstering your credibility in related areas of knowledge and prestige in the industry.
2. Increased Efficiency
Efficiencies are gained through targeted education aimed at the achievement of professional certifications. Advanced training, information, and knowledge and collaboration with certified community, in addition to knowledge refresh, keeps you up-to-date on terminology, concepts, likely scenarios, technical strategies and tools that will serve to guide and direct you in the execution of your projects, allowing you to manage all aspects of your work more effectively.
3. Increase Earning Potential
The time and effort invested in professional certifications often results in increased income. Businesses seeking professionals with specialized professional certifications are willing to pay more. Some studies suggest increased salaries from 20 to 40% higher than those who do not have professional certifications.
Certifications are a worthwhile investment for the many advantages and achievements that can be attained throughout your career. As you move forward professionally and as your business evolves, keeping your certifications up-to-date is key to continued advantages:
Five Key Take-aways:
- Professional certification is a highly valued credential. While employers are more willing to pay for certificate programs and professional certification, professional certification is considered good value for the money spent.
- Reputation of the MEF, as well as experience-based exams, re-certification and continued education are the key factors that make certification valuable.
- Increases in employee engagement, employment satisfaction and productivity are the top ways of measuring the value of professional certification, as are reductions in staff churn, training, and recruitment costs.
- Employers feel that an certified candidates applying for jobs have an advantage over a non-certified candidates.
- Employers state that an certified persons considered as independent consultant have a “very significant” advantage over a non-certified individuals.
Certification is actually preferred over other credentials, as certificates, undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees are not specific to an business oriented objective, skills or tasks.
Certification is:
- is Experienced based
- Value for the money
- Practically and professionally oriented
- Provides commitment to lifelong learning
- Flexible and customizable
- Provides both global and local learning
- Opens up networking opportunities
- Is a positive return on investment
- Assists, and in your case may, guaranty career advancement
Re-certification:
- Keeps knowledge current
- Allows for ongoing education
- Keeps certification relevant and valid
- Keeps skills sharp and
- Allows flexibility in achieving necessary credits