Attending a big University may seem like the American dream. But there are many obstacles to completing college. For some, it could be the cost while for others, they simply don’t have the time to sit through four years of school.

Someone with small children who desperately needs a better income may not be able to attend a traditional college to get the education they need. And if you’ve been making decent money but abruptly lost your job, you may not have four more years to upgrade your skills. There are many reasons why a four-year college may not be the best fit for some students.

The good news is that there are plenty of career training options that can be completed in a shorter period of time, that will still give you, the graduate, the opportunity to upgrade your skills and earn a higher wage.

Here are some options that you should consider if you are looking for a decent job in a shorter timeframe.

Online Certificate Programs

There are several schools that offer certificate programs that will not earn the student a diploma. These courses simply help the student pass the certification test for a certain field, so they can begin work immediately. Depending on the course chosen, these programs may take from a few weeks to several months to complete. These courses are usually offered online, although classroom learning may be available or required for certain programs. Some of the most common certificate programs are Information Security, IT technology such as Linux, Paralegal, Medical Coding and Billing, and various art and design certificates. A student pursuing Online Certificate Programs, however, should [Read more…] about Shortcuts to a Good Job: Online Certificate Programs, Career Training or Community College?