15 best short certificate programs that pay well in 2021

Society has made many high school graduates believe that getting a college degree is the best step towards a good-paying career. Although a college degree is an investment that can help you earn more over your lifetime, it is not for everybody. The reality is you can be successful without a degree as long as you put your skills and talents to good use. But if you have no time and money to enrol in a 4-year degree course, you can opt for short certificate programs that pay well and which you can complete within a year.

A certificate program prepares students to work in a specialized trade or update their professional skills. Most certificate programs take less time to complete. They also cost less money than earning a college degree. You can find these programs at career training schools and colleges, community colleges, and online.

Short certificate programs that pay well

Understand that some of these programs require students to have a little knowledge of the subject before enrolling. That means a high school diploma is necessary to get started. Here are the 15 best short certificate programs that pay well in 2021.

1. Certified Bookkeeper

Certified Bookkeeper is one of the best short-term courses with a high salary upon qualification. It is a course that prepares you to become a bookkeeper. The program teaches you more about bank reconciliation and inventory methods.

You will also learn about debits and credits, the double-entry system, trial balances, basic accounting principles, journal entries, and more. It will take you at least six months to complete a Certified Bookkeeper course. The median annual wage for bookkeeping professionals is $42,410.

2. Certificate in Woodworking

Certificate in Woodworking is a training program that teaches students how to design furniture using both hand and power woodworking tools. Individuals also learn more about introductory mathematics for carpenters, safety requirements, building code, and woodworking methods. Upon completing the course, a student receives an evaluation and a certificate, which qualifies them to work as carpenters.

Woodworking courses take anywhere between six and 18 months. That makes it one of the fastest certificate programs for high school graduates. The median annual wage for carpenters is around $49,520.

3. Commercial Driver Licensing Program

You can become a commercial truck driver by completing the Commercial Driver Licensing Program (CDL). Driving a commercial motor vehicle requires a higher level of knowledge, experience, skills, and physical abilities. CDL training is an instructional program intended to help students obtain the CDL license.

On average, it takes about seven weeks to get your CDL when attending a full-time class. But other factors can also mean it may take you as little as three weeks or upwards of six months to complete the program. The annual wage for commercial truck drivers varies from $30,660 to $69,480.

4. Certified Dental Assistant

A Certified Dental Assistant program is a course that prepares an individual to become a Dental Assistant. A dental assistant supports the operations of a dental office. The person performs administrative and clinical duties like scheduling appointments, preparing patients, sterilizing instruments, and taking x-rays.

It takes anywhere from nine to eleven months to complete a Dental Assistant training program. The curriculum consists of classroom lectures and hands-on training in a clinical setting. The median annual wage for dental assistants is $41,180.

5. Electrical and Electronic Engineering Certificate

An electrical and electronic engineering certificate is one of the best 6-month certificate programs that pay well to qualifying individuals. Most of these programs are available through technical schools and vocational training institutions.

An ideal path to becoming an electrician is to enrol in a graduate certificate program. It will take you between a few days to 18 months to qualify, depending on the area of specialization. The median annual wage for electricians is $56,900.

6. Flight Attendant Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency

A person can work as a flight attendant as long as they have a high school diploma. However, the FAA requires an individual to possess the Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency. But before you can receive the certificate, you must complete all the training requirements.

Training typically lasts from three to six weeks. Topics of study may include first aid, safety, emergency preparedness, federal regulations, and flight procedures. The median annual wage for flight attendants is $59,050.

7. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning/Refrigeration (HVAC/R) Certificate

The (HVAC/R) Certificate is one of the highest-paying certificate jobs in the USA. HVAC/R is a training program that prepares individuals for employment as HVACR technicians and installers. It consists of several courses that one can complete between six months and two years.

Upon completing the program, you will be ready for industry certifications or licensure, such as the EPA Certified Technician. That will make you eligible to start working on residential or commercial projects. The median annual wage for HVAC technicians is $50,590.

8. Certificate in Massage Therapy

A Certificate in Massage Therapy prepares an individual to be a massage therapist and take an approved National Examination in Massage Therapy. You will learn how to manipulate soft tissue to promote wellness, flexibility, and healing of the body, mind, and spirit.

Also, the program will teach you verbal communication, how to take the medical history of your clients, and the results they hope to get from the treatment. The median annual wage for massage therapists is $43,620.

9. Certified Medical Assistant

Certified Medical Assistant is one of the many short-term courses in the USA to get a job. Typically, the path to becoming a medical assistant involves taking on a medical assistant training and certification exam. The entire process can take between nine months and three years.

Once completed, you will become a certified professional ready to work as a medical assistant in a physician’s office, hospital, outpatient clinic, or other healthcare facilities. The median annual wage for medical assistants is $35,850.

10. Certified Ophthalmic Technician

An ophthalmic technician is a medical professional who helps ophthalmologists care for the human eyes and eyesight. The person works alongside an ophthalmologist to perform eye exams, administer treatments, and diagnose diseases.

Before you can become an ophthalmic technician, you will have to undergo training and become certified. It will take you at least a year to complete the training. The median annual wage for ophthalmic technicians is $38,620.

11. Certificate in Paralegal Studies

Certificate in Paralegal Studies is one of the quick certifications that pay well for qualifying individuals. It is a program that verifies you have completed paralegal education. The program prepares you to work as a paralegal in a law firm or under an attorney.

You can complete the training in as short as 6-14 weeks. Most local community colleges and universities offer paralegal programs in-person, online, and hybrid. The median annual wage for paralegals is $52,920.

12. Certified Phlebotomy Technician

The primary goal of the phlebotomy technician program is to educate an individual with didactic, laboratory, and clinical experiences. It is a program that encompasses emerging and innovative technology in preparation for a health care career as a Phlebotomist Technician.

The entire training program can take a year or less to complete. That will depend on the education program and whether you want to pursue national certification. The median annual wage for phlebotomists is $36,320.

13. Certificate in Plumbing

If you want to become a plumber, enrol for a Certificate in Plumbing. It is a program that teaches you the basics of plumbing. You will also learn more about pipefitting, plumbing tools, and standard plumbing code.

Once you obtain a certificate, you will be eligible to work in fields like pipefitting, steamfitting, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. The median annual wage for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters is $56,330.

14. Certificate Program in Real Estate

The Certificate Program in Real Estate is a course that teaches students the core aspects of the real estate industry. It prepares individuals to work as real estate brokers, real estate sales agents, or real estate appraisers. Furthermore, the program makes it easy for you to obtain the necessary certification or license to practice.

Most courses take between six months and two years. Since real estate has many career options, salaries differ significantly. The median annual wage for real estate brokers is $60,370, while real estate sales agents receive $49,040.

15. Certificate in Website Developer

One of the best certifications that pay well is website development. A certificate in web development gives you the knowledge and skills you need to work as a web developer. You will learn front-end development or back-end development and the languages you need to design a website. The programs can take anywhere between three months and one year. The median annual wage for web developers is $77,200.

The best examples of short certificate programs that pay well are paralegal, plumber, web developer, medical assistant, HVAC technician, electrician, and flight attendant. Most of these programs will take at least a year to complete. However, some require that you obtain a separate license to operate. Before you enrol for a certificate course, ensure you have some little knowledge of the subject. That means a high school diploma gives you an ideal path to get started.

Tuko.co.ke shared a list of the best courses for C+, C or C minus students in 2021 in Kenya. There are some competitive courses for C+, C or C minus students. The programs are guaranteed to lead to a successful career, and if need be, you can always upgrade to the highest level of education you wish.

Degrees, diplomas, and certificates nowadays do not guarantee employment but rather the skills you have acquired. No matter what degree you do, you can still get employed by getting adequate skills and experience needed by employers.

Source: TUKO.co.ke