Today’s international economy is filled with competition, from small firms to big corporations. As such, updated career skills are more crucial than ever. For example, corporations require advanced employee skill sets to handle emerging issues in a constantly shifting business environment. To fill this gap, practitioners can enroll in one of today’s best online business certificate programs.
Business certificate programs provide the competitive edge and decision-making abilities to succeed in the modern workplace. Subsequently, you can switch between different job roles with the transferrable skills you gain. According to BLS.gov, the median annual wage of business operations managers as of May 2021 is $ 97,970. It’s crucial to add business certifications to a career toolbox to earn such a salary.
Let’s dive in as we explore some of the Best Online Business Certificate Programs.
Article Navigation: What is a Business Certificate? | General Overview: Best Online Business Certificate Programs | How To Choose The Right Program | 10 Best Online Business Certificate Programs | Business Certifications and Licenses | What Can I Do With This Credential? | Professional Organizations: Best Online Business Certificate Programs | FAQs | Find Your Program Today!
What is a Business Certificate?
In academics, a business certificate validates a candidate’s proficiency in business-related fields.
Undergraduate Business Certificates
Undergraduate business certificates are credentials that provide students with the fundamental principles of business operation, analysis, and administration. Via this qualification, they gain the competency to use relevant business knowledge, solve problems, analyze critically, and communicate effectively in business settings.
Graduate Business Certificates
Graduate business certificates help practitioners build on the existing competencies gained from undergraduate business programs. In addition, these certificates offer comprehensive business education at the professional level in subjects like business law, management, and finance.
Types of Business Certificates
- Business Management
- Business Leadership
- Risk Management
- Business Analytics
- Project Management
- Supply Chain Management
- Operations Management
- Business Analysis
- Business Administration
- International Business Management
General Overview: Best Online Business Certificate Programs
What to Expect
Business administration emphasizes operational and administrative knowledge and skills in emerging business disciplines, such as:
- Risk management
- Managerial accounting
- Economics
Supply chain management programs focus on equipping professionals with techniques and strategies to deploy in a growing global market to remain competitive. A few of these approaches involve lowering costs, discovering new sources of supplies and services, streamlining resources, and improving manufacturing process efficiency.
It takes enthusiasm and determination to succeed in completing an online business certificate program, from project management to administration, operations, analytics, and more. Thankfully, there are plenty of options for an online business certificate in every discipline.
Online Business Certificate Online Courses
Students enrolled in business certificate programs generally take courses in business law, management, marketing, and economics.
Admission Requirements
For every person aspiring to become a certified business consultant, the first step is to meet the institution’s admission requirements from which you wish to obtain your credentials. In business management or other relevant business-related fields, the most common admission conditions include the following:
Submission of an academic transcript from an accredited institution
- GPA of 3.0 or more on a 4.0 scale; although some institutions accept a GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
- Letters of Recommendation
- Statement of Purpose
- High School Diploma
Note: For master’s programs in business admission, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Acquired Skills
In a business certificate program, learners will acquire effective management, leadership, planning, organizational, and finance skills. These abilities are necessary for the growth of all businesses, whether multinational or small-scale.
Timeline
Depending on the curriculum of the business certificate program, obtaining an online business certificate typically takes between two and eighteen months.
Paying for Your Online Business Certificate
Employed candidates can ask their current employers about tuition reimbursement options. Employers may believe this to be a good investment if they believe in the value they will get after you earn the certificate. Also, applicants can fund the program through their savings or government financial aid.
How To Choose The Right Program
Here are the checklists to follow before you enroll or choose from the best online business certificate programs:
Cost
Ideally, applicants should enlist in colleges and universities they can afford. Depending on the type of certificate program, students can generally expect to pay $400 to $1,250 per credit hour. Although these tuition rates differ among universities, take other miscellaneous fees into account to prevent unanticipated issues once enrolled.
Admission Requirements
For master’s or graduate certificate programs, schools usually demand that candidates hold a bachelor’s degree. Also, colleges sometimes require a minimum of three to two years of work experience, depending on the prerequisites of their chosen courses. These academic institutions will require students to submit a well-written personal statement alongside letters of recommendation.
Note: For MBA degrees, candidates can often gain admission regardless of their undergraduate major.
Program Format
Business certificate programs are available via online, hybrid, and on-campus learning formats. We suggest you pick the study method that best meets your needs and professional goals.
Location
Location is typically not a problem for individuals enrolling in online business certificate courses. However, if you decide to pursue an on-campus learning experience, evaluate your residence’s proximity to your chosen university.
Accreditation
Accreditation of an institution is a no-brainer for all students. Therefore, you must enroll in an approved public or private college for your business certificate program. Verify the institution’s accreditation status before deciding whether to pursue a hybrid, online, or on-campus learning format.
10 Best Online Business Certificate Programs
This section outlines some of the best-accredited colleges offering online business certificate courses.
Undergraduate Certificates
1. Forsyth Technical Community College
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Degree Offered: Certificate in Business Administration / International Business
Forsyth Technical Community College provides students with a Certificate in Business Administration emphasizing International Business. The program aims to prepare students for careers in the global marketplace. Coursework covers aspects of business, foreign language, and social science. Specialized courses examine law, economics, international marketing, and trade practices.
In this program, candidates must demonstrate language proficiency; an understanding of regional, political, and cultural distinctions; the capacity to handle import/export paperwork; and familiarity with global economics and commercial processes.
A few of the curriculum areas in this program include:
- International Accounting
- Management
- Marketing
- Communications
- Business Law
- Economics
2. Coastline Community College
Accreditation: Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Degree Offered: Real Estate Property Salesperson Certificate of Specialization
Coastline Community College provides a Certificate of Specialization for Real Estate Property Salespersons. The coursework in this program helps students complete the necessary credits to sit for the real estate broker licensure exam. These programs also give prospective real estate employers the fundamental required knowledge and background.
Graduates will have the knowledge and abilities they need to succeed in a rapidly changing real estate world and achieve their career goals.
3. Fayetteville Technical Community College
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Degree Offered: Business Foundations Certificate
Fayetteville Technical Community College offers Business Foundations Certificates to eligible candidates via its distance learning platform. Through this program, candidates will learn fundamental business principles. Furthermore, the credential focuses on business ideas from national, organizational, and individual standpoints.
After earning this degree, graduates can quickly recognize fundamental business ideas with immense potential. Also, learners can transfer these credits into programs leading to an Associate’s degree in business administration.
Some of the coursework in this program comprises an introduction to business principles, management, business law, and marketing.
4. Fayetteville Technical Community College
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Degree Offered: E-Marketing Certificate
Fayetteville Technical Community College provides an E-Marketing Certificate structured to give students the skills to advertise goods and services via the internet.
Graduates will have the necessary expertise and skills to promote different types of products via online marketplaces. Also, learners can transfer the course credits gained in this program into other degrees leading to an associate’s degree in business administration.
Coursework areas in this certificate program include computer operations, sales promotions, advertising, social media marketing, and e-commerce.
5. Guilford Technical Community College
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Degree Offered: Human Resources Management Certificate
Guilford Technical Community College offers prospective students a Human Resources Management Certificate nationwide. As a company’s most valuable asset, this training in human resources management will equip practitioners to oversee and care for the workforce. They will also gain knowledge of how businesses run and how they can contribute strategically to those operations.
In this field, graduates will have a solid business education foundation for continuous learning. In addition, students will be ready for various hiring, management, training, and other human resources job roles.
Via this curriculum, participants will explore relevant course areas such as:
- People skills
- Recruiting and hiring
- Employment law
- Managing employers
- Writing job descriptions
- Determining pay rates and bonus programs
- Crafting benefits programs and training employees
Graduate Certificates
1. Cambridge College
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education.
Degree Offered: Graduate Certificate in Compliance & Ethics (CC Global)
Cambridge College offers a Graduate Certificate in Compliance and Ethics for aspiring students in this field. The course is for candidates who want to assist companies in making moral decisions. In addition, graduates who complete this course will have a fundamental grasp of corporate governance, both as a concept and as a network of interactions between a company’s executive leadership, stakeholders, and governing board.
The curriculum in this field includes three graduate-based courses that center on the effectiveness and efficiency of implementing and developing corporate ethics and compliance.
2. Concordia University – Nebraska
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Degree Offered: Graduate Certificate in Project Management
Concordia University – Nebraska offers a Graduate Certificate in Project Management. By developing business data analysis, project management, negotiating, and conflict resolution abilities, graduates can distinguish themselves as talented business leaders to potential employers and clients.
Via this program, students will learn vital techniques that can be useful when writing the Project Management Examination. In addition, the project management business credential is a standalone program whose courses can make up for a large part of an MBA qualification.
3. Cambridge College
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education
Degree Offered: Graduate Certificate in Supply Chain Management
Cambridge College provides Graduate Certificate in Supply Chain Management to candidates who want to increase the efficiency of their organization’s supply chain. Established product distribution, logistics, and services managers will understand the supply process better and learn to spearhead it more effectively.
The program consists of three graduate-based courses that focus on the effectiveness of the supply chain process. In these courses, a high emphasis is on the productivity and performance management of operations, technology, and people in the supply chain.
Note: The Six Sigma DMAIC method and other relevant techniques are employed in this course to evaluate and enhance business processes.
4. East Carolina University
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Degree Offered: Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics
East Carolina University offers a Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics to prospective applicants. Via this program, students gain advanced business analytics expertise and data mining experience by working with real company data sets.
Furthermore, candidates who complete the program will showcase their statistical and quantitative abilities with mastery of various data mining and analytics tools.
5. Louisiana Tech University
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Degree Offered: Graduate Certificate in Business Administration
Louisiana Tech University provides a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration to prospective students globally. The MBA-associated program aims to offer graduate-level education in management and business. Furthermore, the program’s objectives also expose graduates to a wide range of fundamental aspects of a business. Graduates can combine and apply their knowledge of these specialties to modern innovation management.
During the business administration certificate program, candidates will:
- Critically examine, analyze, and interpret data to solve challenges and make strategic business decisions
- Leverage their communication abilities to lead a team or organization effectively
- Gain insight into how ethics and social responsibility affect business decisions
Business Certifications and Licenses
A few of the most valuable certifications and licenses in business management, project management, and supply chain management include:
Project Management Professional (PMP)
The Project Management Professional (PMP) license is an industry-recognized qualification for project managers. By earning this credential, you will increase your chances of getting hired.
To earn this certification, students must complete a 200-question multiple-choice examination. The assessment includes topics like project monitoring, project implementation, and project planning.
Certified Supply Chain Professional license (CSCP)
The CSCP credential acknowledges students’ capacity to create efficient processes. The certification emphasizes the supply side of a firm more than the marketing or sales aspect. Via this training, candidates will learn about managing worldwide, end-to-end distribution networks, and maximizing a company’s ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) investments.
Professional Certificate in Team Leadership
The Professional Certificate in Team Leadership is for individuals who wish to deepen their grasp of leadership concepts and practices. During this training, students develop knowledge and abilities to assist organizations aiming for business change initiatives. After that, certified graduates in this program can now apply leadership theories and methods in their respective organizations.
Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
The CBAP certification is for individuals interested in examining businesses and developing solutions that address their needs. To participate in this training program, applicants must have a minimum of one year of working experience in business analysis or related fields.
What Can I Do With This Credential?
Online business certificate programs is a fantastic approach to developing your leadership skills. One of the primary advantages is the interchangeability of business skills. These timeless abilities and skills will be helpful throughout your career, whether you’re an employee or a manager. Nonetheless, with a business certificate qualification, you can assume positions as an executive director, business manager, or director of operations.
Employees can expand their professional capabilities and learn new skills through an online business certificate. During the business training, you may gain skills to help you perform better in your current position. Also, with the competencies gained in this program, you can be promoted from your previous roles or become eligible for new specialties within your field.
Career Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook of management occupations will increase by 8% between 2021 and 2031, which is faster than the average for all occupations, adding roughly 883,900 new positions.
Career Paths for Professionals with a Business Certificate Online
With a business management certificate, individuals with these credentials can opt for roles as:
Operations Manager / Director of Operations
An operations manager’s primary task is to oversee the processes of creating a company’s products or services. In the retail sector, they would manage all activities connected to regular store operations and strategize to ensure effective coordination of all personnel.
Based on BLS data, the salary of operations managers as of May 2021 is $ 97,970. The demand for professionals in this occupation will rise by 6% over the next ten years.
Business Manager
Business managers are in charge of directing and supervising every operation within the organization. They put measures in place to ensure productivity and assess how well the company did in various activities completed in a given amount of time. In addition, they create operational work schedules that support organizational objectives.
According to PayScale.com data, the median yearly salary of business managers as of August 2022 is $64,015.
Top Executives
Top executives are mainly responsible for establishing and carrying out organizational or departmental goals, procedures, and policies. They oversee and manage the budgetary and financial operations of a company. In addition, they organize general processes associated with producing goods and offering services.
According to BLS, the median annual wage of top executives as of May 2021 is $98,980. The overall employment of top executives is expected to increase by 6% from 2021 to 2031.
Industrial Production Managers
Industrial production managers help to organize all the processes involved in producing commodities in a manufacturing firm. They manage and oversee the day-to-day activities of industrial production facilities and determine if a company needs to revamp or buy new equipment. Most importantly, they ensure that production milestones are fulfilled on schedule and within budget.
The average annual salary of industrial production managers as of May 2021 is $103,150. Job growth for personnel in this field is forecasted to rise by 3% over the next ten years.
Management Analysts
Management analysts, sometimes known as management consultants, suggest how to increase an organization’s effectiveness. They offer managers advice on how to boost revenue and cut costs to make firms more commercially viable.
According to the BLS, the average yearly wage of management analysts as of May 2021 is $93,000. The demand for professionals in this specialty will grow by 11% from 2021 to 2031.
Continuing Education
Professionals in this field can further enroll in a master’s program in business administration or project management to advance their careers. Doing so also provides vital skills to become eligible for diverse positions such as research analyst, business consultant, and chief executive.
Professional Organizations: Best Online Business Certificate Programs
Joining a professional association is a great strategy to set yourself up for success in any chosen profession. This section will outline some notable associations for business executives, management specialists, etc.
A few of these organizations include:
- National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP)
- American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS)
- Sales & Marketing Executives International (SMEI)
- American Management Association (AMA)
- International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP)
- Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM)
- Production and Operations Management Society (POMS)
FAQs
Which is the best site for online certification?
At present, there isn’t any one renowned site that is rated best for online certification. However, some popular online certification platforms include Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and HubSpot Academy.
Do employers take online certificates seriously?
Most employers value online certificates from reputable institutions depending on the specialty or discipline involved. Recruiters view it as beneficial if the online degree or credential is from a recognized platform.
Which field is best for online business?
Some of the best fields for online business include e-commerce, social media marketing, and business consultancy.
Is a business management certificate worth it?
The value you receive from obtaining an online business management certificate relies on multiple variables, including your current career status and long-term objectives. However, for those currently in management, you may use what you learn to boost your team’s productivity, encourage their ingenuity, and assist in their professional development. Earning a business management certificate is worth the time and effort.
Are online business certificates good?
Yes, they are highly beneficial.
Is a business administration certificate worth it?
A business administration certificate is highly worth getting for currently employed and aspiring business administrators. This credential helps build and develop advanced skills necessary for managing and overseeing teams within an organization.
Find Your Program Today!
The only way to become a certified business consultant is to earn your credential from a reputable or accredited higher learning institution. By applying for any of the best online business certificate programs highlighted in this article, you are sure to build your career landscape for a better tomorrow.
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