If you’re looking to change careers or earn more money with credentials, this post is for you. You don’t need a college degree to advance in most jobs, especially if you already have a degree. Certificates are a great way to upgrade and refresh your resume while spending minimal dollars.
This list isn’t comprehensive but I’ll go over certs that I personally know about, categorize them by industry and potential income you could earn with them.
When you see “none” in the requirements, it means the associated exams have no previous knowledge required. You’ll still have to self-study or go to a course to learn how to pass.
Business Administration
This if for people who with business, economics, or humanities degrees. It can also be for those who want to work in a corporate setting and who might not have a degree. Soft skills are the most important here. Some entry level positions (with credentials) can be Administrative Assistant, Business Development Rep, or Business Analyst.
| Certificate | Cost | Requirements | Titles | Potential Income |
| Certified Public Accountant | Varies by state – close to $1k | Varies by state but in general, an accounting or business degree | Certified Public Accountant | $125,000 (Glassdoor) |
| Certified Financial Analyst | Varies – $3k-$4k | Varies by state but in general, a finance or business degree plus some work experience | Financial Analyst | $75,754 (Indeed) |
| Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) from PMI | Member: $225 Non-Member: $300 | 23 hours project mgmt education, you can take their course for this | Project Manager | $87,628 (Indeed) |
| Project Management Professional (PMP) from PMI | Member: $405 Non-Member: $575 | Degree + 36 months project exp + 35 hours education or CAPM OR HS Diploma + 60 months project exp. + 35 hours education or CAPM | Senior Project Manager | $158,000 (Glassdoor) |
| Google Project Management | $59/month for unlimited certs | None | Project Coordinator | $60,000 (Glassdoor) |
| Salesforce Administrator | $200 | None | Salesforce Administrator | $88,626 (Indeed) |
| Quickbooks Bookkeeper | Member: $369 Non-Member: $449 (via NACPB) | None | Bookkeeper | $46,000 (Glassdoor) |
| Scrum Master | $375 | Take their course | Scrum Master | $91,000 (Glassdoor) |
Transportation
Logistics is a huge industry with no shortage of jobs. These positions don’t require a degree. Some entry level positions can include being a delivery driver, chauffeur or dump truck driver.
| Certificate | Cost | Requirements | Titles | Potential Income |
| Commercial Drivers License (CDL) A | Varies by State. With school from $1,500-$4,000 | Varies. Medical Screening, Clean driving record, CDL permit, driving hours | Truck Driver | $72,000 (Ziprecruiter) |
| Commercial Drivers License (CDL) B | Varies by State. With school from $1,500-$4,000 | Varies. Medical Screening, Clean driving record, CDL permit, driving hours | Bus Driver | $40,000 (Indeed) |
| Air Traffic Controller | Varies if you go through FAA or college. $10,000-$35,000 | 3 years experience working in aviation related field | Air Traffic Controller | $89,000 (Glassdoor) |
| Private Pilots License | Varies based on the school you go to. $8,000-$12,000 | Minimum hours flying, varies. | Certified Flight Instructor | $60,000 (Ziprecruiter) |
| Commercial Pilots License | Varies based on min hours and school you go to. $55,000-$100,000 | Minimum hours flying, varies. | Commercial Pilot | $94,000 (Zippia) |
Information Technology
IT positions have been growing in demand and despite what the media says, it’s really not slowing down. A degree would help in getting these positions but is not required. The most important thing is being able to showcase your talent and certs are the best way to do that if you don’t have relevant job experience. Some entry level positions include Help Desk, Junior Systems Admin, or Junior Database Admin.
| Certificate | Cost | Requirements | Titles | Potential Income |
| CompTIA A+ | $246 | None | Help Desk Technician | $45,000 (Indeed) |
| CompTia Security+ | $392 | None | IT Support Specialist | $62,000 (Ziprecruiter) |
| CompTIA Network+ | $358 | None | Junior Network Administrator | $70,000 (Indeed) |
| Cisco Certified Network Administrator (CCNA) | $300 | None | Network Engineer | $95,000 (Indeed) |
| CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) | $599 | 5 Years work experience, check site for industry requirements | Senior Security Analyst | $114,000 (Salary.com) |
| Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) | $1,199 | None formally required, recommended to be mid-leve IT or Software professional | Ethical Hacker | $135,000 (Zippia) |
| Microsoft Azure Administrator | $165 | None | Azure Administrator | $84,000 (Ziprecruiter) |
| AWS Cloud Practitioner | $100 | None | AWS Cloud Practitioner | $85,000 (Ziprecruiter) |
| Google IT Automation with Python | $59/month for unlimited certs | Some IT or coding experience | Python Developer | $121,000 (Indeed) |
| Google IT Support | $59/month for unlimited certs | None | Help Desk Technician | $45,000 (Indeed) |
| Google Cybersecurity Professional | $59/month for unlimited certs | None | Cybersecurity Analyst | $89,000 (Ziprecruiter) |
| Google Data Analytics | $59/month for unlimited certs | None | Data Analyst | $70,000 (Indeed) |
| SAP Certified Application Associate | $217 | None | SAP Consultant | $130,000 (Indeed) |
| Red Hat Certified System Administrator | $500 | Take Redhat Admin Courses | Systems Administrator | $82,000 (Indeed) |
| Oracle Database Certs | $95-$245 | Various exams, most have no pre-reqs but it depends. | Database Administrator | $88,000 (Salary.com) |
| SAS Statistical Business Analyst | $180 | None | SAS Programmer | $93,000 (Glassdoor) |
Digital Marketing
These positions usually require a degree to get interviewed for but with the new Coursera certs (Google and Meta certs are available there) it’s easier to build a stand-out portfolio to get noticed. This is a popular field for career changers. Some entry level positions include Social Media Manager, Marketing Coordinator and Ads Analyst.
| Certificate | Cost | Requirements | Titles | Average Income (US Based) |
| Google Digital Marketing | $59/month for unlimited certs | None | Digital Marketer | $63,158 (Indeed) |
| Meta Digital Marketing Associate | $59/month for unlimited certs | None | Social Media Manager | $62,000 (Glassdoor) |
| Google Ads Certified (Various exams) | Free | None | Ads Specialist | $50,237 (Zippia) |
| Hubspot Digital Marketing | Free | None | Hubspot Specialist | $79,699 (ZipRecruiter) |
| Adobe Certs (Premier Pro, Photoshop, etc) | $150 | None | Graphic Designer | $59,000 (Glassdoor) |
Healthcare
Healthcare is always hiring and will never go out of style. If you can deal with the environments for these jobs (hospitals, care facilities, etc) then some of these paths can be quite lucrative. Entry level jobs are available for nurses and assistants, but will require certifications and training beforehand.
| Certificate | Cost | Requirements | Titles | Potential Income |
| CNA | $600-$2,000 | Class hours, varies by state | Certified Nursing Assistant | $42,000 (Indeed) |
| RN | $30k+ | 4 year degree | Registered Nurse | $76,000 (Indeed, can go much higher, very lucrative career) |
| Physician Assistant | $40k+ | Bachelors/Masters degree | Physician Assistant | $109,000 (Indeed) |
| Radiology | $10k+ | Accredited Program | Radiology Tech | $81,000 (Glassdoor) |
| Dental Hygienist | $10k+ | Accredited Program | Dental Hygienist | $78,000 (Ziprecruiter) |
| Certified Professional Coder (CPC) | $400 | None | Medical Coder | $42,000 |
Miscellaneous – Career/Industry Changers
These didn’t really fit any category, but there are unique careers that you can obtain by getting certified or by completing an accredited program.
| Certificate | Cost | Requirements | Titles | Potential Income |
| Real Estate License | $700-$1,000 | Varies by state usually class hours + exam | Real Estate Agent | Fully commission based, average is $49k but can be $200k+ (Indeed) |
| Certified Paralegal | $5k+ | Varies by state, associates degree usually | Paralegal | $64,000 (Indeed) |
| Personal Trainer Certification | $900 | None but you probably want to be physically fit | Personal Trainer | $46,000 (Ziprecruiter) |
As I come across new certificates I will add them to this post. Feel free to contact us and suggest new categories you would like to see. Be sure to bookmark this page for updates!