Does the Job You Want Require a Degree, Certificate, License, or Training?

By Monique Wells‑Lopez, Ed.D.

The Decision

If you are thinking about going back to college because you want a different job or want to advance in your current field, first find out what the position actually requires. You may need a degree, but you may also need a license, certification, apprenticeship, specific training, or a combination of education and experience. Some employers may prefer a degree without requiring one.

Before choosing an education or training program, you need to know what is actually required for the role you want. Otherwise, you could spend time and money earning a credential that is not necessary or does not qualify you for the position.

Why This Matters

Adults often assume that a degree is the next step when they want to change careers or move into a higher-level position. That may be true for some jobs, but requirements vary considerably, even among positions within the same field. One healthcare position may require a license, while another may require a certificate or specific training. Some technology positions rely heavily on industry certifications, while many business positions accept experience in place of a particular degree.

The source of the requirement matters too. A qualification may be required by law, established by an employer, or simply listed as preferred. Understanding the difference can help you determine whether you actually need more education and, if you do, what type.

Start With the Role, Not the Education

When you begin with an education program, it is easy to focus on what the college or training provider says the program can prepare you to do. A better starting point is the job itself. Look at the specific position you want and understand how people qualify for it.

This is especially important if you are considering a career change. A broad field can include positions with very different requirements. Knowing that you want to work in healthcare, technology, business, or education is not enough to determine what type of credential you need. The requirements for the actual role will tell you much more.

If you are still trying to determine whether you want a different position or a different career altogether, see Are You Trying to Change Jobs or Change Careers?

Required and Preferred Qualifications Are Different

Not every qualification you see in a job posting has the same meaning. A legal requirement is established by a government agency and may include a particular level of education, license, examination, supervised experience, or other requirement. If the occupation is regulated, those requirements generally have to be met before you can perform the regulated work or use a protected professional title.

Employers can establish their own requirements for positions as well. An employer may require a bachelor's degree even when there is no law requiring one for the occupation. Other employers may list the same degree as preferred and consider candidates who have relevant experience instead. This is why seeing a degree listed in one job posting does not automatically mean you need to return to college before pursuing that type of position.

Degree, Certificate, License, and Certification Are Different Credentials

A degree is an academic credential, such as an associate or bachelor's degree, awarded by a college or university. A certificate generally provides focused education or training in a particular area and may be offered by a college or another training provider. Neither should automatically be confused with a professional license or certification.

A license is legal authorization from a government agency to work in a regulated occupation. A certification is generally awarded by an industry or professional organization after someone meets its standards. An apprenticeship combines paid employment with supervised learning and related instruction. Some occupations also rely on technical, industry, or employer training rather than requiring a traditional college credential.

These differences become especially important when an occupation is regulated. Completing a degree or certificate may satisfy the educational requirement for a license, but it may not complete the licensing process. An examination, supervised experience, application, background review, or other requirements may still apply.

Experience May Be Enough for Some Positions

If you already have substantial work experience, do not assume you need another degree simply because education appears in a job posting. Some employers accept experience as an alternative to a degree, particularly when the position is not legally regulated. You may see language such as “equivalent experience accepted,” “experience may substitute for education,” or “degree preferred.”

Experience cannot replace education when a law or licensing requirement specifically requires the education. It can, however, make a difference when the qualification comes from the employer. For an experienced adult considering additional education, that distinction is worth understanding before enrolling in another program.

Some Roles Require a Government License

Licensing requirements vary by occupation and state. Healthcare professions, education, real estate, social work, certain trades, and other occupations may require a government-issued license. Depending on the occupation, education may be only one part of the licensing process. There may also be examinations, supervised experience, specific program approval or accreditation requirements, or other conditions.

If the occupation you are considering is regulated, confirm the requirements with the government agency responsible for the license. A college or training provider can explain its program, but the licensing agency determines whether the education and other requirements qualify someone for licensure.

Certification or Training May Be the Appropriate Path

Some jobs rely on industry certifications or specialized training rather than a college degree. Technology certifications, commercial driver training, equipment or manufacturer training, and other occupation-specific credentials can provide a more direct route into certain positions. Other employers provide required training after someone is hired.

A shorter program can be a practical option when it provides the qualification employers actually recognize. The fact that a program is shorter or less expensive does not make it the better choice if the credential does not qualify you for the position you want.

Apprenticeship May Be Another Option

For some occupations, apprenticeship provides paid employment while you complete supervised learning and related instruction. Registered Apprenticeship programs also include progressive wages and an industry-recognized credential.

Whether apprenticeship is required or is one of several ways to enter an occupation depends on the field and location. In some cases, completing an apprenticeship may prepare you for a licensing examination or another requirement rather than completing the entire qualification process. If you are considering a trade or another occupation that uses apprenticeship, understand where it fits within the path to becoming qualified.

When a Degree Is Required

Some occupations require a particular level of education before someone can qualify for a license or enter the profession. Employers may also require degrees for positions that are not regulated. When a degree is required, pay attention to whether the requirement is simply for a degree or whether the level, major, program approval, or accreditation also matters.

This is particularly important when you are returning to college specifically for career advancement. Earning a bachelor's degree may not help you qualify for a position that requires a particular major or completion of an approved professional program. Knowing the actual requirement before you enroll can prevent you from earning a credential that does not lead where you expected.

Could a Certificate Be Enough?

A certificate may make more sense than a degree when it provides the specific education or training needed for the position. It may also be useful when you already have a degree or substantial experience and need a particular skill or credential rather than another full degree.

Certificates vary considerably, however. Some prepare students for a separate licensing or certification examination, while others document completion of a particular course of study. The name of the credential alone does not tell you whether employers will recognize it or whether it meets a licensing requirement.

For more information about choosing between these two education paths, see Degree vs. Certificate: Which Is Right for You?

Before You Decide

If your reason for returning to school is connected to a particular job or career goal, do not start by deciding which college program you want to attend. Start with the role you want and understand what is actually required to qualify for it. If the occupation is regulated, find out what the licensing agency requires. If it is not regulated, look at what employers consistently require and what they list as preferred.

You may discover that you need a degree or a particular type of degree. You may find that a certificate, certification, apprenticeship, or specific training is the more appropriate path. You may also find that your existing education and experience already qualify you for positions you assumed required additional education.

Once you know what the role actually requires, you can make a better decision about whether you need more education and what type of education makes sense.

Disclaimer

Degree requirements, licensing and certification standards, program approval, and training expectations vary by employer, occupation, and jurisdiction. Confirm the requirements for the specific role with employers, licensing agencies, colleges, apprenticeship programs, or training providers before choosing an education or training path.