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I know a woman who practically shed her skin to go to school at night, while working full-time during the day and raising two children, alone. She was tying her brain into knots several times a week with exorbitantly expensive, intensely complex classes. As the arduous schedule took its toll on her from a mental and physical standpoint, one must wonder what motivated her to grind herself into the ground just to get a certification — and she eventually wants to get her doctorate.

The answer is as simple as the title of the ‘90s Damon Wayans’s flick, Mo’ Money.

According to Fortune Magazine, an increasing number of American businesspeople are working toward acquiring certification in their areas of expertise. Accreditation, in addition to the proverbial college degree, is one of the best ways to advance professionally and procure higher compensation. For example, a person who obtains a certified public accountant (CPA) designation will make significantly more money than an individual who simply corrals a degree in accounting. In fact, according to a 2005 SmartPros survey, accountants with at least one professional certification reported substantially higher salaries than accountants with no certification.

photo by steed media service

Certifications accomplish several important things simultaneously. Additional accreditation obviously increases an individual’s overall occupational knowledge and competency. It also keeps the student on the cutting edge of an ever-changing business environment. Furthermore, boasting certification(s) enables employers and senior executives to distinguish candidates aspiring for a higher office. There are more than 1,500 certification programs listed in the Certification and Accreditation Programs Directory, which can be purchased for a mere $80.

According to the directory, there are several programs that will enhance your chances for appointments to the upper-levels in corporate America:

Financial Services – You’re advised to check out the websites for the following genres to ascertain the steps required to gain additional accreditation; www.aicpa.org for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; www.cfp.net if you desire to become a part of the Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc.; and the American Academy of Financial Management’s website can be viewed at www.financialcertified.com.

 Project Management – The Project Management Institute can be viewed at www.pmi.org.

 Human Resources – Is one of the more obvious occupations that require continuous certification and training. The Human Resources Certification Institute details their accreditation requisites at www.hrci.org.

Healthcare – Again, certification is axiomatic for such an important career path. The American Board of Medical Specialties, the National Health Career Association and the Advanced Medical Assistant can all be accessed by logging onto www.abms.org, www.nhanow.com, and www.certmedassistant.com. respectively.  
–terry shropshire

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