Is a better career on your list of 2019 New Year's goals? Here are five ways to take your career to the next level, starting in January!

1. Earn a Project Management Certification

Introduction to Project Management is designed for working professionals looking to enhance their project management skills, as well as experienced project managers who want to pursue Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification.

The course will cover the entire project life cycle, from initiation and planning, through execution, support, and closure. It will also provide you with training and support to take and pass the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam, the most important industry-recognized certification for project managers.

The class also satisfies the PMP certification requirement of 35 hours of formal project management education.

Dates: 7 sessions, starting January 14 in Tucson.

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2. Prepare for the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam

If you have a 4-year engineering degree or 4 years of work experience in the engineering field, passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is the first step towards becoming a Licensed Professional Engineer (PE).

The 15-week FE Exam Preparation course will get you ready to take the FE exam. Taught by a Licensed Professional Engineer, the course includes lectures, weekly study sessions, practice exams, and a demonstration project. Topics include: math, probability and statistics, chemistry, ethics and safety, engineering economics, instrumentation, statics, dynamics, material science, fluid mechanics, electrical power and more.

Dates: meets weekly on Thursdays, from January 10-April 25, 2019 in Tucson.

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3. Launch a Translation Career

Turn your language skills into an exciting new career with a certificate in Spanish-English Translation from the University of Arizona! The need for translators is expected to grow 18% between 2016 and 2026, faster than other jobs.

The three-course Spanish-English Translation Certificate Program is intended for bilingual speakers with no formal training in translation who wish to improve or expand their knowledge and skills in written translation.

The Medical Spanish-English Translation course provides guided practice in the successful completion of professional translation tasks involving texts in the medical domain, such as health care forms, health information texts, health/patient education, and legal documents in the healthcare setting.

Dates: online class runs from January 7-May 6, 2019.

Apply Now

4. Become a Paralegal

The Paralegal Certificate is our most popular legal studies course. In just 14 weeks, this course prepares you for a career in the fast-growing paralegal field. The course is completely online, so you can learn on your schedule.

Other popular legal studies courses include:

• Advanced Legal Research & Writing Certificate
• Advanced Paralegal Certificate
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Legal Secretary Training
• Software Essentials for the Law Office
• Victim Advocacy Training

Dates: Online classes start January 14.

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5. Learn to Code

Become a web developer in 12 or 24 weeks. The University of Arizona Coding Boot Camp teaches you the skills to start a career in this fast-growing industry. Through a rigorous, immersive curriculum, you’ll learn the skills needed to become proficient in front-end and back-end web development technologies.

Dates: new Boot Camps start quarterly in Tucson and Phoenix Metro area.

Explore Boot Camps

The University of Arizona and the office of Continuing & Professional Education will be closed December 22-January 1, 2019. We will reopen on January 2, 2019.

But you don't have to put your career goals on hold. Our continuing and professional education classes are still open for registration during the holiday closure. You can browse the class catalog here.

We wish you a very happy holiday, and we look forward to helping you acheive your career goals in the New Year!

Earning new professional credentials can be one of the best ways to improve your resume and boost your earning potential.

But how do you decide which credential is right for you? Do you need a license to practice in your chosen field? Will a certificate give you a leg up in your next job interview or performance review? What about industry certifications? And what are microcredentials all about?

There's no "one size fits all" approach to career advancement, but knowing what types of credentials are available can help you pick the right credential for your chosen career path.

Here's a quick guide to help you navigate the many options available to you.

Industry Certifications

Industry certifications are awarded by a certification body (often an industry association, trade group or a corporation). Certifications are usually awarded after successfully completing an exam that demonstrates you have acquired the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform a specific job or task. Certifications are often time-limited and may be renewed through a re-certification process.

Certifications can help experienced professionals move up in their current careers or open the door to starting a new career in certain industries. Some certifications are "stackable," meaning you can earn additional credentials as your knowledge and experience increase.

Nationally-recognized and in-demand industry certifications include:

• CompTIA and other IT certifications, such as CISSP, CISA, CISM, CCNA and CCNP
• Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification
• SHRM-CP (Human Resources) certification

Industry certification courses can help you prepare for these certification exams.

Non-Credit Certificates

A non-credit certificate is awarded by an educational institution (such as University of Arizona Continuing & Professional Education) after you complete a program. Certificate programs typically involve successful completion of multiple courses.

Certificates may be specifically required or requested by employers. For example, a Paralegal Certificate may be listed as "required" or "preferred" in paralegal job listings. Even if the certificate isn't required by an employer, it can give you an edge in the hiring process by demonstrating that you have acquired the knowledge and skills you need to do the job.

Non-credit professional development certificates should not be confused with for-credit certificates. For-credit certificates are awarded for successful completion of a for-credit program, such as a graduate certificate.

Still wondering about the difference between certifications and certificates?

This short video, based on an article by our Dr. John DeLalla, breaks it down. Watch the video on ASQ's site.

Licenses

A license is a credential that allows you to practice in a specific field. A nursing license is a common example of this type of credential.

A license is awarded by a government licensing agency based on pre-determined requirements, generally a combination of work experience, education and training.

Licenses generally expire after a certain period of time and must be renewed periodically. Licensing agencies may also have specific continuing education requirements, such as clock hours, or continuing education units (CEUs) to renew or continue a license.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Continuing education units are a nationally recognized and effective way to measure, record, and report a person’s participation in continuing education activities.

Participants often use CEUs to meet career requirements. For example, an industry may have continuing education standards for licensing, certification, or registration. CEUs can also help demonstrate professional competence, career development, vocational growth, and personal achievement.

Participants earn one CEU for each 10 “contact” hours spent in an organized educational activity.

Microcredentials and Digital Badges

Microcredentials demonstrate that specific skills and/or competencies have been achieved by the participant. Typically, microcredentials are more targeted and specific than other types of credentials.

Digital badges are a type of microcredential, and they are an increasingly popular way to record and recognize professional development activities. Digital badges aren’t simply a “participation” trophy. Digital badges include rich detail regarding what the participant did to earn the credential, such as learning outcomes/competencies achieved, exam results, projects completed and much more.

Digital badges can also be added to the participant’s resume and to LinkedIn and other professional networking sites. A potential employer can click on the badge to see exactly what the participant did to earn it. This allows the participant to highlight the true depth and breadth of their learning achievement to potential employers.

Ready to get a new credential?

Explore our professional development classes.

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In the alphabet soup of project management certifications (PMP, CAPM, PMI-ACP), which one is right for you?

The answer often varies based on your experience and which industry you want to work in.

Different employers may also have different requirements or preferences for project management certifications. If you are focused on a particular industry, location or employer, we recommend that you research job postings to help determine which certification is right for you.

So which certification is right for you?

If you're an experienced project manager...

PMP certification is the gold standard for experienced project managers. Certification demonstrates that you have the knowledge and experience to manage the entire project life cycle, from initiation and planning through execution, support, and closure.

To take the PMP exam, project managers must have experience leading and directing projects as well as meeting specific education requirements, including 35 hours of formal project management training. You can learn more about the requirements here.

Our live instructor-led PMP Exam Prep classes teach the essential skills of project management and provide you with training and support to take the PMP exam. Online and in-person options are available.

In addition to preparing you to take the PMP exam, this class fulfills the PMP certification requirement of 35 hours of formal project management training.

If you're a new project manager...

If you’re just starting your project management career, the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® certification may be right for you. CAPM certification demonstrates that entry-level project managers have foundational project management knowledge and skills.

To qualify for the CAPM certification exam, aspiring project managers must have a high school diploma, associate’s degree or equivalent and 23 hours of formal project management training.

Our Project Management Certificate is designed specifically for new project managers. While it is not a CAPM prep course, it does meet PMI requirements for hours of project management training.

Another option for new project managers is CompTIA Project +. There are no experience or education requirements for taking the Project+ exam, so it can be a good option for those who may not meet the requirements for PMI certifications.

If you're interested in Agile or Scrum...

While a PMP or CAPM certification is valuable across a wide range of industries, employers in some industries may prefer other project management certifications. For example, in software development, PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® certification and Certified ScrumMaster are also in demand.

If you want to add agile and scrum to your skill set without pursuing a specific certification, Advanced Project Management Concepts: Using Agile and Scrum may meet your needs.

The Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® and Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® are registered marks of Project Management Institute, Inc.

Want to attend the University of Arizona but worried that your math skills aren't quite at the college level? Or maybe you need a refresher on your math skills to get ahead in your current career?

Don't let math stand in the way of your academic and career success. The University of Arizona Think Tank and Continuing & Professional Education are now offering College Readiness Math. This 6-week, fully online program offers you a personalized learning experience to help you bring your math skills up to the college level.

UA College Readiness Math Refresher Program

The College Readiness Math program is:

• Adaptive—The class is guided by a personalized assessment that determines what math skills you already have and moves you straight into where you need to begin. You won't waste time on things you already know.
• Flexible—The course is online and self-paced, but also offers one-on-one instructional support from UA Think Tank. The best of both worlds, all available on your schedule.
• Affordable—You have access to the program for 6 weeks for just $49. You can bring your math skills up to the college level at a fraction of the cost of individual tutoring or many refresher classes.

Math Class on YOUR Terms

College Readiness Math will help you re-master key concepts and skills in mathematics in a comfortable, stress-free environment. The class reviews key concepts and includes practice problems and tests.

You will have up to 6 weeks to complete the class. You can learn after work, on the weekend—whenever is best for you.  All you need is a computer, Internet access, and a pencil and paper. Grab a snack, settle in on your couch and finally master math!

Register Now

Whether you're an experienced professional looking to advance or you want to start a new career, learning new job skills is often a critical component of career growth.

Here are six ways you can develop new job skills this fall.

1. Spanish-English Translation Certificate

Turn your language skills into an exciting new career with a certificate in Spanish-English Translation! The Spanish-English Translation Certificate Program is intended for bilingual speakers with no formal training in translation who wish to improve or expand their knowledge and skills in written translation.

Business Translation and Legal Translation classes start September 4.

Learn More

2. Project Management Professional (PMP®) Certification

Fundamentals of Project Management is designed for working professionals looking to enhance their project management skills, as well as experienced project managers who want to pursue Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. This course will teach the essential skills of project management, covering the entire project life cycle, from initiation and planning, through execution, support, and closure. 

This course will also provide you with training and support to take and pass the PMP exam, the most important industry-recognized certification for project managers.

Fundamentals of Project Management starts October 15.

3. Level Up Your Math Skills

Do you find math difficult, stressful or a stumbling block to further professional or academic success? Worry no more!

We've partnered with the University of Arizona Think Tank to offer a College Readiness Math refresher program. This 6-week fully online program will help you bring your math skills up to the college level (in a comfortable, stress-free environment!).

College Readiness Math starts October 8.

4. Boot Up a New Career as a Web Developer

Coding Boot Camp gives you the knowledge and skills to build dynamic end-to-end web applications and become a full stack web developer. The curriculum covers the basics of coding, algorithms and data structure, all the way through intensive training in Javascript, Node.js, HTML, CSS, jQuery, Java, MongoDB, and more.

Part-time and full-time Boot Camps are available in the Tucson and Phoenix metro areas:

• 9/24/18: Chandler (full-time, 12 weeks)
• 10/22/18: Gilbert (part-time, 24 weeks)
• 10/8/18: Tucson (part-time, 24 weeks)

Can't make it to Gilbert, Tucson or Chandler? Check out the Live Online Coding Boot Camp. Students can attend these live classes virtually, from any location. Classes are held online in real-time, allowing students to tap into an immersive classroom environment remotely, benefit from collaboration with peers, and receive extensive on-demand support.

Explore Boot Camps

5. Legal Career Classes

We offer over a dozen career prep courses in the legal field, including:

• Alternative Dispute Resolution Certificate Course
• Legal Investigation Certificate Course
• Legal Secretary Certificate Course
• Paralegal Certificate Course

Classes start October 15.

6. Data Analytics Boot Camp

More data has been created in the past two years than in the entire history of the human race. Do you want to be part of this data revolution?

Through an immersive classroom experience, Data Analytics Boot Camp students will dive into in-demand technologies like Excel, Python, JavaScript, SQL Databases, Tableau, and more. 

Data Analytics Boot Camp starts 11/13/18: Phoenix (part-time, 24 weeks).

Don't want to wait for a fall class? We also offer many open-enrollment classes. Register any time and start any time that works for you!

Browse Catalog

We're thrilled to annouce that the UA Continuing & Professional Education website has a fresh new look!

New features include:

• Improved catalog browsing. View classes by subject, course type or delivery method. Interested in a certificate program or taking an industry certification exam? We've got you covered.
• Listing of Workforce Development agency-approved courses. We are part of the Arizona Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL). Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding for these classes may be available for unemployed or dislocated workers and other eligible applicants. 
• Mobile-friendly, so you can find the class that's right for you easily, using any device.

We hope you enjoy the new website! If you run into any trouble or have questions, feel free to contact us.

UA News reports on the launch of a new online certificate program, developed in collaboration with Caterpillar and the UA College of Engineering.

Read the full story here.