Graduate Certificates - Are they worth it?

How I wish I'd found this forum when I first returned to school six years ago aged 35. I finished 60 credits in a community college and then transferred to SUNY Empire State College, where I graduated. Got a job with a nonprofit a few months ago, and no one questioned the degree, for what it's worth.

I'm writing today because I'm curious about any experiences you may have with graduate certificates. I'm enrolled in Amberton U and am pursuing a M.S. in Family Studies there. Yet I'm also interested in CUNY's Advanced Certificate in Disability Studies.

My masters and the certificate don't cover the same ground at all, so it won't be a time-waster in terms of courses. I just wonder if having a grad certificate has helped/boosted anyone? I work with the developmentally disabled, so I believe the certificate might be good for its curriculum as well as a resume filler.

 

I look at education (specifically education that involves me paying for a credential) as an investment in either my knowledge or ROI in salary. Since I work in education, grad certificates aren't technically worth a pay bump, but 18 credits in an area would qualify me to teach additional classes...so I can justify it as having an ROI - if not specifically a certificate, probably a collection of interesting credits that total 18. I also spend a lot of time investing in my knowledge, and I find a lot of very inexpensive ways to do that.
I sense that you're younger than me, so you may have a career trajectory that requires you to have additional knowledge in this area that you can't get in other ways, or that would specifically qualify you to take a job you wouldn't otherwise get. If I were in your shoes, I'd hold off a tiny bit. Finish your master's so you have a better understanding of where you "fit in" among your peer's and their credentials in your field. You may have everything you need from your masters and not need the grad certificate.
I know this isn't really what you were thinking of, but here is a free MOOC in your field that you might be interested in doing too. https://www.edx.org/course/?search_query=disability&subject=Medicine

 

To be honest, I don't think that graduate certificate will help at all. My agency deals with disabled adults. If you wanted to work on the social services end, then a master's in social work would be worth more than anything. If you want to work in a more clinical position, then a master's in rehabilitation counseling, occupational therapy, or applied behavioral analysis could open a lot of doors. Even a master's in mental health counseling or psychology would be more marketable than a family studies or disability studies program, especially if you become licensed as an LPC or LMHC. Marriage and family therapy is another more marketable alternative to family studies because it also leads to a license.

I'll throw special education and recreational therapy out there as alternatives, but social work, occupational therapy, and applied behavioral analysis are the best options, in my opinion. Behavioral analysis with a certification would be the easiest route with a good return on investment. Social work doesn't pay much, and occupational therapy requires a lot of time investment.

 

I appreciate the advice, AsianStew and cookderosa. Since returning the school I discovered I have a knack for it. I guess I'll use any excuse to take courses! I'll definitely hold off, though.

As for CUNY's SPS certificate, yep, it's expensive. I considered it because in addition to having an interest in the curriculum, CUNY is pretty well-regarded where I live. Amberton, a Texas university, isn't as well known, AFAIK. One of the reasons it's easy for me to hold back is that the certificate is only 12 credits, as cookderosa pointed out. I'd need a full 18 + masters to teach the coursework.

If anyone has any experiences with grad certificates they'd like to share, I'm still here. I don't see them discussed too often. Even continuing education credits seemed to get more play.

 

The value of a graduate certificate depends on the field. Other than teaching college courses, graduate certificates tend to have the most value for those in healthcare fields who need the credits either for respecialization or to add a specialty to a license. See my post above.

I unintentionally earned my graduate certificate while earning my masters. I just happened to take the required courses for it. Security studies is already enough to get a national security-related position, so the terrorism certificate is kind of worthless.

 

Hi@sanantone, I'll look into rehab counseling. To be honest, I got into my work by accident. I'd originally planned on working in hospitals/medical practices. My undergrad is in healthcare admin. In pursuing my masters I chose a degree with courses I thought would interest me. Now I have to think in terms of my career. I never considered a MSW or LMHC. Have some thinking to do.

 

For me, graduate certificate is about newly advanced knowledge that I obtained. So its an education.
I think it helped me to become better at my job and the fact that for some time it also allowed advanced placement into Masters degree if I wanted a second Masters in the same field but more current and with subjects that didn't exist when I earned my first Masters.

So my answer, its case by case but there is a lot to gain form Graduate Certificates.
I know people who moved into leadership positions in HR after earning a Graduate Certificate in HR from RIT.
And other examples of successful application of the knowledge added.

 

As a footnote, occupational therapy is more similar to physical therapy than any of the areas of study mentioned above. I think it was mentioned in error.

I think there could be some value in that certificate if the school is highly regarded in your local region, but is that worth $5000+? It doesn't sound like it may confer added benefit, but if you feel that price is reasonable, it couldn't hurt. It just may not help necessarily. It probably would be best to get the master's that will be most applicable to what you are doing and ultimately what you want to be doing if you do not want to be doing that the rest of your life. I would encourage you to think in terms of a potential career and then find the degree that will allow you to achieve that. I would not pursue a master's if it does not directly lead you to a potential career goal. Select one that will, and then once you have finished it, if you still have a strong interest and thirst for knowledge in a particular area, then pursue one in that area at your leisure.

 

Another thing to consider, is that a master's will put you into a different category no doubt- but a grad certificate maybe 10 years later allows you a chance to refresh yourself, get newer information and have a context to apply your learning. I'm sure in any field there are always changing practices and technologies. So as for earning a grad certificate right after a masters (as opposed to inside a masters) from my point of view, doesn't seem like it will give you a big gain. But, we're all just speculating of course. I love taking classes too, so if you end up doing it just for fun, I totally can relate.

 

Seems like an issue of me wanting the entire cake AND a piece of pie. I can't think of a benefit for getting the cert, other than . . . I want it, lol. I'm a course junkie. Problem is, I'm already in debt, so I can't afford to mess around with education that won't pay off down the line. Looks like I have to reconsider my masters program and/or my career path.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

 

It was not mentioned in error. Occupational therapists often work with people who have disabilities helping them to perform every day tasks. Since the OP brought up disabilities, I believe that mentioning occupational therapy is more than appropriate. There is some overlap with physical therapy, but there is also overlap with the behavioral sciences. Occupational therapists use many of the same techniques behavior analysts use. Occupational therapists don't only work with those with physical impairments; they also work with people who have cognitive disabilities and mental health disorders.