Certificate Programs usually consist of at least 18 units or credits, and are intended to certify that students who have successfully completed the program are prepared to enter the careers associated with the chosen certificate. They usually take at least one to two years to complete. These are typically available at community colleges or junior colleges and are also occasionally available online.

In addition, several organizations offer certificate training programs specifically developed for their products.  For example, Microsoft offers certifications for nearly every Microsoft application for IT professionals, developers, office workers, home users, and technology trainers. In addition, Cisco certificate programs focus on customer service, support, and technology.

Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the U.S. Department of Education.