Certificates and short programs

Certificates in trades, health care, technology and other fields can lead to work faster than a degree. They vary widely in quality, so judge each one on its own record.

Paying for one

Some certificate programs at eligible schools can be paid for with federal aid, and recent changes extended Pell Grants to some shorter job-training programs. The school’s aid office can tell you whether a particular program is covered. File the FAFSA either way.

What to do

• Ask the aid office whether federal aid applies
• Ask for completion and exam pass figures
• Talk to employers who hire in the field
• Look at paid apprenticeships

Judging the program

Ask how many students finish, how many pass the licensing or certification exam if there is one, and where graduates work. Schools that take federal aid must publish some of these figures. Ask local employers whether they hire from the program.

A short program is worth what its graduates can do with it, so ask where they work.

Other routes

Registered apprenticeships pay you while you train. American Job Centers, found through CareerOneStop, can point you to funded training in your area.