Are you looking for quick certifications that pay well? Not everyone has the time, money, or even desire to sit in a classroom for 4 to 6 years to obtain a degree.
This article is for you if you prefer to learn on the job and are self-motivated.
We have made a list of certifications you can complete in under six months that can lead you to a good-paying job.
This article only includes jobs requiring an HS diploma or GED. You can earn all of the certifications or licenses in less than six months.
We have also limited our list to jobs with good growth potential that will pay you over $40,000 yearly to start.
If you are ready to earn more in a career that is more than a payday, read on.
Ready to learn more? Watch the video below or keep reading.
Certification VS Certificates
A certificate demonstrates your successful completion of a course, or a sequence of courses, with specific learning goals.
Certification proves your expertise and competence in your field as determined by a third party that shows you meet industry standards.
For example, a CPA is a certification for accountants that shows they have met specific standards that allow them to command better pay.
Whereas an Accounting Certificate shows you completed a course or class in Accountancy that resulted in a certificate.
This article will explore certifications and certificates you can acquire quickly to qualify for a good-paying job.
Salary Expectations After Completing Your Certification
The salary figures were up to date at publication and depended on many factors. For example, median salaries are much higher in California than in Mississippi, so the figure we give is just an average.
We have included certificates in medicine, construction, business, and hospitality.
We have also arranged the certs by the type of career so you can save time and skip to your area of interest or talent.
Certifications for Construction Workers
Many construction jobs require long apprenticeships to master. Still, we have found a few for you that you can get good-paying work quickly without needing expensive tools or training.
Asbestos Abatement Worker Certification
Asbestos abatement workers and lead abatement workers are called hazmat workers for short. The work involves removing dangerous substances – usually asbestos and lead from buildings.
These building materials are no longer used, but many old buildings still contain them.
This work is overseen by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Working with asbestos can harm your health. For this reason, you need to take a course that results in an official certification.
You can take a free course on the OSHA website, which will qualify you for the job, and it should take 2- 5 days of full-time study.
The good thing about taking the course with OSHA is that it will qualify you in every state.
You then have to register in the state you wish to work. Then, contact the agency in your state to send them a copy of your certification with OSHA.
Once the issue with an Asbestos Removal Worker license is, you can look for work and get hired in your state.
What is the Outlook for Asbestos Workers?
According to the Department of Labor, the demand for asbestos and lead removal will remain steady over the next ten years. There is plenty of room to move up in the industry.
Name of Certification: Asbestos Worker Certification
Certification Training Recommendation: OSHA Training Online
Cost: $16 for a PDF of the certification
Length of Course: 2 days to a week.
Average salary: $53,087
Solar Photovoltaic Certification
This job requires that you have a good level of physical fitness and are not afraid of heights. You will install solar panels on homes and businesses to help them save money and conserve energy.
This is a fast-growing industry with much room for advancement as you gain experience. You will receive about a year of on-the-job training. However, starting pay is good.
What is the Outlook for Solar Photovoltaic Installers?
The outlook for Solar Installers is much better than most industries, with a growth of 27% over the next ten years.
The typical time to earn a certificate is a few days to a few months, depending on the course.
Name of Certification: Residential & Commercial Photovoltaic Systems Certificate
Certification Training Recommendation: Alison has free courses. Solar Energy International has extended, more focused courses to help you pass the exam that leads to certification.
Cost: Free to $900
Length of Course: 2 days to 2 months
Average salary: $46,470
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Certification
You will install and fix heating, air conditioning, ventilation, and refrigeration as an HVAC technician.
Each state has different requirements for certification, so check your state’s rules. You first get HVAC Certification from a trade school or community college and then obtain the license from your state by passing a certification exam.
What is the Outlook for an HVAC Technician?
The growth for this trade is 5%, which means the industry will keep pace with population growth.
Certification Training Recommendation:
Cost: Free to $900
Certifications in the Medical Field
The medical industry is set to grow quickly in every job over the next ten years as the population ages and needs more medical care.
Registered Behavioral Technician Certification (RBT)
This job is also called being a psychiatric technician. You can get the certification and start working immediately upon accreditation if you have a high school diploma.
RBTs work as assistants to Behavioral Analysts. They help people modify behavior that is not helpful by replacing it with more valuable behaviors. They also observe and take notes on behavior they observe in a patient.
What is the Job Outlook for Behavior Analyst Technicians?
The demand for this job is predicted to grow at 12% through 2029. This is more than the national average.
Name of Certification: Registered Behavioral Technician Certification (RBTC)
Certification Training Recommendation: You can take a free training course with the Autism Partnership Foundation.
Cost: Free to $2000
Length of Course: You must complete 40 hours of instruction to take the qualification exam.
Average salary: $50,900
Hearing Aid Specialists Certification
As a hearing aid specialist, you will assist audiologists by evaluating how much hearing loss a patient is experiencing by giving hearing tests.
They also assist with patient record keeping and the fitting of hearing aids.
Hearing aid specialists may show patients how to use their hearing aids and even help make hearing aids.
What is the Outlook for Hearing Aid Specialists?
A 13% increase is predicted for this occupation in the next ten years. There is plenty of room for career growth if you want further education.
Name of Certification: Varies by state
Certification Training Recommendation: The Hearing Aid Academy has boot camps and online courses ending in certification.
Cost: $1500-$3000
Length of Course: 3 to 6 months
Average salary: $52,630
Business Certifications
There are plenty of certifications you can earn in the business field, but most require a minimum of a BA. However, there is a very lucrative exception that we will cover.
Business Analyst Certification
Business Analyst is in the top ten of fast-growing and in-demand jobs. There are quite a few business analysis credentials that you can earn as a certificate. Still, most require experience and a BA.
However, there is one certification that is entry-level and does not require a BA.
Half of the US business analysts’ job listings don’t require a BA.
A business analyst helps firms identify and fix problems. They accomplish this in several ways. This can include evaluating a company’s performance, gathering and analyzing data, and offering recommendations to higher management based on their findings.
What is the Outlook for a Career as a Business Analyst?
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the career outlook for business analysts is set to grow by 25% over the next two decades. This is very high demand.
Name of Certification: Entry Certification in Business Analysis (ECBA)
20 hours of training is required before you can take the exam.
Certification Training Recommendation: The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) has an excellent reputation for delivering this certification.
Cost: $700 – $1200
Length of Course: 20-30 Hours
Average salary: $62,155
Margin Department Supervisor Certification
If you are good with money and practical math, this is a great-paying job for which you don’t need a degree.
As a margin department supervisor, you oversee a company’s credit department.
Your responsibilities will include managing credit accounts and approving or denying credit to customers.
You must undergo on-the-job training, certification, and basic credit and debt management understanding.
As a margin credit supervisor, you will also have to be good at communicating with customers.
What is the Outlook For Margin Department Supervisors?
Name of Certification: Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
Certification Training Recommendation: Udemy has some great courses that will lead you to certification as a Margin Department Supervisor.
Cost: $14.99-$2000
Length of Course: 2 months to two years
Average salary: $74,845
Real Estate Sales Agent Certification
No matter what is going on with the economy, people buy and sell property. Real Estate agents help negotiate the prices of properties and help sell properties. Real Estate agents make a commission on a sale when the sale is completed.
This can be a great job if you are a go-getter who does not need to be supervised and doesn’t mind working odd hours and weekends.
What is the Outlook For Real Estate Sales Agents?
It takes about 4 or 5 months to study for and pass a real estate exam, but it depends on how much time you can put towards studying.
Name of Certification: Each state has different requirements, and you must pass your licensing exam.
Certification Training Recommendation: Construction Finance Certification offered by Columbia University via Coursera
Cost: Free unless you want a copy of the certification. To take the exam varies from $35 to $300.
Length of Course: 32 hours – Can take a few months.
Average salary: $61,480
Insurance Sales Agent
Insurance Agents sell life, health, disability, and casualty insurance. It helps to be good at basic math and have sales ability. Insurance sales agents contact people to sell different types of insurance that may suit them.
You will need to be able to explain to people how insurance works and to understand how investing works.
It is also essential that you have good interpersonal skills and good marketing knowledge. Having social media skills can be very important.
What is the Outlook for Insurance Sales Agents?
Insurance Sales Agents have a growth rate of 6%, which means it will continue to grow. According to the government, there are about 52,700 job openings for insurance sales agents yearly.
Name of Certification: Every state has its own certification and licensing guidelines. You can find your state’s governing body for insurance on The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) website, which provides a list of each state’s governing body.
Certification Training Recommendation: It is different for each state, so check out the National Insurance Producer Registry for where to train in your state.
Cost: Varies by State
Length of Course: 20 Hours
Average salary: $49,840
Hospitality and Other Trades
Casino Dealer
This job pays minimum wage from the casino, and the rest is tips. Therefore, the more expensive the hotel or casino you work for, the more you will make.
You can make $35,000 or $150,000 a year. It depends on how good you are, how many games you deal with, and where you work. Tips are usually shared, so you get consistent pay.
The more games you deal with, the more valuable you are to the casino. You can learn casino games at the University of Las Vegas for about $400 a course or train with a casino.
You have to pass random drug tests and can’t have a criminal record.
To get a job at a top casino, you need a good credit rating.
Good math skills and customer service experience dramatically help in this industry.
What is the Outlook for Casino Dealers?
Name of Certification: You must get a certification for each state you work in, requiring a criminal background check and fingerprinting.
Certification Training Recommendation: Contact the casino you wish to work at and ask if they offer training.
Cost: Free to $2000
Length of Course: 8 weeks per game
Average salary: $58,500
Flight Attendant
If you are searching for a career with travel benefits, consider becoming a flight attendant. In this career, you will serve aircraft passengers food and drinks. You will also ensure passengers are safe and help store luggage safely in overhead compartments.
You can travel all over the world or just regionally. However, because travel happens at all hours of the day and night, you will have a varied schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
If you love to travel, this is an excellent certification to have.
What is the Outlook for Flight Attendants?
The growth outlook for flight attendants is 21%, making this a safe career choice with many opportunities.
Name of Certification: Multiple Cabin Crew Onboard
Certification Training Recommendation:
Cost: $2000 -$4000
Length of Course: 3 weeks to 3 Months
Average salary: $59,050
How to Pay for Your Certifications
We have tried to include as many free educational resources as possible for you. However, there are a few certifications that don’t have free options. If you struggle to pay the certification cost, it is worth applying for scholarship money to cover your course.
Another way you can pay is to save money in other ways. For example, FREE Cell Phone and Data service through the Federal Lifeline Program.
You can stop having to pay your cell phone bill when you qualify for Lifeline with EASY Wireless.
Click to see if you’re eligible for FREE Cell Phone Service from EASY Wireless.
Get Your Quick Certifications That Pay Well Today!
Many quick and easy certifications can help you get ahead in your career without you spending a lot of time or money.
Check with your local community college for courses because fees in your state are always less expensive than out-of-state colleges.
In addition, there are often different certifications required in different states, so your local community college will have the proper accreditation for you.
Many community colleges are now online and have inexpensive certification programs. In addition, you can save money on textbooks with our college textbook guide.
