This Post is Part 3 of a 5-Part Series on Professional Development.
PART 1: SELF-LEARNING | BRANDON LAWS
PART 2: PEER GROUPS | ANGELA PERKINS
PART 3: CERTIFICATIONS | LACEY HALPERN
PART 4: IN PERSON WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS | SUZI ALLIGOOD
PART 5: EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING | ALISHIA YOUNG
Click the play button below to hear Lacey talk about certifications. If the player does not work, click here to listen on Soundcloud.
Lacey, why get a certification? By choice?
There are lots of reasons! Top three would likely be:

  1. To be marketable to potential employers
  2. For professional development and learning
  3. The support and relationship building opportunity of a study group

Other reasons could include it being a requirement for a promotion or of an employer who’s hiring.
 
lacey-stock-24What type of certification is best?
It depends on the industry. For me, I chose one that is nationally recognized. I’d recommend asking people in your industry, researching accredited institutions so your certification will be reputable and longstanding, and ensure in advance that you have the financial resources and time.
 
Biggest hurdles?
Time commitment! The studying involves a lot of technical reading. It’s also tough to get back into the mindset of prioritizing study time on your “off-work” time after being out of school for so long, as well as reorienting yourself to the multiple choice format of exams and overcoming the anxiety of test taking in general.
For me and many people, other forms of learning are more effective, such as experiential learning, mentorship, learning from peers, reflecting on tough experiences and evaluating how I worked through them. Reading, memorizing, and quizzing is a specific type of learning.
 
Advantage of professional certifications?
Practical knowledge gives an advantage.