Certification:
Occupational programs have an employer advisory committee to provide occupational outlook information and give input to the curriculum, ensuring that students are learning the skills needed by industry.

Career Certificates:
Career Certificates are programs of study consisting of 18 units or more that provide extensive preparation in the designated field. They are intended to certify that students who have successfully completed the program are prepared to enter the careers associated with their chosen certificate. They usually take at least one to two years to complete, in addition to local and state approval.

Achievement Certificates:
In addition to Career Certificate programs of study, Colleges also offers many programs resulting in the award of Achievement Certificates. These certificates are under 18 units, and, while the local development and approval process is rigorous, they do not require approval by the state Chancellor's Office. These certificates are designed to provide the student with a brief but intense course of study in a particular area, so that he or she may develop specific skills or prepare for an entry-level position in the field.

Successful completion of these programs also may certify that students are prepared with a particular set of skills, such as the job entry skills leading to a full Career Certificate program, or skills to upgrade or advance in an existing career. These programs often provide advancement on a "career ladder," and are therefore of shorter duration and narrower in scope than the Career Certificate programs to which they may lead.

Certificate Coursework and Prerequisites/Advisories:
Courses in a certificate program may have prerequisites or advisories; that is, courses that must or should be completed before taking that course. Always check for prerequisites or advisories in the Program Requirements section of the certificate. In addition, the reading and writing or mathematics level required for beginning certificate coursework and/or successful completion varies from program to program.

Courses in a program may have a specific level of English or Math as either a prerequisite or recommendation. Placement tests help you determine your English or Math level. If an English or Math course is recommended, it is considered an advisory, not a requirement. Advisories give an accurate indication of the skill level needed to do well in the program. Take these advisories seriously!

Certificate Requirements and Previous Coursework or Experience:
If you believe that you have already fulfilled a certificate requirement or course prerequisite through previous coursework or prior experience, please contact the program coordinator or a counselor for assistance at your school of choice.

The Career Certificate and the Major (degree program):
Degree programs are often available for many occupational fields that also have a career certificate program. Students in occupational programs are strongly encouraged to obtain an Associate Degree. This can be done by selecting a major related to the certificate program, or by pursuing a more general major, such as Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, or University Transfer.

To be awarded an Associate Degree, a student must complete the requirements of the major, as well as other degree requirements. A student who has completed a certificate program may be awarded the Associate Degree in a later semester providing all major and degree requirements are met.

The Career Certificate and Selection Processes:
Some programs - particularly in the Health Sciences or Public Safety fields - may have a selection process for entering students. Please contact the department or a counselor for information about the selection process for any such program.

Coursework Requirements and the Certificate:
No course may be used more than once to fulfill a requirement in the certificate. Generally stated, a requirement in a certificate is:

1. A designated course
2. A defined combination of courses
3. A set number of units that can be fulfilled from a list of courses

Some popular jobs that require a certificate are, travel agent, paralegal, security officer, law enforcement officer, property manager, hotel operations manager, interior decorator, spa director of operations, occupational safety coordinator, dental hygienist, nursing, correctional services, as well as community college tutorials.