What are Business Certifications, and How Can They Boost Your Professional Journey?

business certifications
Jan 16, 2025 Reading time : 11 min

Business Certifications are the professional edge that you need in today’s competitive world. Standing out isn’t just about hard work — it’s about proving your expertise. But with so many options, how do you know which one fits your goal?

From enhancing your skills to increasing your earning potential, certifications are more than just a piece of paper. Whether you are a seasoned professional or just starting, enrolling in the right business certificate programs can be the ticket to your growth.

So dive in and start your journey! Let’s explore what are the most profitable certifications in business to fast-track your success. 

What are Business Certifications?

Business certifications, also known as professional certificates, are a type of competency badge or an industry-recognized credential given to an individual as per his or her work domain.

It is a verification of a person’s qualification and skill set achieved after getting evaluated as per the prerequisite standards. These certifications bridge the gap between a savvy professional who is looking for an opportunity to upskill himself or herself and a company that is in search of a competent employee. 

Whether you are planning to stand out from the pool of jobseekers or aspire to move up in your present company with better compensation, business certificates will help you achieve your targets. 

Moving forward, let us explore some of the best certificates for business managers or individuals working in other sectors.  

What are the Most Profitable Certifications in Business Management?

Management certificates are specialized accomplishments given by industry experts to individuals when they meet the predominant standards for certain managerial roles. 

Before moving forward, let us explore some of the most profitable certifications in business management and their important criteria. 

Project Management Professional Certificate (PMP)

Project management refers to the process of organizing, planning, and managing a project to achieve a specific target. 

Any candidate who possesses a PMP certificate demonstrates the above-mentioned skill set. Awarded by the Project Management Institute, this testament validates the leadership skill of a candidate.

Exam CostEligibility Criteria Exam Pattern
$450 for PMI members and $550 for non-membersMinimum 3 years of project management experience with a bachelor’s degreeOffered in 16 languages, 180 questions in 230 minutes

CompTIA Project + Certificate

This certification covers the project management skills of an IT employee. Professionals with a minimum of 6–12 months of experience in project management can aspire to achieve this certificate since it is an entry-level evaluation that goes beyond the general methodologies of project management. 

Designed by CompTIA, this certificate aims to teach IT professionals some foundational skills. As the company itself says, a project+ certificate is good for life, which means you won’t ever need to renew your authentication.

Exam CostEligibility Criteria Exam Pattern
USD 369
(pricing varies from country to country)
A minimum of one year of experience in any small to medium-scale projects90 multiple-choice questions to be solved in 90 minutes

Certified Project Manager (IAPM)

Planning to enter the operational department? You can widen your portfolio as well as your scope with this IAPM certificate. Along with other business certificate programs, this particular certification is worldwide recognized, cost-efficient, and requires no prior project experience. 

Exam CostEligibility Criteria Exam Pattern
526.48 USD
(pricing varies from country to country)
No prior experience required120 questions in 80 minutes, the exam is taken entirely online

Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)

Offered by the International Institute of Business Analysis, CBAP certification is specially designed for experienced professionals who are now ready to lead. Along with substantial benefits like increases in salary or career advancement, this testament showcases your expertise in the field.

Exam CostEligibility Criteria Exam Pattern
$350 for IIBM members and $505 for non-membersMinimum, 7500 hours of business analysis experience in the last 10 years120 multiple-choice questions to be solved in 210 minutes

Certification for Team Leadership

For individuals who aspire to become team managers, CTL is a great option. This certification helps them comprehend the basic framework and knowledge about leadership skills. Many organizations and universities offer this training program to upskill their candidates.

Exam CostEligibility Criteria Exam Pattern
Depends on the program, the exam provider, and the formatBachelor’s degree in a relevant field or working experience at an associate-level position70 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 60 minutes.

Considering competitive advantage and better-earning potential, many white-collar workers work hard and aspire to be called certified business pros, and the above-mentioned are the most important certifications for business managers. 

The process of preparing and acquiring any of these validations can be a formidable challenge, but, with great hard work comes great success. 

List of Professional Certifications in Different Domains

If you are currently thinking “As a manager, what other certifications can I get” or if you are an experienced professional who admires to rise through the rank or an entry-level jobseeker who plans to boost his or her resume, business certificates are your one-stop solution. 

Given below is a list of the most in-demand professional certifications, broken down by career fields. 

Certification NameDomainExam CostEligibilityExam Structure
1. Professional Certified Marketer Certification (PCM)MarketingVaries by AMA membership status. Members – 249 USD and Non-members – 349 USD  Bachelor’s degree with four years of professional experience or Master’s degree with 2 years of professional experience150 questions, three hours online exam with a minimum score of 80%
2. HubSpot Digital Marketing CertificationMarketingFree of costBasic computer literacy and access to the HubSpot Academy portal60 multiple-choice questions and 75 minutes to complete
3. SHRM Certified Professionals (SHRM-CP) Human Resource149 USD for SHRM student members and 209 USD for non-membersNo degree or previous HR experience is required, however a basic knowledge of HR practices preferred134 Questions (MCQ + Situation based) and 4 hours time limit
4. Global Professional in Human ResourcesHuman Resources495 USD with additional application fees charged by HRCI portalThree years of professional experience with a bachelor’s degree, Two years of experience with a master’s degree 2 hours and 15 minutes for 100 multiple choice + 25 pretest questions, 
5. Amazon Web Services Certificate (AWS)Computer Engineering / Information TechnologyDepending on the exam type, Foundational: 100 USDAssociate: 150 USDProfessional: 300 USDDepending on the exam type, each certification has different eligibility criteria65 multiple-choice questions to be solved in 90 minutes
6. Certified Law Enforcement Analyst Certification Law Enforcement175 USD in general and 75 USD for developing countriesMinimum three years of full-time experience in the field of law enforcementDifferent sets of exams for various topics, each having 190 questions with a time limit of 4 hours
7. Information Technology Infrastructure Library Certificate (ITIL)Mechanical EngineeringDepending on specific criteria, the cost ranges from 150 USD to 500 USDNo preconditions, however having some IT experience can be beneficial to scoring better40 questions 60 marks closed book multiple choice examination
8. Certified Scrum Master Certification (CSM)Project ManagementThe initial cost is 49 USD, later 25 USD for every additional attemptNo specific eligibility criteria but a basic understanding of scrum principles expected50 multiple choice questions to be attempted in 60 minutes with a minimum score of 37 correct answers
9. Salesforce CertificationsSalesVaries by module level, the cost ranges from 75 USD to 400 USDWorking experience with Salesforce and completion of the training course 40 multiple choice questions to be attempted in 70 minutes
10. Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ 104)Information TechnologyRanges from 165 USD to 330 USDSix months of working experience on Azure services60 questions to be attempted in a time of three hours
11. Certified Information Security ManagerInformation Technology575 USD for ISACA members and 760 USD for non-membersMinimum five years of professional experience in information security management150 multiple-choice questions to be solved in four hours
12. Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)Supply Chain Management1390 USD for ASCM members and 1940 USD for non-membersASCM recently decided to eliminate any eligibility criteria150 questions with a time of 3.5 hours to complete
13. IBM Data Science Professional CertificateData Science – IT49 USDNo formal prerequisitesNo final exam, but the students need to clear a few assignments during the training program
14. Agile Analysis Certification (AAC)Information Technology350 USDA minimum of two to three years of experience in an Agile environment85 multiple-choice scenario-based questions to be completed within 2 hours
15. Adobe Certified ProfessionalDigital Media IndustryRanges from 95 USD to 125 USD (based on exam levels)Minimum 12 months working experienceThe number of questions and time limit depends on the exam level

This list does not represent all the certifications out there. While some testaments are costly, many are free of cost too. 

Now that you have gone through the list of the most sought-after business certificates, let’s understand their various types and benefits.

Business Certification: Various Types and Benefits

Whether you are pursuing a corporate career or considering the cheapest business to start from home, having the right certification can demonstrate your exceptional skills.

Before considering which certification is your ideal choice, you need to understand its various types and benefits. Moving forward, discover the most comprehensive types of validation letters that exist.

Corporate Certifications

Corporate certifications are industry-recognized credentials that are given based on the critical role you are in, or the skill set within your organization, hence these are not portable to other companies. In simple terms, it is a third-party validation letter of an individual’s knowledge and proficiency. 

This type of certification is most prevalent in the IT industry, where the employee earns it as proof of evidence for his competence on a specific version of software or hardware. 

Product Specific Certifications

Better known as role-specific certifications, these accreditations showcase a person’s ability to work on a specific product or software. It validates the skills of an individual required to perform certain tasks. Certificates for software like Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, and SalesForce are some examples.

Profession Wide Certification

This is the most widely known type of certification and is generally portable to other organizations, which means it will be valid if the employee shifts to another company. 

Offering greater credibility, professional associations generally award this type. For example, a registered architect can practice as an RA across the architecture profession.

As briefed above, these three types are the most coveted professional testaments. Furthermore, let us explore some common benefits of these valuable business certifications. 

  • Career Advancement —  Standing out in the job market and building a professional network is of utmost importance in today’s business world. Earning a credible certificate can advance your career, help you learn the most desirable skills, and make you understand the current trends and standards.
  • Higher Salary — While a business certificate doesn’t guarantee you a higher salary, the skills acquired via training programs can set you apart from the crowd, helping you negotiate for a raise. 
  • Skill Enhancement — Staying up to date with the current trends and technology will not only help you in knowledge enhancement but also demonstrate your learning intentions and your commitment to your profession. 
  • Global Recognition — Earning a certificate can build brand awareness and make you stand out in a competitive market. It can lay network opportunities for you or your business and can provide a foundation for career development as well. 

Business growth, competitive edge, and boost in productivity are also some benefits of these certifications. Irrespective of the profession, it is always best to pursue knowledge and excellence. In the following sections, we will explore some essential business skills that you can learn online.

Essential Business Skills You Can Learn Online

Offering flexibility and accessibility, learning essential business skills online can be quite beneficial. Maintaining a work-life balance, you can follow your own pace, which will eventually help you learn time management. 

Keeping in mind how the world is transitioning towards e-learning, we have listed some essential online business certificate programs that you can consider upskilling yourself. 

Modern problems require modern solutions! The above-mentioned online courses prepare individuals for the future as skilled workers. Access to innovative educational portals and using creative learning tools, these essential skills can help you in vertical mobility.

Conclusion

Whether you aim to climb the corporate ladder, start your own business, or gain industry recognition, any best company certification course can be your catalyst for success. In today’s competitive market, earning a certification is simply not just an achievement, it is a bridge between where you are and where you want to be. 

Go ahead and take the leap — research, enroll, and witness your career or business reach new heights. 

Frequently Asked Questions
Is a free course certificate worth it?

Any course, whether free or paid, can help you learn invaluable industry-related skills and can offer career-transforming benefits.

Can we get a business certificate without having a degree?

Yes, there are many non-degree certification programs to enhance your skill set.

Is a certificate course equal to a degree?

Certificate courses are short-term programs for career development. They differ from degree and diploma courses in terms of duration and their purpose.

What are the three types of certifications?

The three types of certifications are corporate certificates, product-specific certificates, and professional-wide certificates.

Vibha Anand
Posted by
Vibha Anand

Business Journalist

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