Certificate An educational certificate is awarded for the successful completion of a brief course of study, usually one year or less but sometimes up to two years in length, primarily by a public or private two-year or four-year institution of higher education, a college’s workforce development or extension division, or a non-degree-granting institution like a public area career and technical center. No action is needed to maintain a certificate. 

Degree An academic degree is awarded for the successful completion of a course of study, usually multiple years in length, primarily by a public or private two-year or four-year institution of higher education. Degrees are available at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. No action is needed to maintain a degree. Certification An industry certification indicates mastery of specific knowledge, skills or processes that can be measured against a set of standards.

 Certifications are not tied to a specific educational program but are typically awarded through assessment and validation of skills by an employer, trade association or other industry group. Individuals may need to meet requirements to maintain certification, such as continuing education coursework, re-assessment, demonstrated work experience, and/or earning higher-level certifications. License A license is legal authorization, typically granted by a government agency, that allows an individual to perform certain regulated tasks or occupations. A license can be obtained by meeting requirements set forth by the licenser, such as completing a course of study, completing assessments and/or gaining work experience. License holders must meet requirements to renew a license, which may include continuing education coursework or demonstrated work experience.

 Registered Apprenticeship Certificate A Registered Apprenticeship is a paid on-the-job learning experience, paired with supplemental classroom instruction, offered by employers and joint labor-management organizations and approved and validated by the U.S. Department of Labor or a state apprenticeship agency. Registered Apprenticeships develop skills for a specific occupation and employer and result in a nationally recognized certificate of completion. No action is needed to maintain this credential.