Community Education program brochures Metro North ABE Consortium Newslette, Summer 2019 | Page 7

Certificate Programs Are Worthwhile
Metro North Adult Basic Education (ABE) offers many opportunities for students
who are interested in pursuing this goal.
There are a number of options for people who already have a
high school diploma or equivalent degree but are looking for
the next step to help them advance their careers. One often
overlooked option is to get a professional certificate in an
in-demand career field. Metro North Adult Basic Education
(ABE) offers many opportunities for students who are
interested in pursuing this goal.
Metro North ABE supports students pursuing a professional
certificate in fields such as childcare, direct support
professional, or precision sheet metal. Each of these
certificate programs offer students access to middle skill
careers and jobs that provide entry-level opportunities that
can lead, through continuous education, to a stable and
growing career that pays a living wage.
For several reasons, launching a career with a certificate
is the right choice for many Metro North ABE students.
These programs offer comparable wages to jobs that require
an Associate Degree, with less time in school, less of a
financial investment, and faster placement in a job, allowing
students to better support their families and to continue their
education.
There is not a lot of data available on how many students
pursue this option. This lack of clarity clouds career
planning. The certificate path receives less emphasis than
two - and four - year degrees, despite the fact that in some
cases it might be a better fit.
The chart to the right shows additional reasons why this
might be a good career preparation option for some people.
It shows the annual salary of minimum wage earners
compared with Minnesota State data of the annual salary
of workers with a certificate or an associate degree. The
data indicates that a certificate holder earns a median of
$6,000 more than a high school graduate, and this difference
increases to $10,000 annually four years after receiving a
certificate.
These data indicate that this pathway can be a valuable
option for many individuals. It is our goal to help others
become aware that this could be a good path for them as
well.
Two Years After Graduation
Minimum Wage $20,508.80
Certificate in
High Demand
Career
Associates
Degree
$0
$10,000
$20,000
$30,000
#IamABE
Metro North Adult Basic Education | Ph: 763-433-4200 | www.MetroNorthABE.org
JULY 2019
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