professional certificate vs. Master's degree

[tunlrat]

Anyone who has had a full time job, particularly in LE, knows how difficult it is to get another degree; particularly an advanced degree. With the rotating schedules, sometimes unwanted OT, call outs (depending on what you do), family life, stress of the job, & the million and one things you have to deal with on & off work--who has time to go BACK to school right?

Okay, enough babbling. I just wanted to know what people thought of professional certificates as opposed to getting a full master's degree? The required class time sure looks tempting; one only needs 4 to 5 classes to get a certificate as opposed to the 18+ classes one would need to complete a master's. It would also save time & money.

How would having a professional certificate play into future employment, particularly at the Fed level (which is why I'm posting here)? Obviously, a master's would be better but is a certificate not all that bad either? :confused:

All opinions are welcome--just keep your bashing of me to a minimum! ;)

[Joeyd6]

I have a friend who is on the hiring panel with a federal agency as a 1811. We had this exact conversation. Now his agency is not one of the big ones (FBI, USSS, DEA, Customs), but they do hire 1881's. He stated that a certificate will put you "...slightly ahead of a canidate with a bachelors, but the masters takes the cake." From what I got, the certificates are are great to pursue, but actual credits and a degree are what is needed.

Thus...I am back in school this semester startingto pursue my masters. I know it seems hard with all the shift work and crazy schedules, but it can be done. Look at online classes at ACCREDITATED universisties. Most schools now offer them. Even big name ones like Syracuse University does. And from what research I havedone, nobody cares if the course was online or in-person, just if it was an accreditated university. And if that dosesn't work, talk to your boss. Even here is the huge NYPD, where you are just a number, they will accomodate you for school. Some guys have classes on a specific day and if they are supposed to wrok that day, they work a specified tour. Such as day tour personnel who take day time classes work a 1600x2400 that day, for the entire semester. If the uncompromising NYPD will work with you, I am sure most other departments will.

Certificte good for personal knowledge....but don't expectto get much mileage out of a job interview with it. They will ask "If you were able to do 5 classes, couldn't you have done 15 more and got the masters?"

Good Luck!

[Ranger__101]

Certificates show that a person has completed a class or set of courses but do not count as degrees or carry the weight of an advanced degree.

Certificates really don't show any weight because there are generally no requirement that places that issue certificates to be Accredited. In fact by some companies all it takes is to write a paper showing your experience and they'll send you a certificate after paying the required costs.

For an example of this do a search for Homeland Security Certificates and you will be suprised at the few requirements needed to be issued one.

[Kimble]

I would also think the specific certification would determine its usefulness as well. A CPA is always going to look good, and a CFE is good for fraud-related 1811 positions. POST certification is likely a dime a dozen in FLE hiring. While I'd agree a MS/MA is going to get you looked at more closely than a certification, the type of certification would determine how far it would go for you.

[tunlrat]

I think if I were neariing the 1811 cutoff age of 37 & I couldn't obtain some other Federal employment with 6c to stop the clock, I would probably seriously consider the professional certificates (I was actually looking into a certificate in Information Systems). I do see Joeyd6's point when he said it's better than having only a bachelor's but not as good as a master's.

However, since I do have some time before the cutoff age, I'll probably just get the master's already. Man, the "means" in the phrase "means to an end" is always the hardest part...

As my undergrad classmates used to always say, "Isn't there some kind of CLEP test I can take?" :D

[insanediplomat]

Masters are not that hard anyway. Undergrad was a whole lot harder at my school. Also, our master in CJ is only 30 credits and they work with law enforcement officers to get you out faster. I don't know the details since I am not sworn. But if you would like more info, get a hold of Professor Ross at The University of Central Florida, Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Department. or go to www.cohpa.ucf.edu