This is the invisible first accordion item. Do not remove this or the functionality will be lost.

Workforce certificates can be earned by completing the requirements of an association for a particular trade, such as plumbing, security or certain types of computer technology. Often a certification takes only one year to complete if you go to school full time. Sometimes, a certificate is earned as part of an apprenticeship. With help from the Workforce Ready Grant, you can potentially get a workforce certificate for free.

Associate degrees typically take two years to complete if you go to school full time. An associate degree can open the door to a wide variety of careers, ranging from business and biotechnology to education and engineering.

Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degrees are granted to students who complete two-year programs of study. Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees are awarded to students who complete two-year technical or vocational programs, designed to train students with the skills they need for specific careers like computer information systems or fashion studies. These programs often require an internship.

Bachelor’s degrees generally take four years to complete if you go to school full time. B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) degrees are often found in the liberal arts. They generally require courses in humanities, math, English, sciences, social sciences and language. B.S. (Bachelor of Science) degrees prepare people for careers in areas such as accounting, engineering and education. Like the B.A., the B.S. degrees require general courses in math, English, sciences and social sciences, but usually fewer courses in the humanities.

Master’s degrees take your education to a higher level than a traditional degree. Participation in a master’s degree follows your bachelor’s degree and usually requires two extra years of full-time study with more tests and classes. For some fields, like law, a master’s degree is a professional degree that you need to enter into the industry. Most graduates with professional degrees are able to enter the workforce equipped with the knowledge necessary for the industry they’ll be working in.

The time to earn a doctorate degree varies greatly by program and by the student’s motivation. Most doctorate students begin by taking classes, and end their studies by writing a dissertation or participating in a residency program. Many fields, such as history or English, require a dissertation – lengthy, original research, kind of like a book, that defends a student’s stance on a given subject and usually takes two or more years to complete. A residency allows a student to practice their skills in a controlled setting. For example, residencies for medical doctors are three or more years and take place in a hospital.