Want to upgrade your career but not go back to earn a new degree? Here are three resources for learning specific skills to help yourself get ahead.
American Red Cross
The Red Cross offers a host of specialized certification courses such as first aid, childcare, and nurse assistant training. If you’re looking to make a transition into a health- or services-related field, a certification from this organization adds some heft to your resume.
Online and classroom courses offered, ranging from $20 to $100-plus.
redcross.org
Big Nerd Ranch
Want to learn how to develop a mobile app? The staff at this Atlanta-based firm literally wrote the books on how to learn development tools. For instance, director of learning Aaron Hillegass is the bestselling author of Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X. (Trust us, in nerd land this is a very big deal.) Bootcamp-style classes get you up to speed in a week; you stay at a retreat center just south of town so you can focus on the course work. Or you could always book a trip to Big Nerd’s Netherlands location.
Courses from $3,000 to $5,200.
bignerdranch.com
Emory Continuing Education
Emory University has offered adult education classes for more than six decades. Certificate programs include web design and development, HR management, and Internet marketing.
Prices vary depending on course. For instance, last fall a business writing course was offered for $375; a web graphics and interface design class ran $1,200.
ece.emory.edu
This article originally appeared in our February 2014 issue.
