Business Administrator Certifications

There are a number of certifications that can be valuable to a career in business administration. Certifications are professional credentials that you can earn by completing an exam or training program through a professional organization. They can lead to a greater number of job options and are often associated with higher salaries too. There are many different certifications related to business administration. This article contains more information about what certifications are, why they are beneficial, and some of the most common certifications that Business Administrators might want to pursue.

What is a Business Administrator?

A Business Administrator oversees the day-to-day operations of a company. They are responsible for a number of different management and organization tasks, with the overall goal of supporting the growth and productivity of the company. Business Administrators reorganize employees or hire new ones, and also train, support, and evaluate employees. They are also responsible for managing finances and resources, which includes setting budgets, making financial goals, and negotiating contracts with vendors and suppliers. In addition, this role includes setting goals for the future, as well as implementing goals set by upper management.

Business Administrators work in many different industries including finance, healthcare, marketing, and construction. Some work for small organizations, where they are more likely to handle administrative tasks for the entire organization, while others work for large companies, where they are more likely to focus on managing a specific department such as human resources or sales.

Business Classes

• Live & Hands-on
• In NYC or Online
• Learn From Experts
• Free Retake
• Small Class Sizes
• 1-on-1 Bonus Training

Named a Top Bootcamp by Forbes, Fortune & Time Out

Learn More

Do I Need a Degree to Become a Business Administrator?

Some people get into business administration by earning a degree, however, a degree is not a mandatory part of becoming a Business Administrator. There are other ways to gain the knowledge and skills that you’ll need to work in this role. For instance, you can get a business administration education without attending college. In recent years, bootcamps or certificate courses have become an increasingly popular way of learning. These are accelerated programs that are designed to cover all the skills that you’ll need to work in business administration. Most include lots of hands-on training too, and they are designed to get you career-ready as quickly as possible, usually in less than a year. They usually cost a lot less than a degree too; less than $20,000 to $30,000 on average. 

If you don’t want to get a degree, another thing that can help you break into the world of business administration is experience. Experience will give you a real world understanding of this field and will help you develop the knowledge and skills that you’ll need to succeed. There are two parts to gaining experience. You’ll need management experience, since business administration involves management. In addition, you’ll need experience in the specific industry where you plan to work so that you can gain an understanding of things like policies, regulations, and best practices in that industry. You can start getting experience by volunteering or taking an internship. You might also be able to find an entry-level job. As you develop real-world experience, it’s also a good idea to create a portfolio, which showcases that experience. You can use your portfolio to demonstrate your mastery to potential clients or employers.

Do Certifications Matter for Business Administrators?

In most cases, you won’t need a certification to work as a Business Administrator, but certification does have many benefits so certifications often do matter. A certification proves that you have mastered a particular set of skills and it can help you stand out to potential employers. In a recent Forbes article titled “How To Find Certifications That Can Help You Grow In Your Career,” the author explains that getting certified is a great way to prove your knowledge to employers and show them that you are committed to your career. She says, “[Certifications] show your current and future employers your commitment to improving specialized areas, your knowledge and your skills.” There is also evidence that certifications are associated with higher salaries. 

Certifications vs. Certificates: What’s the Difference?

While these two types of qualifications sound very similar, they have some significant differences. A certificate is something that you earn by completing a particular program of study at an educational institution. Every educational institution offers its own unique certificate programs, and most have a unique structure that differs from certificates offered by other schools. Most certificate programs take weeks or months to complete, they are generally designed for beginners, and cover a broad range of topics. In contrast, certifications are designed for people with more experience, focus on a narrow range of skills, and usually only take days or weeks to complete. Certifications are standardized credentials that are earned by passing an exam, and they are the same no matter where you earn them.

If you don’t have a lot of business administration knowledge, a certificate program is probably your best option because it will cover all of the foundational concepts that you need to know. Many certificate programs are designed to prepare you for an entry-level job. For that reason, they often include career support. On the other hand, if you already have experience, but are looking for a promotion or to earn more money, a certification might be the best option. A certification can help you stand out from other people who have similar job skills to you.

How to Get Certified as a Business Administrator

Every certification has its own unique requirements, but in general, you’ll need to:

• Have a certain level of education, such as a high school diploma, or in some cases, a degree.
• Complete training in the specific area for which you are being certified. Many certifications require a certain number of hours of training.
• In addition, some certifications require a certain number of hours of experience.
• Pass an exam. Exams are administered by approved providers and there is typically a fee.
• Some certifications require that you complete ongoing training in order to stay up to date in your specialization.

Top Certifications & Certificates for Business Administrators

• Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) is offered by the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) It is specifically designed for people who want to work in an administrative role and involves project management and business administration skills.
• Salesforce is a popular customer relationship management platform, and is useful for Business Administrators who want to specialize in data. There are a number of different Salesforce certifications including Salesforce Administrator. This certification is focused on managing users, security, and data.
• Certified Project Management Professional (CPMP) is useful for Business Administrators who are interested in managing projects.
• Noble Desktop is based in New York City and offers a variety of certificate programs, both in-person and live online. This school is licensed by the New York State Education Department. One popular Noble Desktop option is the “MBA” Business Certificate. This course is an “MBA-style” program and it includes some of the skills taught in MBA programs. In this class, you’ll learn tools and strategies for finance, project management, marketing, and data analysis. You’ll also learn about the practical applications of generative AI, and will get access to a self-paced class that covers the basics of business insurance, employment law, and business law. This class includes the option to take electives that match your specific area of interest. Finally, it comes with eight one-on-one mentoring sessions.
• Another popular certificate program is the Data Analytics Certificate. In this course you’ll learn about gathering, wrangling, analyzing, and visualizing data, and you’ll work on a number of real-world projects. Both predictive and prescriptive analytics are covered, in addition to Python, Excel, Tableau, and SQL. All students also receive eight one-on-one mentoring sessions, which can be used to work on challenging concepts or for resume and portfolio advice.
• Noble Desktop also runs many different business-related bootcamps. The Project Management Bootcamp is a popular option. This class is designed for students who want to learn more about project management. It is a combination of the school’s Level I and Level II classes and is offered at a discount. When you take the Project Management Bootcamp, you’ll learn the five phases of project management and will receive a slide deck that contains a variety of exercises. You’ll also learn about Waterfall, Critical Path, and Agile methods of project management, including popular Agile frameworks. You’ll receive a certificate of completion at the end of the class.
• One of Noble Desktop’s newest offerings is the Chat GTP & AI for Business Bootcamp. This course is designed to give you the skills you’ll need to utilize AI in your daily business tasks. You’ll learn how to create effective prompts, manage conversations, and use advanced features like memory settings. You’ll also learn about the ethical considerations of AI. In addition, the course focuses on ways to use AI for task management, communication, and project planning. You’ll learn about automating repetitive tasks, optimizing schedules, and improving collaboration and administrative workflows.
• Noble also offers many shorter classes focused on a number of different business skills. For example, it has a variety of short Excel classes: Excel Level 1,Level 2, and Level 3. Level 1 is focused on getting familiar with the interface, entering data, using essential formulas and functions, and creating charts. You’ll also learn how to format and print. Level 2 covers splitting and joining text, adding data validation, named ranges, database functions, adding logical statements, and using Pivot Tables. In addition, you’ll learn to use statistical functions and create advanced combo charts. In Level 3, instructors cover advanced concepts including cell locking, auditing, hotkeys, formatting for calculating dates, advanced functions, advanced analytical tools, Pivot Charts, and advanced database functions.