A certification is a professional credential that you can earn by completing an exam or training program through a professional organization. Certifications can increase your job options and may also lead to a higher salary. There are many different certifications related to business management. This article contains more information about what certifications are, why they are beneficial, and some of the most common ones in the field of business management.
What is a Business Manager?
A Business Manager is a leader who supervises the personnel and operations of a department or organization. They work to maintain productivity, efficiency, and organization, and to help the company achieve its goals. They also help improve overall performance and find new opportunities for growth and improvement. A small company might have only one Business Manager, while a larger company might have a number of them. Some Business Managers specialize in a specific area such as marketing, sales, or administration.
A Business Manager typically takes responsibility for a wide range of different tasks. These vary depending on the industry they work in and the company they work for, however, in general, this position involves four main aspects. One is planning, which means setting future goals and making a plan for achieving them. The second is organizing tasks and resources so that business plans can be implemented. A third part of business management is leading employees. Finally, Business Managers are responsible for controlling the operations of a business, which means keeping track of how it is performing and making any changes that are needed.
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Do I Need a Degree to Become a Business Manager?
In the past, a college degree in business management or a related field has been the traditional way to get into this field, but in recent years, a growing number of employers have begun to realize that a college degree doesn’t necessarily equate with the ability to do this job well. Instead, they are finding that some college graduates are not good matches and that there are many people without college degrees who are good matches. Rather than simply looking for employees who have a college degree, many employers have begun to focus on finding people who have the skills and experience that will allow them to get the job done well, whether they have a degree or not. Wall Street Journal reporter Lauren Weber discusses this in a February 27, 2024 podcast. She says, “It's called skills-based hiring, that's what this approach is known as. So that might mean . . . [that companies use] different types of assessments to really try to determine whether someone has the communication skills, or the writing skills, or the teamwork skills, or the technical skills, that you're looking for. So it does change the way companies have to think about their hiring process.” With many companies lessening their focus on degrees, it is definitely possible to get into business management without a degree.
There are actually a number of benefits to pursuing a career in business management without earning a degree. One of the biggest is that this method is likely to be far more affordable and less time-consuming than college. Most college degrees require a significant time investment--at least a couple of years, and usually longer--and they cost tens of thousands of dollars. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average price of attending a four-year college ranges from $14,700 to $24,600, depending on whether it is a public or private college. In contrast, the price of a bootcamp or certificate course--which is another popular way to prepare for a career in business management--is usually no higher than $20,000 or $30,000 and most take only a matter of weeks or months to complete.
Do Certifications Matter for Business Managers?
You won’t necessarily need a certification to get a job as a Business Manager, but most people in this field say that certifications do matter. A certification proves that you have mastered a particular set of skills. If you’re searching for a job, certifications can help you stand out from other people who have similar skills. If you already work in business management, a certification can help you move upward in your field. There is also evidence that certifications are associated with higher salaries.
Certifications vs. Certificates: What’s the Difference?
While these two terms sound very similar, they are actually two very different types of qualifications. A certificate is something you are awarded by an educational institution after you finish a particular program of study. For instance, after you complete the “MBA” Business Certificate offered by Noble Desktop, you are awarded a certificate of completion. Every school offers its own unique certificate programs. In contrast, a certification is a standardized qualification that is the same no matter where you earn it. To earn a certification you generally need to pass a standardized test at an approved testing provider. Certificates and certifications can both be beneficial to your career. Certificates are usually a more beginner-friendly option, while certifications are usually more appropriate for people who already have some business management experience.
How to Get Certified as a Business Manager
Most certifications come from professional organizations. There are a variety of organizations that offer different types of certifications that can be useful to Business Managers. For instance, the Project Management Institute (PMI) is an organization that offers a number of different project management certifications. The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is an organization that offers many different business certifications. Every certification comes with its own requirements, but in most cases, you’ll need to pass an exam to earn the certification. A certain amount of education and/or experience may also be required.
Top Certifications & Certificates for Business Manager
The specific certification that you pursue will depend on what field you plan to work in and what type of specialization you’re interested in. Some certifications that might be useful in business management include:
- Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP). This certification is provided by the International Institute of Business Analysis. It is focused on business analysis. To earn it, you need 7,500 hours of business analysis work experience and 35 hours of professional development. You’ll also need to pass a 3.5-hour, 120-question exam. The exam costs $350 for members and $505 for non-members.
- Project Management Professional (PMP). This certification is offered by the Project Management Institute and recognizes skill in managing professional projects. To earn it you need 36 or 60 months of project management experience (depending on whether or not you have a bachelor’s degree), and 35 hours of project management education. There is a 230-minute exam with 180 questions and it costs $425 for members or $625 for non-members.
- Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP). This is offered by the Association of Supply Chain Management. It is focused on material management, logistics, and supply chain management. To earn the certification you need to pass a 3.5 hour, 150-question exam. The exam costs $1,390 for members and $1,940 for non-members.
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). This certification includes mastery of predictive project management, agile principles, and business analysis, and is offered by the Project Management Institute. To earn it, you need to complete 23 hours of project management education and pass a 3-hour, 150-question exam. The exam fee is $225 for members or $300 for non-members.
- “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.
Learn the Skills to Become a Business Manager at Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop is a New York City-based school that offers a wide variety of business classes, both in person--at its Manhattan facility--and in a live online format. Courses include comprehensive, hands-on bootcamps and certificate programs, which are designed to help you master all the skills that you’ll need in order to work as a business manager. Noble also runs a number of shorter courses where you can spend a day or two learning essential business skills like financial modeling or Excel. This school is licensed by the New York State Education Department.
- One popular Noble Desktop option 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.
- Another bootcamp option 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.