Non-Degree Certificates Buy High Value

 

When Mauricio Lopez came to the United States 20 years ago from El Salvador to live with his mom, he had a green card, but no high school degree. He was 18 years old and did not speak English. So, his job possibilities were limited. For a time, he served as a restaurant cook.

He learned English while working in a building supplies store. He also became a U.S. citizen. A man who often came to the store owned an HVAC company. HVAC companies deal with the heating and cooling systems for buildings.

The man asked Lopez to come work for him. He asked over and over again for three years.

“But I was, at that time, again I was afraid, because I didn’t know anything about no electricity, or anything related to heating and cooling, you know, job.”

The man said he would pay Lopez to learn the job, but the wages during training would be low. The training to get a certificate as an HVAC technician would take seven months.

“You start thinking about bills and all the responsibilities, but he’s like, 'once you learn, everything’s going to be different, you know'?”

Six years ago, the man made one last offer, and Lopez, with support from his future wife, decided¹ to go for it.

Within a year, Lopez had his HVAC certificate and became a senior technician. His new employer was proved right, everything for Lopez was different.

“So they gave me the certificate with them, and then, life changed, my life changed real. So, I am happy that I took the opportunity that he gave me.”

Lopez works for a different company now, and says he is “blessed.” He makes two times the amount of money he made before, and loves his work. He is now married and has a baby girl.

Lopez is just the kind of worker described in a new report from the Strada Education Network, Lumina Foundation and Gallup. The report says that American adults who hold certificates and certifications, but no college degree, report better employment and lives than those without certificates. Lumina says that five percent of individuals without a college degree have a certificate.

The report is based on the Strada-Gallup Education Consumer Survey of U.S. adults. The survey looked at Americans’ educational experiences and attitudes. It involved almost 64,000 participants, ages 25 to 64. No one in the group had a college degree nor were any in college. All were working.

It found that adults without a college degree, who have a certificate or certification, have higher full-time² employment rates than others with no credentials³. The report says they have higher yearly wages. It also says they believe their education path was valuable, and would advise others to follow.

Dave Clayton is a vice⁴ president with the Strada Education Network.

“What was unique in this research is actually asking people directly about their experiences, and learning that they feel that they are more attractive job candidates, those who have a certificate or certification, and also hearing in their own words, their sense that they would recommend their path to others like them.”

Clayton says the research found that there is more than just economic value to getting a certificate or certification.

“So the individuals not only are getting the economic and wage benefits, that are documented in other places, but they also have this sense of it was a valuable experience for them, in their lives.”

HVAC is just one of many industries for which there are certification programs. There are all kinds of health care industry certificates, for example. A CPR certificate means you have learned how to perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation⁵. A phlebotomy certificate can help you get a hospital job drawing patients’ blood for testing. There are also certificates for work in transportation, like CDLs, or commercial driver’s license⁶.

Clayton says it is interesting to see how the income benefits are very different, depending on the work the person chooses.

“So security and protective services, architecture, engineering, construction, mining, certificates for people in those fields, they report having higher incomes if they have certificates and certifications.”

Certificates in education, training, library, or office or administrative⁷ and support worker jobs do not earn as much.

Also, the extra income enjoyed by non-degree adults who have certificates is “considerably larger” for men than women, across all kinds of jobs.

But whether a certificate brings small or large wage increases, Lopez says he earns a lot from helping⁸ his customers.

“You go there and tell them, look, don’t worry, I’m going to fix it, and then we walk out of their house and you see their smile on their faces and it’s like 'Wow.' It’s awesome⁹! It feels good!”

Sometimes, it is not just about the money.

I’m Anne Ball.

Words in This Story

green card – n. a card indicating that a person from a foreign country can live and work in the U.S.

bill – n. a document that says how much money you owe for something you have bought or used

senior – adj. higher in standing¹⁰ or rank than another person in the same position

opportunity – n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done; a chance

blessed – adj. having a sacred nature : connected with God

certification – n. official approval to do something professionally or legally

participant – n. a person who is involved in an activity or event

credential – n. a quality, skill, or experience that makes a person suited to do a job

unique – adj. something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else

attractive – adj. having a pleasing appearance or feature or quality that people like

recommend – v. to say that (someone or something) is good and deserves to be chosen

benefit – n. a good or helpful result or effect

income – n. money that is earned from work, investments, or business

awesome – adj. causing feelings of fear and wonder : causing feelings of awe

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 full-time   

adj.满工作日的或工作周的，全时间的

参考例句：

• A full-time job may be too much for her.全天工作她恐怕吃不消。
• I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.既要照顾家庭又要全天工作，我不知道她是如何对付的。

3 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

4 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

5 resuscitation   

n.复活

参考例句：

• Despite attempts at resuscitation,Mr Lynch died a week later in hospital.虽经全力抢救，但林奇先生一周以后还是在医院去世了。
• We gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage.我们对他进行了口对口复苏救治和心脏按摩。

6 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

7 administrative   

adj.行政的，管理的

参考例句：

• The administrative burden must be lifted from local government.必须解除地方政府的行政负担。
• He regarded all these administrative details as beneath his notice.他认为行政管理上的这些琐事都不值一顾。

8 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

9 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

10 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。