Business certifications glossary
Every certification on Elevate Internships, from A to Z: 231 in all. Each entry says what it is, who offers it, what it costs and roughly how long it takes, and links to the majors it suits. To see them ranked for one major, start at certifications by major.
What the cost labels mean
- Free
- Free to learn. Where an optional exam or certificate costs extra, the entry says so.
- Free to audit
- Free to study; the certificate costs extra.
- Check your campus
- Often free through a college or a public library; check there before paying.
- Paid
- Costs money; the entry gives the price where it is known.
- Reference
- A resource, membership or rule to know about, rather than a certificate to earn.
Prices and hours change; confirm both on the provider's own page before you enroll or pay.
Deciding between two? See certifications compared side by side. Looking for a word rather than a credential? See the business terms glossary.
A
- Accenture job simulations
Consulting, technology, and strategy tasks. Broad enough for most business majors.
Free.
For Management, Supply Chain & Operations, Management Information Systems, International Business, Business Administration, Logistics & Transportation
- Accounting Fundamentals
Debits, credits, and how the three statements link, in a short course.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
For Accounting, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Business Administration
- ACHE Student Associate membership
Student membership in the professional body for healthcare leaders, open to students in health administration or a related program. Local chapters hold events, and ACHE lists postgraduate administrative fellowships.
$75 a year, prorated by the month you join.
- Advanced SQL
Joins, window functions and nested data. The SQL that interview case studies actually test.
Free.
- Ahrefs Academy SEO courses
Practical SEO from the people who build the tool agencies use.
Free.
For Marketing
- AI For Everyone
Andrew Ng’s non-technical introduction to what AI can and cannot do for a business, in about 7 hours.
Paid on Coursera; financial aid available.
For Business Analytics, Marketing, Management, Entrepreneurship
- AICPA student resources and CPA education rules
Free student membership plus the state-by-state licensure rules. Read this before choosing your credit plan.
Free; student membership is free.
For Accounting
- AINS — Associate in Insurance
The entry-level insurance designation: fully online, on-demand courses on how personal and commercial insurance work.
Priced per course; three core courses plus a free ethics course.
- Alteryx SparkED (free student license + certification)
Big 4 audit and consulting teams use Alteryx heavily. Free exam, free student license — unusually good value.
Micro-credentials and Designer Core exam are free; Alteryx is free for students via SparkED.
For Accounting, Business Analytics, Supply Chain & Operations
- AMA Professional Certified Marketer (PCM)
The American Marketing Association’s credential, in digital marketing and other specialties. There are no formal eligibility requirements.
The Digital Marketing exam is $249 for AMA members or $349 otherwise; other PCM programs start at $749.
For Marketing
- American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute certifications
The hotel industry’s own certifications, from front-desk to revenue management.
Varies by certification; many are under $100 for students.
- aPHR — Associate Professional in Human Resources
The HR credential built for people with no experience yet — students included.
About $400 ($100 application fee plus $300 exam). No HR experience required.
For Human Resources
- ARGUS Enterprise Certification (ASC)
The certification for ARGUS Enterprise, software widely used to model commercial real estate cash flows and values. Ask whether your school or a student program offers it for less.
$1,350 for the certification bundle; NAIOP and ULI members, and some student programs, pay less. Valid for two years.
For Real Estate
- ARM — Associate in Risk Management
The risk management designation from The Institutes. Its courses also count toward the CPCU.
Priced per course; four courses, usually finished in six to nine months.
- Aswath Damodaran’s valuation classes
The most-cited valuation teacher alive puts his entire course online. Use the data sets for any stock pitch.
Free — lectures, spreadsheets and data sets.
- AWS Certified AI Practitioner
Foundational AI and generative AI on AWS, open to business roles: 65 questions in 90 minutes.
$100 exam fee.
For Business Analytics, Management, Management Information Systems
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
The business-literate cloud credential. Common for MIS students heading into consulting or tech.
Exam ~$100. All AWS Skill Builder training for it is free.
- AZ-900: Azure Fundamentals
Cloud concepts and Azure services. Pairs with AWS Cloud Practitioner for consulting roles.
Training free; exam ~$99, with student discounts.
B
- BCG job simulations
Strategy and data-science tasks scored against a real BCG rubric.
Free.
- Be An Actuary: college students
The two actuarial societies’ site for students: the exam pathways, sample problems, and how to find an actuarial internship.
Free.
- Bloomberg Market Concepts
Economic indicators, currencies, fixed income, and equities on live terminal data. Check your library before paying.
Free through a school with Bloomberg terminals; otherwise ~$149.
For Finance, Economics, Agribusiness
- Business of Retail
Merchandising, pricing strategy, profit and discount math, promotions and store operations — the numbers behind a store’s results.
Exams from $80; course and exam bundles from $140.
C
- CAIA — Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst
Private equity, hedge funds, and real assets. Narrower than the CFA and well regarded in alternatives.
$400 enrollment plus $995 (early) or $1,395 (standard) per level (2 levels).
For Finance
- CAMS — Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist
The anti-money-laundering credential for compliance roles at banks and fintechs. It needs 40 eligibility credits from education, experience and ACAMS training.
Sold as a package (study materials, courses and exam) that needs an ACAMS membership; ACAMS lists current pricing.
- CAPM — Certified Associate in Project Management
The student-accessible PMI credential — no work experience required, unlike the PMP.
Exam ~$225 for PMI members (membership ~$32 for students), ~$300 otherwise.
For Management, Supply Chain & Operations, Management Information Systems, Business Administration, Healthcare Management
- CBAP — Certified Business Analysis Professional
The senior business analysis credential. It needs 7,500 hours of business analysis work in the last ten years, so it is a goal for later; start with the ECBA.
$145 application fee plus a $350 exam for IIBA members or $505 for non-members.
- CCIM Institute courses
Commercial real estate investment analysis. The full CCIM designation comes after experience; the courses do not need it.
Courses in the hundreds of dollars; student pricing exists.
For Real Estate
- CCP — Certified Compensation Professional
The compensation and pay credential, earned through a series of course exams (75% to pass). No prerequisites to sit the exams.
Courses and exams are sold one at a time or as a bundle that includes two years of WorldatWork membership.
For Human Resources
- Certified Crop Adviser (CCA)
The credential for agronomists and crop advisers, common in ag sales and agronomy roles at seed, crop protection and grain companies.
Two exams: the International exam (about $280) and a local board exam priced by each board. Certification also needs 2 years of crop-advising experience with an agriculture degree, or 4 without.
For Agribusiness
- Certified Customs Specialist (CCS)
A six-month, self-paced online course in U.S. import rules, with 25 modules and a proctored final exam, for work at customs brokers and freight forwarders.
Price shown at registration; NCBFAA members pay less.
- CFA Level I
The investment-management standard. Students can sit Level I within 23 months of graduating; ask about the Access Scholarship.
Exam ~$1,140 with early registration or ~$1,490 standard; the one-time enrollment fee was dropped in 2026. Scholarships exist for students.
- CFE — Certified Fraud Examiner
Forensic accounting and fraud investigation. The exam can be sat before you have the experience needed to hold the title.
Several hundred dollars in exam and membership fees; ACFE has student discounts.
- CFP — Certified Financial Planner
For wealth management and advisory. Check whether your school's finance program is already CFP-registered — that removes the coursework cost.
Exam $825–$1,025 depending on when you register; required coursework $3,000–$8,000 unless your degree is CFP-registered.
- CGBP — Certified Global Business Professional
The recognized credential for international trade: management, marketing, supply chain and trade finance.
Exam in the low hundreds of dollars; check NASBITE for the current fee.
For Supply Chain & Operations, International Business, Logistics & Transportation
- ChFC — Chartered Financial Consultant
A financial planning designation earned course by course, in as little as eight months. Using it requires three years of financial planning experience.
Eight courses from about $985 each; packages start at $6,545.
- CIA — Certified Internal Auditor
The global standard for internal audit. Big 4 internal-audit and risk practices know it by name.
About $990 for IIA members or $1,515 otherwise, across the application and all three parts. There is no student rate on the CIA itself. New prices start January 4, 2027.
- CIPM — Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement
Measuring and explaining investment performance, over two levels of about 155 study hours each; usually finished within 18 months.
Two exams, from $675 each. No prerequisites to enroll.
For Finance
- CISA — Certified Information Systems Auditor
Where accounting meets IT: auditing systems and controls. In demand at the Big Four for accounting and MIS majors alike.
~$575 for members, ~$760 for non-members. Student membership is cheap.
For Accounting, Management Information Systems, Risk Management & Insurance
- CISM — Certified Information Security Manager
Information security management. Certification needs five years of information security work; you have five years after passing the exam to apply.
$575 for ISACA members or $760 for non-members.
For Management Information Systems, Risk Management & Insurance
- CISSP — Certified Information Systems Security Professional
The best-known cybersecurity credential. It needs five years of security work experience.
ISC2 prices the exam by the country you test in; see its exam pricing page.
- Citi job simulations
A second bank sim alongside J.P. Morgan reads as deliberate rather than accidental.
Free.
For Finance
- Climate Risk, Valuation, and Investing Certificate
An intermediate, self-paced certificate of about 100 hours. The Sustainable Investing Certificate is the suggested starting point.
$1,590 standard price.
- CLTD — Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution
ASCM’s logistics, transportation and distribution credential: one 150-question exam, about 100 hours of study.
Exam $1,075 for ASCM members with the certification upgrade or $1,500 otherwise; the bundle with the learning system is $1,980 or $2,760.
- CLU — Chartered Life Underwriter
The life insurance planning designation, usually finished in 15 months or less. Using it requires financial services experience.
Four required courses at $985 each (two for CFP professionals and ChFC holders).
For Finance, Risk Management & Insurance, Financial Planning
- CMA — Certified Management Accountant
The corporate-side counterpart to the CPA. Cheaper, faster, and aimed at FP&A and internal reporting.
Student rates: IMA membership $49 a year, a $225 entrance fee and about $407 per exam part (two parts). Professional rates are higher.
For Accounting, Finance
- CME Institute courses on futures and options
Free courses from the exchange group where U.S. grain and livestock futures trade. Start with Introduction to Futures to see how futures are used to manage price risk.
Free.
For Finance, Economics, Agribusiness
- CMP — Certified Meeting Professional
The event-planning credential. It needs 24–36 months of industry work, and a 200-hour internship can meet its education requirement.
$535 exam fee plus a $375 application fee.
For Marketing, Hospitality & Tourism Management, Sport Management
- CMT — Chartered Market Technician (Level I)
The technical analysis credential for trading and markets roles, earned over three exam levels.
$875 with early registration or $1,075 standard for the Level I exam, with the official curriculum included. Academic Partner Program students pay from $295.
For Finance
- CompTIA Data+
A vendor-neutral data analytics credential, recognized by employers that do not use one particular tool.
Exam ~$250+; academic pricing is available through many schools.
- CompTIA Security+
The baseline security certification, required for many government and defense roles.
Exam ~$400; academic pricing is available through many schools.
For Management Information Systems, Risk Management & Insurance
- Content Marketing Certification
Planning, writing and repurposing content. Free, and the certificate is widely recognized.
Free.
For Marketing
- CPA — Certified Public Accountant
The license for public accounting. Look up your state board’s education rule in your sophomore year — 150 credit hours, or in many states 120 plus two years of experience — because it shapes your course plan.
~$1,200–$1,400 in exam and application fees (varies by state), plus a review course ($1,500–$3,000). Each state sets its own licensing rules: most have required 150 college credit hours, and many now also accept 120 hours plus two years of experience.
For Accounting, Finance
- CPCU — Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter
The insurance industry's core designation. Almost always employer-funded once you are hired.
About $6,200–$7,650 in total across 8 courses and exams, including the $90 matriculation fee; employers very often pay.
- CPIM — Certified in Planning and Inventory Management
The supply-chain credential employers name directly in job postings.
Exam $1,240 for ASCM members with the certification upgrade or $1,720 otherwise; the bundle with the learning system is $2,275 or $3,175.
- CPM — Certified Property Manager
The property management credential. It needs 36 months of property management experience.
Eight courses plus an ethics course and an exam, sold individually or as bundles.
For Real Estate
- CRCR — Certified Revenue Cycle Representative
An online course and exam on how hospitals get paid: patient access, billing, claims and collections. HFMA recommends a year of revenue-cycle experience, so it fits best after a healthcare finance job or internship.
Free for HFMA members (student membership is $50 for full-time students); $399 otherwise.
- CRISC — Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control
IT risk management and controls. Certification needs three years of IT risk and control work.
$575 for ISACA members or $760 for non-members.
For Management Information Systems, Risk Management & Insurance
- CSCA — Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis
IMA’s strategy credential. It needs a bachelor’s degree and two years of professional work, or a qualifying accounting or finance certification.
About $600 for the exam, or about $1,295 with IMA’s learning series.
For Accounting, Finance, Management
- CSCP — Certified Supply Chain Professional
The end-to-end supply chain credential. Usually employer-funded once you are hired.
Exam $1,420 for ASCM members with the certification upgrade or $1,975 otherwise; the bundle with the learning system is $2,620 or $3,650.
- CSM — Certified ScrumMaster
Scrum Alliance’s Scrum Master credential, earned through a live 16-hour course and a 50-question test. The PSM I is the self-study alternative.
$250–$2,495 depending on the trainer; the price covers the 16-hour course and the test. Renew every two years.
- CSSBB — Certified Six Sigma Black Belt
The advanced Six Sigma credential. It needs two completed projects, or one project plus three years of experience, in a full-time paid role; the Green Belt comes first.
$585 for the exam; ASQ members pay $100 less.
- CSSGB — Certified Six Sigma Green Belt
The recognized Six Sigma credential from the quality profession’s own body.
Several hundred dollars; ASQ members pay less.
- CTP — Certified Treasury Professional
Corporate treasury and cash management. Worth knowing about now, sitting later.
$1,320–$1,420 for non-members (a year of membership included) or $925–$1,025 for AFP members, by application date. Usually taken after a couple of years in role.
For Accounting, Finance
- CTSC — Certified in Transformation for Supply Chain
ASCM’s certification on planning and leading supply chain transformation: one 150-question exam, about 100 hours of study.
Sold only as a bundle for first-time test takers: $2,145 for ASCM members with the certification upgrade or $2,990 otherwise.
- Customer Service and Sales
The NRF Foundation's credential in serving customers and selling to them, from greeting and needs to closing a sale and handling complaints.
Exams from $60; course and exam bundles from $120.
For Hospitality & Tourism Management, Professional Sales, Retail Management & Merchandising
- Customs Broker License Exam (CBLE)
The federal exam behind a U.S. customs broker license: 80 multiple-choice questions on entry, classification and trade rules. It has no degree or work requirement, so you can take it while still in school.
$390 exam fee. Given in April and October; open to U.S. citizens 18 or older.
For Supply Chain & Operations, International Business, Logistics & Transportation
D
- Data Analysis with Python
Five projects that end in a free, verifiable certificate — and a portfolio to show for it.
Free, including the certificate.
- Data Visualization
Which chart to reach for, and why. Pairs with Power BI or Tableau.
Free.
- Deloitte job simulations
Technology, audit, and analytics tracks from one of the Big 4. Usually the shortest sims on the site.
Free.
- Digital Marketing Certification
A broad free survey of digital channels — a good first marketing certificate.
Free.
For Marketing
- DP-900: Azure Data Fundamentals
Relational, non-relational and analytics data on Azure. A cheap named credential for analytics and MIS majors.
Training free; exam ~$99, with student discounts.
E
- EA — Enrolled Agent
The federal tax credential. Unlike the CPA it has no credit-hour rule, so it can be earned while still in school.
Three exam parts at $317 each, plus a $140 enrollment fee once you pass. No degree or experience requirement.
For Accounting
- ECBA — Entry Certificate in Business Analysis
IIBA’s entry-level business analysis credential, built for students and career changers. No work experience needed.
$395 for IIBA’s package (the exam, its learning journey and a year of membership), or $445 with a practice exam. IIBA members pay $245 or $295.
For Business Analytics, Management, Management Information Systems
- Entrepreneurship 101 and 102
MIT's new-enterprises material in full. No certificate, but the content is the real thing.
Free; no certificate.
- Entrepreneurship: Launching an Innovative Business
From idea to launch: design thinking, business models and startup financing.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
For Entrepreneurship
- Exam FAM — Fundamentals of Actuarial Mathematics
The SOA exam on short-term and long-term insurance mathematics. Most candidates take it after Exam P and Exam FM.
$408 in the U.S. and Canada; $326 for full-time students (2026).
- Exam FM — Financial Mathematics
The second early actuarial exam: interest, loans, bonds and the valuation of cash flows. Students often pass it alongside Exam P before applying for actuarial internships.
$275 exam fee in the U.S. and Canada.
- Exam P — Probability
The first actuarial exam. Passing it before graduation is close to a requirement for actuarial internships.
Exam ~$275; check SOA for the current fee.
- Exam SRM — Statistics for Risk Modeling
The SOA statistics exam: regression, time series and the basics of statistical learning, taken before the Predictive Analytics (PA) exam.
$357 in the U.S. and Canada; $286 for full-time students (2026).
For Business Analytics, Risk Management & Insurance, Actuarial Science
- Excel Skills for Business Specialization
From first formula to lookups, pivot tables and dashboards. Pairs with the MOS exam.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
For Accounting, Finance, Management, Hospitality & Tourism Management, Real Estate
- Excel training paths
Formulas, pivot tables, and Power Query. The single most assumed skill in any business internship.
Free.
For Accounting, Finance, Business Analytics, Management, Supply Chain & Operations, Human Resources, Risk Management & Insurance, Hospitality & Tourism Management, Real Estate, Business Administration, Sport Management, Logistics & Transportation, Healthcare Management, Professional Sales, Actuarial Science, Financial Planning, Retail Management & Merchandising, Agribusiness
F
- Federal Reserve Education
How the Fed sets rates, straight from the Fed. Also runs the College Fed Challenge.
Free.
- Finance and capital markets
Interest, bonds, stocks and mortgages from zero. A gentle start before Yale or Wharton.
Free.
- Finance for Everyone Specialization
Decisions, markets, value and debt — finance explained from first principles, with no prerequisites.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
For Finance, Entrepreneurship
- Financial Markets
Robert Shiller on risk, behavioral finance, and institutions. More than two million people have taken it.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
For Finance, Economics, International Business, Risk Management & Insurance, Real Estate
- FMVA — Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst
Build a three-statement model and a DCF from scratch. The most practical paid option for banking interviews.
~$497–$847/yr for full access, with about 50% off for students using a school email. Individual courses often free to audit.
For Accounting, Finance, Real Estate
- FPAC — Certified Corporate FP&A Professional
Budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis for corporate finance teams. Students in a finance, business or accounting major within two years of graduating can enroll.
$1,420–$1,520 for non-members (a year of membership included) or $1,025–$1,125 for AFP members, covering both exam parts.
For Accounting, Finance
- FPC — Fundamental Payroll Certification
The entry-level payroll credential: a 150-question, three-hour exam that is open to anyone, with no experience needed.
PayrollOrg lists the exam fee when you register; members save more than 20%.
- FPQP — Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional
An entry-level designation on the financial planning process. It does not replace the CFP, so check whether your degree already covers the same ground before paying for it.
$1,495–$1,695 for the program, which takes about 120 days.
- Free small-business counseling (SBA, SCORE, SBDCs)
Free one-on-one mentoring and workshops from SCORE, Small Business Development Centers and the SBA. Use it before you write a business plan alone.
Free.
For Entrepreneurship
- FRM — Financial Risk Manager
Market, credit, and operational risk. The usual credential for bank risk and treasury roles.
Enrollment ~$400 plus ~$600–$800 per part (2 parts).
G
- Generative AI for Everyone
Andrew Ng on what generative AI can and cannot do for a business. Every interviewer is asking about it.
Paid on Coursera; financial aid available.
For Business Analytics, Marketing, Management, Entrepreneurship
- Goldman Sachs job simulations
Operations, Controllers, and Risk. Controllers pairs neatly with an accounting course.
Free.
For Accounting, Finance
- Google Ads Search Certification
Campaign structure, bidding, and keywords. A named credential on a marketing resume.
Free.
- Google Advanced Data Analytics Professional Certificate
The step after Google Data Analytics: Python, statistics and regression models.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
- Google AI Essentials
Using generative AI tools at work and writing effective prompts. Self-paced; Google says it takes under 10 hours.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
For Business Analytics, Marketing, Management, Entrepreneurship
- Google Analytics Certification
GA4 setup, reporting, and attribution. The exam is free and renews annually.
Free.
For Business Analytics, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Sport Management, Retail Management & Merchandising
- Google Business Intelligence Professional Certificate
Dashboards, data models and pipelines — what a BI analyst builds all week.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
- Google Cloud Generative AI Leader
A non-technical certification on how generative AI can change a business: 50–60 questions in 90 minutes, no prerequisites.
$99 exam fee; the learning path is free.
For Marketing, Management, Management Information Systems, Entrepreneurship
- Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
Nine courses covering spreadsheets, SQL, Tableau and data analysis in Python, ending in a capstone case study.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
- Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate
Search, email, social and e-commerce in one track, with a Google name on the certificate.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
For Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Retail Management & Merchandising
- Google Project Management Professional Certificate
Traditional and agile project management. Its hours count toward PMI’s CAPM education requirement.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
For Management, Supply Chain & Operations, Human Resources, Business Administration, Healthcare Management
H
- Healthcare Management and Finance Specialization
Three beginner courses on how healthcare managers handle both the administrative and the financial side of the system. No prior experience needed.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
- Hotel Management: Distribution, Revenue and Demand
From Cornell's hospitality school. Revenue management is what turns a hospitality resume into an analytics one.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
- HubSpot Sales Hub Software Certification
How to work deals, contacts, sequences and reports in HubSpot's sales software, ending in a 50-question exam.
Free. Software certifications stay valid for about 13 months.
- Human Resource Management (BUS301)
Job analysis, recruiting, training, performance reviews, pay, safety and labor relations, with a free certificate of completion.
Free, including the certificate when you pass the final exam. The certificate is not college credit.
- Human Resource Management Specialization
Hiring, performance, and pay across five courses.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
I
- IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate
Excel, SQL, Python and Cognos in one track. A good alternative to the Google certificate.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
- IMF free online courses
Macroeconomic policy taught by IMF staff. Strong for economics and international business tracks.
Free.
- Inbound Marketing Certification
The inbound funnel and content strategy, free certificate and all.
Free, certificate included.
For Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Business Administration, Professional Sales
- Inbound Sales Certification
Finding active buyers, personalized outreach, discovery conversations and sales presentations — the work of a first sales job — in about three hours.
Free, certificate included.
For Business Administration, Sport Management, Professional Sales, Agribusiness
- Intro to Machine Learning
Decision trees and validation in three hours. Enough to follow what the data scientists are talking about.
Free.
- Intro to SQL
SELECT through GROUP BY on real tables. Nobody in analytics escapes SQL.
Free.
For Business Analytics, Marketing, Management Information Systems, Economics, Healthcare Management, Actuarial Science
- Introducing healthcare improvement
What quality improvement means in healthcare, and its six aims: safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient and equitable care.
Free, with a free statement of participation when you finish.
- Introduction to Corporate Finance
Time value of money, NPV, and cost of capital. The vocabulary every finance interview assumes.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
For Accounting, Finance, Real Estate
- Introduction to Financial Accounting
Brian Bushee builds the three statements from transactions up. Do this before any modeling course.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
For Accounting, Finance
- Investment Foundations Certificate
CFA Institute’s introduction to the investment industry: self-paced, 35–65 hours, with a 100-question online assessment and no prerequisites.
$79 for full-time students ($350 standard).
J
- J.P. Morgan job simulations
Investment Banking and Quantitative Research are the usual pair for a finance or analytics track.
Free.
K
- KPMG job simulations
Data analytics and audit tracks from the fourth of the Big 4.
Free.
L
- Lead and manage change in health and social care
The manager's role in leading change in health and social care: why change matters there, the emotion and uncertainty it brings, and a plan for your own change project.
Free, with a free statement of participation when you finish.
- Leading People and Teams Specialization
Motivation, team design and leading change. The management half of a business degree.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
- Learn How to Export
The U.S. government’s own guide to exporting: markets, pricing, shipping and documentation.
Free.
For Supply Chain & Operations, International Business, Logistics & Transportation, Agribusiness
- LinkedIn Learning via your library
Rarely worth paying for — check your university and public library cards first, where it is usually free.
~$40/month retail, but free through most university and public libraries.
For Finance, Marketing, Management, Human Resources, Business Administration, Professional Sales
M
- Macroeconomics
GDP, inflation, monetary and fiscal policy. The vocabulary every markets interview assumes.
Free.
- Marginal Revolution University
Short, sharp economics videos from Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabarrok.
Free.
For Economics
- Medicare Learning Network web-based training
Self-paced courses from CMS, 30 minutes to 2 hours each, on Medicare billing (Forms CMS-1450 and CMS-1500), diagnosis coding and fraud prevention. Useful background for revenue-cycle and compliance roles.
Free to take. CMS does not give continuing education credit for these courses.
- Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate
Paid social from the platform that sells it.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
For Marketing
- Microeconomics
Supply, demand, elasticity and market structure — the logic behind every pricing question.
Free.
- Microsoft Certified: AI Business Professional (AB-730)
A beginner certification in using Microsoft 365 Copilot and AI agents for business work, with no coding: a 45-minute exam.
Exam priced by country; a free practice assessment is on Microsoft Learn.
For Marketing, Management, Human Resources, Management Information Systems
- Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Professional Certificate
Eight courses (about 188 hours) that end with PL-300 exam preparation.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available. Finishing it earns 50% off the PL-300 exam.
For Accounting, Finance, Business Analytics, Marketing, Management Information Systems
- MITx MicroMasters in Supply Chain Management
The most rigorous supply chain program available online, from MIT’s top-ranked center.
Courses free to audit; verified certificates cost extra per course.
- MOS: Excel Associate (MO-210)
A verifiable Excel credential rather than a line that says 'proficient in Excel'. Ask your career center about a voucher.
Exam voucher ~$104; often free or discounted through a campus testing center.
For Accounting, Finance, Business Analytics, Management, Business Administration
O
- Omnichannel Retail Strategy Specialization
Three beginner courses from Wharton faculty on running a retail business across stores and online, including retail marketing strategy.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
- Oracle Certified Professional: Java SE 21 Developer (1Z0-830)
Oracle’s Java developer certification. Most useful for MIS students heading into software or systems roles.
Oracle sets the exam price by country; it is shown when you register.
- Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate (1Z0-071)
A recognized SQL certification for querying and managing data. Oracle also offers a newer version, the AI Database SQL Associate (1Z0-171).
Oracle sets the exam price by country; it is shown when you register.
- Organizational Behavior (BUS209)
How people behave at work: individual behavior, group dynamics, conflict and organizational change. The people side of every HR and management role.
Free, including the certificate when you pass the final exam. The certificate is not college credit.
P
- Pandas
Group-by, joins, and indexing. What analytics internships actually test.
Free.
- PCAP — Certified Associate Python Programmer
The next Python level: 40 questions in 65 minutes, 70% to pass. No formal prerequisites; PCEP first is recommended.
Exam from $295 ($345 with a retake).
- PCEP — Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer
A short entry-level Python exam: 30 questions in 40 minutes, 70% to pass, no prerequisites.
Exam from $69.
For Business Analytics, Management Information Systems, Economics
- People Analytics
Using data for hiring, performance and retention decisions — the fastest-growing corner of HR.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
- PHR — Professional in Human Resources
HRCI’s professional HR credential. It needs one to four years of professional HR work depending on your degree, so students start with the aPHR.
$395 exam fee plus a $100 application fee.
For Human Resources
- PL-300: Power BI Data Analyst
The training is free and the exam is not. The most recognized BI credential in corporate roles.
Training free; exam ~$165. Student discounts available.
- PMI-ACP — Agile Certified Practitioner
PMI’s agile credential. It needs 21 hours of agile training, 12 months of project experience and 8 months of agile project experience.
Exam fee in the hundreds of dollars; PMI members pay less.
- PMP — Project Management Professional
The best-known project management credential. It needs three years of project experience with a bachelor’s degree (two for graduates of PMI-accredited programs), so start with the CAPM as a student.
Exam fee in the hundreds of dollars (PMI members pay less), plus 35 hours of required project management training.
For Management, Supply Chain & Operations, Management Information Systems
- PRINCE2 Foundation
The project management method used widely in the UK, Europe and government work. The Foundation level has no prerequisites.
Bought from PeopleCert or an accredited trainer; the price varies by country and by training bundle.
- Private Equity Certificate
Self-paced, about 125 hours with 12 months of access. CFA Institute suggests the Private Markets certificate or CFA Level I first, but neither is required.
$890 standard price.
For Finance, Entrepreneurship
- Private Markets and Alternative Investments Certificate
Self-paced online certificate, 70–90 hours with six months of access.
$890 standard price.
For Finance
- PSM I — Professional Scrum Master
Cheaper and more rigorous than the weekend CSM course, and it never expires.
Exam ~$200, no mandatory course. All Scrum.org learning material is free.
- PSPO I — Professional Scrum Product Owner
The product-owner counterpart to PSM I. Worth having for product management internships.
$200 assessment; no course required.
- PwC job simulations
Digital Intelligence and Audit tracks. The Power BI task pairs with the PL-300 path.
Free.
- Python
Syntax to functions in a browser notebook. The on-ramp to everything else.
Free.
- Python for Everybody
A beginner-friendly Python course with free lectures, a free book and auto-graded exercises.
Free: lectures, book and exercises.
For Finance, Business Analytics, Management Information Systems, Economics, Actuarial Science
Q
- QuickBooks Online Certification
The software most small-business clients run their books on. The certification is free and recruiters for small firms look for it.
Free with a free QuickBooks Online Accountant account.
R
- R Programming
The language most economics departments and research roles expect.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
- Real estate salesperson license
Every state licenses agents separately. ARELLO links to each state’s regulator and its requirements.
Pre-license course plus state exam, usually a few hundred dollars. Rules vary by state.
For Real Estate
- Retail Industry Fundamentals
The National Retail Federation Foundation’s entry credential: how stores, distribution centers and customer service fit together, with retail math and inventory basics.
Exams from $40; course and exam bundles from $104.
- RIMS-CRMP
The enterprise risk management credential from the risk managers’ professional body.
Several hundred dollars; RIMS has student pricing.
- Risk management
Eight sessions on spotting the risks an organization faces, measuring their impact, and enterprise risk management (ERM). Introductory level.
Free, with a free statement of participation and an Open University digital badge when you finish.
S
- Sales Enablement Certification
CRM hygiene and pipeline mechanics. Useful in any role touching a sales team.
Free.
For Marketing, Management, Hospitality & Tourism Management, Business Administration, Sport Management, Professional Sales
- Salesforce Admin Beginner trail
Objects, fields, and reports in a free developer org. Badges link straight to LinkedIn.
Free.
For Marketing, Management Information Systems, Professional Sales
- Salesforce Certified Administrator
One of the most hireable business-tech credentials there is. The training costs nothing; only the exam does.
Exam ~$200 (retake ~$100). All training on Trailhead is free.
For Marketing, Management, Management Information Systems, Professional Sales
- Salesforce Certified Platform Foundations
The entry-level Salesforce credential (formerly Salesforce Associate) — a good first step before the Administrator exam.
Training free on Trailhead; the exam has a fee — check Trailhead.
For Marketing, Management Information Systems, Professional Sales
- Salesforce Certified Tableau Data Analyst
Tableau’s analyst certification. No prerequisites, though Salesforce expects about six months of hands-on Tableau use; take the Desktop Foundations exam first.
$200 exam fee ($100 to retake).
For Finance, Business Analytics, Marketing, Management Information Systems
- Salesforce Certified Tableau Desktop Foundations
Tableau’s entry-level certification (formerly the Desktop Specialist): 40 questions and no prerequisites.
$75 exam fee; retakes are free. Tableau is free for students through Tableau for Students.
- SAP Learning journeys
SAP runs the finance and supply chain of most large companies. The learning journeys are free.
Free learning journeys; certification exams are paid.
For Accounting, Supply Chain & Operations, Management Information Systems, Logistics & Transportation
- SAS Certified Specialist: Base Programming
SAS’s core programming certification, for data work in SAS.
Exam priced by country; students get a steep discount and free training through SAS Skill Builder for Students.
- SAS Skill Builder for Students
SAS still runs a great deal of banking, insurance and pharma analytics. Free for students.
Free training and software; certification exams discounted for students.
For Business Analytics, Economics, Risk Management & Insurance, Actuarial Science
- SCPro Fundamentals
Eight online courses on the cornerstones of supply chain management; each can be earned as its own certificate.
$300 per course ($360 for non-members), or $1,800 for all eight ($2,160 for non-members).
- SEO and Content Marketing courses
Free SEO certifications from a tool agencies actually use.
Courses and exams are free.
For Marketing
- Series 3 — National Commodities Futures Exam
The futures and commodities exam for people who sell futures, set by the National Futures Association.
$140 exam fee. No firm sponsorship needed.
For Finance, Agribusiness
- Series 4 — Registered Options Principal Exam
For options principals, who supervise a firm’s options business. To register you must also pass the SIE and the Series 7. A supervisor-level license, not a student credential.
$200 exam fee. A FINRA member firm must sponsor you, so it is taken after you are hired.
For Finance
- Series 6 — Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products Representative Exam
For selling mutual funds, variable annuities and variable life insurance. To register you must also pass the SIE.
$100 exam fee. A FINRA member firm must sponsor you, so it is taken after you are hired.
For Finance
- Series 7 — General Securities Representative Exam
The exam for brokers, traders and many banking roles. It is paired with the SIE, which you can pass on your own first.
$395 exam fee. A FINRA member firm must sponsor you, so it is taken after you are hired.
- Series 9 and 10 — General Securities Sales Supervisor Exams
For branch office sales supervisors (Series 9 and 10 together). To register you must also pass the SIE and the Series 7. A supervisor-level license, not a student credential.
$175 (Series 9) and $235 (Series 10) exam fees. A FINRA member firm must sponsor you, so it is taken after you are hired.
For Finance
- Series 14 — Compliance Officer Exam
For compliance officers at broker-dealers. A supervisor-level license, not a student credential.
$450 exam fee. A FINRA member firm must sponsor you, so it is taken after you are hired.
- Series 16 — Supervisory Analyst Exam
For supervisory analysts, who review and approve research reports. A supervisor-level license, not a student credential.
$325 exam fee (Parts 1 and 2). A FINRA member firm must sponsor you, so it is taken after you are hired.
For Finance
- Series 22 — Direct Participation Programs Representative Exam
For selling direct participation programs, such as limited partnerships. To register you must also pass the SIE.
$100 exam fee. A FINRA member firm must sponsor you, so it is taken after you are hired.
For Finance
- Series 23 — General Securities Principal Exam – Sales Supervisor Module
The sales-supervisor module of the general securities principal exam. To register you must also pass the SIE, the Series 7 and the Series 9 and 10. A supervisor-level license, not a student credential.
$135 exam fee. A FINRA member firm must sponsor you, so it is taken after you are hired.
For Finance
- Series 24 — General Securities Principal Exam
For general securities principals, who supervise a broker-dealer’s business. To register you must also pass the SIE plus one of the Series 7, 57, 79, 82, 86/87 or 16. A supervisor-level license, not a student credential.
$235 exam fee. A FINRA member firm must sponsor you, so it is taken after you are hired.
For Finance
- Series 26 — Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products Principal Exam
For principals who supervise mutual fund and variable contract business. To register you must also pass the SIE plus the Series 6 or Series 7. A supervisor-level license, not a student credential.
$200 exam fee. A FINRA member firm must sponsor you, so it is taken after you are hired.
For Finance
- Series 27 — Financial and Operations Principal Exam
For financial and operations principals, who are responsible for a broker-dealer’s books and financial reporting. A supervisor-level license, not a student credential.
$235 exam fee. A FINRA member firm must sponsor you, so it is taken after you are hired.
For Accounting, Finance
- Series 28 — Introducing Broker-Dealer Financial and Operations Principal Exam
For financial and operations principals at introducing broker-dealers. A supervisor-level license, not a student credential.
$195 exam fee. A FINRA member firm must sponsor you, so it is taken after you are hired.
For Accounting, Finance
- Series 30 — NFA Branch Manager Exam
For branch managers of NFA member firms in the futures industry. A supervisor-level license, not a student credential.
$90 exam fee. No firm sponsorship needed.
For Finance
- Series 31 — Futures Managed Funds Exam
For selling interests in futures managed funds.
$90 exam fee. No firm sponsorship needed.
For Finance
- Series 32 — Limited Futures Exam - Regulations
A limited futures exam covering futures regulations.
$90 exam fee. No firm sponsorship needed.
For Finance
- Series 34 — Retail Off-Exchange Forex Exam
For retail off-exchange forex business.
$90 exam fee. No firm sponsorship needed.
For Finance
- Series 39 — Direct Participation Programs Principal Exam
For principals who supervise direct participation programs. To register you must also pass the SIE plus the Series 7 or Series 22. A supervisor-level license, not a student credential.
$200 exam fee. A FINRA member firm must sponsor you, so it is taken after you are hired.
For Finance
- Series 50 — Municipal Advisor Representative Exam
For municipal advisor representatives, who advise state and local governments on municipal securities.
$265 exam fee.
For Finance
- Series 51 — Municipal Fund Securities Limited Principal Exam
For principals who supervise municipal fund securities, such as 529 college savings plans. To register you must also pass the Series 24 or Series 26. A supervisor-level license, not a student credential.
$255 exam fee.
For Finance
- Series 52 — Municipal Securities Representative Exam
For municipal securities representatives, who underwrite, trade and sell municipal bonds. To register you must also pass the SIE.
$260 exam fee.
For Finance
- Series 53 — Municipal Securities Principal Exam
For principals who supervise municipal securities business. To register you must also pass the SIE and the Series 52 (top-off). A supervisor-level license, not a student credential.
$265 exam fee.
For Finance
- Series 54 — Municipal Advisor Principal Exam
For municipal advisor principals. To register you must also pass the Series 50. A supervisor-level license, not a student credential.
$265 exam fee.
For Finance
- Series 57 — Securities Trader Representative Exam
For securities traders. To register you must also pass the SIE.
$105 exam fee. A FINRA member firm must sponsor you, so it is taken after you are hired.
For Finance
- Series 63 — Uniform Securities Agent State Law Exam
The state securities law exam for agents. Most states require it along with the Series 7.
$147 exam fee. No firm sponsorship needed.
- Series 65 — Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam
The investment adviser law exam, written by NASAA and run by FINRA.
$187 exam fee. No firm sponsorship needed.
- Series 66 — Uniform Combined State Law Exam
The combined state law exam for people who are both securities agents and investment adviser representatives. To register you must also pass the SIE and the Series 7 (top-off).
$177 exam fee. No firm sponsorship needed.
- Series 79 — Investment Banking Representative Exam
For investment banking representatives: mergers and acquisitions, underwriting and capital raising. To register you must also pass the SIE.
$395 exam fee. A FINRA member firm must sponsor you, so it is taken after you are hired.
For Finance
- Series 82 — Private Securities Offerings Representative Exam
For selling private placements of securities. To register you must also pass the SIE.
$100 exam fee. A FINRA member firm must sponsor you, so it is taken after you are hired.
For Finance
- Series 86 and 87 — Research Analyst Exams
The research analyst exams (Series 86 and 87 together). To register you must also pass the SIE.
$295 (Series 86) and $195 (Series 87) exam fees. A FINRA member firm must sponsor you, so it is taken after you are hired.
For Finance
- Series 99 — Operations Professional Exam
For operations professionals at broker-dealers. To register you must also pass the SIE.
$100 exam fee. A FINRA member firm must sponsor you, so it is taken after you are hired.
For Finance
- ServSafe Manager
The food-safety certification most U.S. restaurants require of managers.
About $179 for the online course and exam together; the exam alone is about $99.
- SHRM student membership and resources
Student chapters, case competitions and the path to the SHRM-CP.
Student membership is heavily discounted.
For Human Resources
- SHRM-CP
SHRM’s main HR credential. It needs no HR experience or degree, though the exam assumes working knowledge of HR.
Exam $350–$499 depending on SHRM membership and registration date; students in an HR degree program pay $150–$299.
- SHRM-SCP — SHRM Senior Certified Professional
The senior HR credential. It needs three years of strategic-level HR work, or three years holding the SHRM-CP; start with the SHRM-CP.
Exam $350–$499 depending on SHRM membership and registration date.
- SIE — Securities Industry Essentials exam
The one securities license exam a student can take without an employer. Passing it before recruiting signals commitment to banks and brokerages.
$100 exam fee. No firm sponsorship needed; you must be 18 or older.
- Six Sigma Fundamentals
Process improvement for operations roles. Check whether your school runs its own belt first — it is usually much cheaper.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available. ASQ belt exams are separate and paid.
Strategy, listening and reporting for social channels.
Free.
For Marketing, Hospitality & Tourism Management, Sport Management
- SPHR — Senior Professional in Human Resources
HRCI’s senior HR credential. It needs four to seven years of professional HR work depending on your degree.
$495 exam fee plus a $100 application fee.
For Human Resources
- Sports Marketing
Sponsorships, licensing, dynamic ticket pricing and fan engagement, from Northwestern’s Medill school with guests from sports media and the industry.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
For Sport Management
- Sports Performance Analytics Specialization
Five intermediate courses on predicting team and player performance with Python and real sports data.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
For Sport Management
- SQL for Data Science
SQL for analysis, from basic queries to joins and subqueries; about two weeks at 10 hours a week.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
For Business Analytics, Marketing, Management Information Systems
- Startup School
Y Combinator’s free course on building a startup, plus a co-founder matching service.
Free.
For Entrepreneurship
- Startup Valuation Methods
How early-stage companies are actually valued. Useful for VC and startup-finance interviews.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
For Finance, Entrepreneurship
- Supplier Relationship Management Certificate
Building and managing long-term supplier relationships. About 20 hours online and one exam; it never expires.
$495 for ASCM members or $695 otherwise, including the exam.
- Supply Chain Management Specialization
Logistics, operations, planning and sourcing, one course each.
Paid on Coursera (included with Coursera Plus); financial aid available.
- Supply Chain Planning Certificate
Demand planning, master scheduling, material requirements and S&OP. About 20 hours online and one exam; it never expires.
$495 for ASCM members or $695 otherwise, including the exam.
- Supply Chain Principles
A proper introduction to the field from a top-ranked supply-chain school.
Paid on Coursera; financial aid available.
For Management, Supply Chain & Operations, International Business
- Supply Chain Procurement Certificate
Sourcing, supplier management, negotiation and procurement metrics. About 20 hours online and one exam; it never expires.
$495 for ASCM members or $695 otherwise, including the exam.
- Supply Chain Resilience Certificate
Supply chain risk management and planning for disruption. About 20 hours online and one exam; it never expires.
$495 for ASCM members or $695 otherwise, including the exam.
- Supply Chain Technology Certificate
How blockchain, IoT, analytics and automation are used in supply chains. About 20 hours online and one exam; it never expires.
$495 for ASCM members or $695 otherwise, including the exam.
- Supply Chain Warehousing Certificate
Warehousing and distribution: inventory control, order fulfillment and shipping, built with Prologis. About 20 hours online and one exam; it never expires.
$495 for ASCM members or $695 otherwise, including the exam.
- Supply Chain, Inventory and Logistics
An entry credential in how goods move from suppliers to stores and customers: inventory, warehousing and distribution, with a retail focus.
Exams from $60; course and exam bundles from $120.
For Supply Chain & Operations, Logistics & Transportation, Retail Management & Merchandising
- Sustainable Investing Certificate
CFA Institute’s ESG credential (formerly the Certificate in ESG Investing). Useful for asset-management and sustainability roles.
USD 890, including the exam.
T
- Tableau for Students
A free license to build the portfolio before paying for the Tableau exam.
Free one-year license for enrolled students.
- TIPS responsible alcohol service
Responsible alcohol service. Cheap, quick and asked for in hotel and restaurant jobs.
About $40.
U
- Understanding and managing risk
Financial, operational and reputational risk: how each is identified, measured and reduced, and what behavioral finance says about risk-taking. Advanced level, so take it after an introductory finance course.
Free, with a free statement of participation when you finish.
V
- VEE — Validation by Educational Experience
Credit toward the ASA for college courses in economics, accounting and finance, and mathematical statistics. Check the approved-course list before you choose classes, so your degree covers it.
$92 per topic to apply for credit, once you have passed two exams.
- VITA tax volunteer certification
Prepare real returns for real people at a campus or community site. One of the few accounting resume lines with genuine client work behind it.
Free. IRS Link & Learn training and the certification test cost nothing.
W
- Wall Street Prep Financial Modeling
What many banks use for their own analyst training. Check whether your business school already has a license.
$499 for the Premium Package or $199 for the Basic Package; some campuses have site licenses.
For Finance
- Wharton Undergraduate Accounting Course Descriptions
Not a certificate — a syllabus map. Sanity-check your own course plan against it.
Free to read.
For Accounting
X
- Xero Advisor Certification
Online training and assessments in Xero, cloud accounting software that many small businesses and their accountants use. A useful companion to the QuickBooks certification.
Free; you need a free Xero login.