Certification The workplace is more competitive today than in recent history. Some jobs require a candidate to have a professional certification in order to be employed. Certification is a professional status earned by an indi- vidual after passing an exam focused on a specific body of knowledge. The individual generally prepares for the exam by taking classes and studying content that will be tested. Certification programs are usually sponsored by associations or vendors. There are many types of cer- tifications in most industries and trades, as shown in Figure 2-1. For example, a financial planning agency might require a financial planner to be certified as a quali- fication for the job. Other employers may prefer, but not require, certification. An individual may have a degree in accounting and be employable with that degree alone. However, some accounting firms may favor hiring accountants who are certified public accountants (CPAs). The Best App for That Job Compass The Job Compass app helps you search for jobs in a given radius using your mobile device. Once downloaded and launched, Job Compass will use the GPS in your phone to display a map of available jobs relative to your phone’s current location. If you are not in the area in which you wish to look for employment, you can key a city or zip code in the search bar and set a search radius of 5, 10, 25, 50, or 100 miles from your desired area. You can also search using job keywords to narrow your results. Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Certifications by Industry Administrative Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) Personal Assistant Certification Automotive ASE Certified Medium/Heavy Truck Technician ASE Master Certified Automobile Technician Financial Planning Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Health Support Certified EKG/ECG Technician (CET) Certified Nurse Technician (CNT) Hospitality Certified Hospitality Accountant Executive (CHAE) Certified Hospitality Supervisor (CHS) Human Resources Professional in Human Resources (PHR) Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) Information Technology Cisco Certified Network Professional Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator Sun Certified Java Programmer Internal Auditing Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) Certification in Control Self-Assessment (CCSA) Manufacturing Certified Manufacturing Technologist (CMfgT) Certified Engineering Manager (CEM) Project Management Project Management Professional (PMP) Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) Real Estate Certified Commercial Real Estate Appraiser (CCRA) Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Workplace Safety Certified Environmental Health and Safety Management Specialist (EHS) Certified Safety Auditor (SAC) Workplace Skills National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) FIGURE 2-1 Certification is a professional status earned by an individual after passing an exam focused on a specific body of knowledge. Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 29 Chapter 2 Soft Skills