Business, finance & PM
Project management (CAPM/PMP, Scrum, Google PM), quality (ASQ Six Sigma), IT service (ITIL), and the finance ladders — CFA, CFP, CPA, FINRA SIE — with the free on-ramps.
Google (via Coursera)
A beginner-to-job PM program. Audit free, certificate ~$49/mo; ACE-recommended for college credit and counts toward the education hours for PMI's CAPM.
✓ Entry-level; ACE-recommended; counts toward CAPM eligibility
Go to the official issuer →
Intuit (via Coursera)
A beginner bookkeeping credential from Intuit (QuickBooks). Audit free; prepares for the Intuit Certified Bookkeeping Professional exam and entry bookkeeping roles.
✓ Entry-level bookkeeping; pathway to Intuit work
Go to the official issuer →
FINRA
The entry-level securities exam you can take WITHOUT an employer sponsor — the first step toward Series 7 and a finance/brokerage career. ~$80; free study materials abound.
✓ The entry exam for a securities career (no sponsor needed)
Go to the official issuer →
Project Management Institute (PMI)
PMI's entry-level project-management certification — the stepping stone to the PMP. Requires 23 contact hours of PM education (the Google PM cert qualifies).
✓ Globally recognized entry PM certification
Go to the official issuer →
Project Management Institute (PMI)
The gold-standard project-management certification. Requires experience + 35 contact hours of education and a rigorous exam. High salary signal.
✓ The premier global PM certification
Go to the official issuer →
Scrum.org / Scrum Alliance
The two recognized Scrum Master certifications — Scrum.org's PSM (cheaper, no required course) and Scrum Alliance's CSM (course required). Core for agile delivery roles.
✓ The recognized agile/Scrum credentials
Go to the official issuer →
American Society for Quality (ASQ)
ASQ's Six Sigma and quality certifications (Green Belt, Black Belt, CQA) — the recognized process-improvement credentials in manufacturing, healthcare and operations.
✓ The standard quality/process-improvement credential
Go to the official issuer →
PeopleCert / Axelos
ITIL 4 Foundation and beyond — the recognized framework/credential for IT service management and operations. Self-study + a paid exam.
✓ The global standard for IT service management
Go to the official issuer →
CFA Institute
The gold-standard credential for investment analysis and portfolio management — three rigorous exam levels plus experience. Demanding and globally respected.
✓ The premier investment-management credential
Go to the official issuer →
CFP Board
The recognized credential for financial planners/advisors — coursework, exam, experience and an ethics requirement. The mark consumers are told to look for.
✓ The standard for personal financial planning
Go to the official issuer →
AICPA / NASBA + state boards
The licensed accounting credential in the U.S. — 150 credit hours, the four-part Uniform CPA Exam, and state licensure. The top accounting qualification.
✓ The licensed U.S. accounting credential
Go to the official issuer →