Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Certificate Program?Can I Take Individual Courses Without Enrolling in the Entire Program?
Who Teaches Certificate Courses?
How Long Does It Take to Complete a Certificate Program?
Do I Need to Buy Books for the Courses?
If I Can’t Take a Class This Term, Will It Be Offered Again in the Future?
Will These Courses Appear on a Transcript?
Will I Earn College Credit?
Do I Receive an Actual Certificate?
Do Alumni Receive Any Discounts?
What is a Certificate
Program?
Certificate programs provide in-depth training through a
sequence of required and elective courses in a particular area of
concentration. With a certificate from Penn State Abington you
can:
- Stay current with developments in your field
- Consider other career options as you position yourself for a promotion or for marketing yourself to prospective employers
- Acquire new skills to assist you in your career through a focused, comprehensive educational experience
- Network with others in the field
- Obtain proof of concentrated study or complement a formal course of academic study with practical training.
Can I Take
Individual Courses Without Enrolling in the Entire
Program?
Yes, most courses can be taken individually as long as you meet
any prerequisite course requirements
Who Teaches Certificate
Courses?
Our courses are taught by seasoned professionals who are well
qualified in the areas they are teaching. They bring real-world
experience into the classroom and are up to date on the latest
developments in their field.
How Long Does It Take to
Complete a Certificate Program?
This varies with each program and depends on your pacing and the
time required to take each course. There is no restriction on the
number of classes you can sign up for in a term.
Do I Need to Buy Books for
the Courses?
Most of our courses require a textbook. You may call our office
to find out if there is a book required for your course.
If I Can’t Take a Class
This Term, Will It Be Offered Again in the Future?
Many of the required courses in a certificate program are
offered each term. However, elective courses may be offered only
once a year. Please call our office to see the next time the
class you want is going to be offered.
Will These Courses
Appear on a Transcript?
Yes, you will receive an official transcript from Penn State
University listing the courses completed along with your grade in
each course.
Will I Earn College
Credit?
You will receive Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) for each
course. These are nationally recognized units of measurement for
noncredit courses that are not for academic credit. You earn one
CEU for every 10 hours of class time.
Do I Receive an
Actual Certificate?
Yes, once you complete all of the required courses in your
program and submit a certificate request form, we will issue you
a certificate. Certificate request forms can be found on our
website.
Do Alumni Receive Any
Discounts?
Yes, Penn State Alumni receive 10% off the cost of our
courses.
