Further Education And Certifications – They’re Worth It

Giving yourself a good education is an invaluable gift that will pay for itself significantly in terms of better job opportunities and more earning potential. Sure, there is also the school of hard knocks and experience too. It may cost less but the trade off is that it usually takes many years to acquire the same amount of formal knowledge that you can get with a college degree that takes just 2 to 5 years. Furthermore, whilst you’re busy learning via experience, you’re not likely to be getting the same sort of money as someone with a formal college degree.

Loosely translated, this means that you’ll lose more in earning potential by not having formal qualifications than what it will cost you in college fees to get those qualifications. You can also build on a basic degree with further studies and increase your earning potential accordingly.

For many people though it comes down to practical necessity. Whilst staying in college long enough to earn a Master’s degree will significantly increase your potential earning power, some people don’t have the means to do that. For many, obtaining the minimum qualifications needed to be able to get a job, and then getting out into the workforce to earn a living, is their priority. However, just having the minimum qualifications may get your foot in the door but it will restrict how far you can progress up the ladder, and thus how much you can earn. In other words, as more and more companies prefer employees with degrees, experience alone will only get you so far. Once you reach that plateau, you often need additional qualifications to go any higher.

The good news though is that it’s becoming progressively easier to do this without having to stop work to do so. Most colleges now offer night and weekend classes or you can enroll in online classes courtesy of the Internet and information age. You may also find that your employer has incentives for employees who are interested in continuing their education in areas that will benefit the company. This could by way of contributing to the costs of your education, or allowing you to take paid time off work to attend lessons.

Alternatively, online classes may be a feasible option. They are for many busy people who either want to further their current career, or are looking to change careers. Online courses can be completed in your own time, without interfering with your current employment. You can choose where to study, and in many cases, take as long as you like to complete the degree. This is ideal if you’re working full time, or have family commitments that take up a lot of your spare time.

Ultimately, these days there’s no reason why you can’t have a good education and increasingly, no age limit on getting one either. Education is no longer the prerogative of the young or the wealthy. So if you’ve always wanted to earn a particular degree, or get a certification in a specific industry, why not go for it! For fire service personnel, this may be obtaining your Fire Inspector certification online through an authorized training center or Fire College.