Home

Business Certificate and Diploma Programs

Learn how a business certificate or diploma can help your business career

Other Business Degrees | Resource Center Home | Find Business Schools

Diploma & Certificates vs. Associate Degree

student earning her business certificate

Diploma and undergraduate certificate programs in business generally can be completed in less than one year. These programs help students with a high school education gain basic managerial and supervisory, accounting and computer skills necessary for employment in an entry-level or intermediate management position.

Choosing a program is a very personal choice. For many prospective students, the choice involves complex tradeoffs between finances (e.g. need to support a family), your age (high school graduate vs. mid-life career change), and future career plans.

Certificate and diploma programs are generally much shorter (1-month-to-12-months) than associate's degree programs (18-months-to-24-months), so you can enter the work-force sooner. However, many certificate and diploma credits will not count toward an associate's or bachelor's degree.

find diploma programs

Business Diploma & Certificate Career Opportunities

Depending on the emphasis of your program, most diploma and certificate programs will prepare you for a career as an:

  • Accounting Assistant
  • Administrative Assistant
  • Bookkeeping
  • Computer Office Specialist
  • Customer Service Representative
  • Data Entry Operator
  • Office Clerk
  • Office Administration
  • Office Manager
  • Payroll Accountant
  • Word Processor

find diploma programs

Spotlight Schools

Northeastern University - College of Business Administration

Northeastern offers its AACSB-accredited MBA program in a 100 percent online format. They are a world leader in practice-based education focused on expanding students' managerial skills and knowledge base.


Walden University

Walden University has unique and flexible online delivery models, world-class faculty and customizable programs which are all geared to help adult learners achieve their career goals.


American InterContinental University Online

AIU Online offers convenient, flexible alternatives that enable you to fit a career-focused education into your current lifestyle. This is the perfect format for students looking to pursue opportunities in a competitive job market.