Guide To Marketing Certifications

With the right credentials, you can further your career in the marketing industry. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of professional marketing certifications. We've put together this guide to trusted marketing certifications to make it easier for you to improve your skills and grow your career. We curate these courses to introduce you to the most respected universities that offer marketing certifications, free learning opportunities on how to use today's most important digital marketing skills, and the most trusted marketing professional organizations in the world today.

What is a trade certificate used for?

A marketing certificate can be helpful if you feel you need more formal marketing education, such as a marketing degree. B. media marketing, search engine optimization, e-marketing, customer development, market research and strategic brand management. The courses you take for your marketing certificate can also introduce you to marketing tools, including social media platforms, Google Ads, Hootsuite, HubSpot, and other web analytics tools. Designed for both seasoned marketers and novices alike, certification courses can be taken at a university, through specialized online institutions such as Hootsuite Academy, or through leading marketing associations.

What certifications are required?

The most popular certifications in digital marketing. Some of the most sought-after certifications include HubSpot Email and Inbound Marketing, Google Ads and Analytics, and Social Media Marketing. You can read more about these digital marketing certifications below.

Should I Get a Digital Marketing Certificate?

While there is no single factual answer to this question and it can vary from person to person, there are several factors to consider when deciding whether to pursue a digital marketing certification. If you're planning to expand your company's online presence, a digital marketing certificate is probably right for you. Also, if you need to learn specific digital marketing tools like Hootsuite, Google Ads, and HubSpot via email, a digital marketing certificate can help you get started with these platforms. Forms on your schedule, often for much less money than the cost of undergraduate college courses. . However, if your business requires minimal or simple use of online platforms for marketing purposes, a digital marketing certification may not be right for you.

How to become a certified marketing professional?

You don't need a certification to work in marketing, but if you do, there are many ways to become a certified marketer. You can take a variety of university courses, online programs from marketing platforms and companies, or specialized face-to-face courses taught by industry organizations and veteran marketing associations. Learn more about each of these certification types below.

Certificate from accredited universities.

Marketing certificates are in high demand, and many accredited universities and colleges cater to this demand. Some of the college's certificates are aimed at experienced marketers, while others are designed as a stepping stone for career changers or recent graduates entering the job market. Whether you've been in marketing for a long time or just starting out, having a reputable university on your resume can boost your professional standing.

Ivy League schools such as Cornell (eCornell) and Harvard (Extension School) offer comprehensive continuing education programs that allow students to earn certificates in areas such as marketing strategy and marketing management. Cornell's six-session program lasts three months and costs $3,600. Marketed as an MBA-level Strategic Marketing Training, the program is designed for professionals who want to take their education to the next level. Harvard's program has four classes of graduate credits (which can be used toward a degree), takes an average of 1.5 years to complete, and costs about $10,800.

Other universities with prestigious marketing certifications include Duke University, MIT, Baruch College, University of Illinois, UC Berkeley, University of Notre Dame, Georgetown University, University of Georgia, and Oregon State University, to name a few. Programs at such schools vary widely in cost, length, support (online or in-person), and focus. Most certification programs cost between $2,000 and $5,000, but some go as high as $15,000.

Before enrolling in a certificate program at an accredited university, make sure you understand what you're buying. Some programs last a week or less and offer no college credit, while other programs in the same price range last several months and count for college credit.

Certificate in specific digital marketing skills

Certifications for specific programs or services can bolster your resume and help you stay current in the ever-changing world of digital marketing. Certifications for very specific skills are free or inexpensive.

The type of certification that is valuable to your career depends largely on the field of marketing you work in and your agency or company. Here are some of the most popular and trusted competency-based certifications for marketers:

Certificates of industry organizations and associations.

Certification from independent marketing associations should be obtained. Many organizations that offer certifications are for-profit educational companies that do not act as industry benchmarks, while others are legitimate professional organizations that offer valuable certifications. Other marketers who follow the business of the industry will take note of when you have received certification from the organizations listed below.

American Marketing Association

The American Marketing Association is one of the most prominent professional marketing organizations in the country. In addition to providing educational networking opportunities and disseminating industry information through its publications and associations, it offers the American Marketing Association Professional Certified Marketer Program.

The AMA certification program consists of four streams: Digital Marketing, Marketing Management, Sales Management, and Content Marketing. All programs begin with an overview of the skills required for certification and a free practice exam.

• Digital Marketing: Digital Marketing is an AMA-approved learning path from LinkedIn Learning that consists of videos and tutorials. Then you take a test with 120 questions. You must score 80% or higher on the exam to pass the certification. The digital marketing program costs $249 for AMA members and $349 for non-members.
• Marketing Management: The Marketing Management track comes with a free textbook and AMA Marketing Management Training Package ($99 for members, $149 for non-members). The certification exam costs an additional $99 for members or $299 for non-members.
• Sales Management - You can use the AMA website to review the topics you need to know to pass the free sales management practice exam. Certification costs $249 for AMA members and $349 for non-members.
• Content Marketing – Like Track Sales Management, you can access everything you need to know for this course on the AMA website and then take a free practice exam. Prices are also the same: $249 for AMA members and $349 for non-members.

To maintain your certification in any field of study, the AMA requires that you earn 30 continuing education units (CEUs) every three years, a minimum of 10 units per year, and recertify every three years. CEUs are determined by WADA and may include participation in events, webcasts, virtual conferences and training.

interactive advertising agency

The Office of Interactive Advertising includes more than 650 media and technology companies that offer four certification programs: Digital Media Sales, Digital Advertising Operations, Digital Data Solutions, and Digital Media Planning and Buying. Members and non-members can be certified by the IAB, but the fee for non-members is higher.

The IAB requires certified marketing professionals to recertify within 9-24 months of their initial certification. Earning CEUs or retaking the certification exam may be required to remain certified. Most IAB exams and training programs cost $699 for members and $899 for non-members, but some certifications have specific requirements, so read the guidelines carefully before committing to a program.

4A

Founded in 1917, the 4A's is one of the oldest and largest professional marketing organizations in the United States. It serves 740 member agencies in 1,400 offices, and its division insures more than 164,000 professional marketing agencies. 4A's offers a variety of training and development programs including webinars, seminars, conferences and multi-day networking events. The main certification it offers is that of the IPA Foundation in collaboration with its sister organization in the UK, the Institute of Advertising Professionals.

The IPA Foundation certification program includes 35 hours of online coursework and is recommended for graduate students and professionals new to the marketing industry. 4A certification costs $600 for members and $850 for non-members.

Mona Bushnell reported and wrote this article.