A certificate is much the same as an associate's degree. Many times, students go through a certificate program as a jumping off point to go into an associate's or a bachelor's degree program. There are certificates similar to the Associate of Arts, which is a generalized curriculum in a particular field of study. However, most certificates are more like the Associate of Science, which train the student for one particular field in preparation for immediate employment in that trade.

Several different career fields have certificate programs now. They have been designed to give the student specialized and specific skills in one particular area. When someone has completed a certificate, he/she has completed approximately 12 to 33 college credits in a particular career field.

Many certificates are available online and even through the mail. When earning a degree in this manner, it is best to look for an accredited program. In many instances, a certificate program can be completed online, entirely from the comfort of your own home in your spare time.

Some fields of study that you can get a certificate in are early childhood, food science, organizational leadership, weather forecasting, family services, family literacy, hospitality management, and human resources. The programs for each particular field have specific courses and are designed to get the student ready for the workforce.