Workforce & Professional Development Programs provide working adults with an opportunity to advance their careers, seek new careers, improve professional skills, or increase their knowledge. If you are facing new challenges, we can help you get ahead and stay ahead with educational activities that are designed to accelerate your professional growth.

Jump-start your education, your career, your future with a Penn State Berks certificate.

What is a certificate program?

A certificate program is a sequence of classes that provides you with core competencies in a specific area. Certificate programs focus on a specific skill set allowing you to earn a Penn State credential in a relatively short time. Penn State Berks offers several professional and technical certificate programs, both credit and non-credit, that can help you meet your career goals.

Credit Certificates

A credit certificate program provides students with core competencies in a specific area while they earn college credits at the same time. Because credit certificate programs usually require only between 9 and 25 credits for completion, this Penn State credential can be completed in a relatively short time. In addition, a credit certificate program can be the gateway to a college degree if desired; courses taken for a credit certificate can be applied toward a degree now or in the future. All our programs are designed as flexible, convenient opportunities for self-enhancement, higher education, and professional development.

Non-Credit Certificates

A non-credit certificate program provides students an opportunity to learn new skills in a particular area, many times including hands-on work allowing you to gain specific experiences. These certificates generally require three to six courses of varying lengths. Upon completion you will earn a Penn State Certificate showing your new skill and the hours of learning completed.

Need to earn CEUs? Continuing Education Units are awarded based on a standard of one unit per ten (10) hours of classroom contact.

How to Register

To register for a non-credit certificate course, simply select the program of interest from the programs offered on the left, then click on the online registration link. To register for a credit certificate program, students will need to complete an Undergraduate Nondegree Enrollment Form, and then complete a Registration Drop/Add Form. Request more information by contacting our Continuing Education office at (610) 396-6220 or kxf27@psu.edu.

Note: The University reserves the right to cancel courses due to insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances.

Things your employer should know

Penn State Berks offers: