: Certificate Programs vs. An Associates Degree My question is one to be debated. I am currently working as a marketing assistant with many design responsibilities. I have grown to love this

@Lengel450

In my opinion, it sounds a bit backwards. People often go to an education program before landing a career in their chosen industry. If you're already working in that position, stay there and get as much experience as you can. When you have nothing left to learn there, move on to another employer and use your current position as leverage for an increased salary and more responsibility.

You'll learn faster on the job and you're being paid to do so. You'll learn slower going to school and you'll have to spend the next 5 years working to pay off your tuition.

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@Shelley591

As with nearly all professions, a degree tends to weigh more than a certificate in the eyes of the people hiring you.

Do you need a degree? Well, that's a whole other question. In this profession, your portfolio is the key. A degree can help you get to that point. Sometimes better than a certificate can.

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@Murray976

The really important thing is that you gain the knowledge so you can handle the technical aspects needed for various production methods.

How you gain that knowledge is often of little consequence. Whether it's from a certificate program, an Associates Degree, or on-the-job training doesn't matter after you land that first (decent) job in the profession.

A formal education merely gives perspective employers some indication that you should have at least touched upon technical aspects you will need. Previous employment positions on the same career track do essentially the same thing. So really it all boils down to what you learn, not necessarily the piece of paper you receive, if any, for learning.

On the whole, neither a certificate or associates program is inherently better. Although on paper, due to existing competition, often more schooling looks more favorably if you have zero work experience. This is easily offset by any actual work experience though. A new designer with a certificate and six months of work experience and a fantastic portfolio can easily offset a new designer with an Associates degree and zero work experience and a so-so portfolio.

You need to dig a bit deeper to see what each educational track covers. You should be more interested in "lab" or "study" time as opposed to "lecture" time. You'll want hands-on experience, not "listen to this" experience. Which program do you feel will result in a better portfolio in the area you want to gravitate to? Does the certificate program cover more web design than print design? Is the associate's track geared more towards traditional production methods or digital methods? That sort of thing.

No one can really state emphatically that one is better than the other without knowing in detail what is covered in each.

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@Cugini998

I would have to say that in my experience, neither of these matter as much as work experience and a demonstration of your abilities/knowledge.

I have zero certifications or degrees in graphic design and I have been doing it professionally for about 10 years and I'm currently the creative services manager for a magazine.

I have always had an interest in creating art and I began teaching myself photoshop in roughly 7-8th grade. I was in college and was pretty much in your same position. No experience, no degree, but I was lucky enough to get my foot in the door because I had some knowledge of photoshop. I took on as much work as I could for my company and tried to learn as many things as I could, in order to make myself more appealing to future employers and expand my skill set.

I'm not saying don't get a degree (I have my BS to fall back on, so that always looks better on paper than nothing). I'm just trying to say that I don't think either is essential or required, as long as you have a demonstrated aptitude for design and an eagerness/ability to learn.

That should be enough to at least get you started someplace. If you get in with a good company, they may even pay for you to get more training/certifications or have other designers there that can mentor you on certain things.

I suggest that if you can avoid a student loan, do so. haha

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