What is a certificate program and how does it differ from an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree?
A certificate program is one that is designed to prepare vocational students for employment without the additional requirement of an Associate in Arts (AA) or Associate in Science (AS) degree. Requirements of each certificate have been determined by the faculty offering the program with the help of their advisory committees. In order to qualify for a certificate, a student must complete all courses listed in the certificate, with a grade of “C” or better. No more than 30 percent of the courses required for the certificate may be fulfilled with parallel courses completed at other accredited institutions. Units earned in obtaining a certificate may be applied toward the 60 units required for an Associate degree. Students with a Library Technology (LT) certificate normally achieve an AS degree.
