Graduate certificate#United States

In Australia, a Graduate Certificate is a Level 8 qualification alongside the Bachelor (Honours) degree. Entry to a Graduate Certificate typically requires completion of a bachelor's degree (level 7) or higher. In some cases, admission may be on the basis of significant work experience. Graduate Certificates typically take six months of full-time study to complete.

These courses are usually delivered by universities and private providers.

In Canada, a graduate certificate is a university or college credential usually offered to students who have completed an average of 15 credits of {{clarify|text=graduate course work|reason=Unclear if this refers to coursework at master's level (American English usage) or simply coursework taken after graduation (British English usage). Recommend British English usage as these are separate programs, not always transferable to a master's degrees| date = July 2023}}.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} Admission requirements vary tremendously among Canadian universities and colleges, but in general both graduate students, as well as undergraduate students having completed a Bachelor's degree, can apply to such a program. The graduate certificate can represent part of the coursework required for obtaining a Master's degree.{{cite web |url=https://blogs.ubc.ca/epltonline/2006/12/met-what-is-this-laddering-thing-and-certificate-admission-standards/ |title=MET – "What is this laddering thing?" And certificate admission standards |last1=Roy |first1=Dave |date=2006-12-01 |website=PDCE Online |access-date=2021-02-01}}

A graduate certificate is a master's-level qualification indicating the successful completion of a postgraduate programme of education. On the National Framework for Qualifications the qualification is at Level 9 or Level 7 on the European Qualifications Framework, normally with a size of 30 ECTS credits. The terms 'graduate certificate' and 'postgraduate certificate' are used interchangeably.{{cite web|url=https://irq.ie/search/courses?search=graduate%20certificate|title=Irish Register of Qualifications|access-date=21 March 2023}}

A graduate certificate{{citation | last = Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education | url = http://www.qaa.ac.uk/about-us/glossary?Category=G | title = Glossary definition of 'graduate certificate' | quote =
graduate certificate
A higher education qualification at level 6 in The framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, at level 6 in the Credit and qualifications framework for Wales, and at levels 9-10 in the Scottish credit and qualifications framework (9 for ordinary, 10 with honours). | access-date = 2016-06-05 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180521095127/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/about-us/glossary?Category=G | archive-date = 2018-05-21 | url-status = dead }} (GradCert, GCert, GradC) is a higher education qualification at the same level as a bachelor's degree but more limited in scope, taking less time to complete - normally between one third and two thirds of an academic year (or full-time equivalent). A longer period of work (but still less than required for a degree) would lead to a graduate diploma.{{citation|last=Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education|url=http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf|title=The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies|date=October 2015|page=36|quote="Graduate diplomas and certificates are at the same level (6 on the FHEQ/SCQF level 10 on the FQHEIS) but are differentiated from each other by volume of study and learning outcomes. The title 'certificate' normally signifies learning outcomes which would imply study equivalent to at least one-third of a full-time academic year, and the title 'diploma' normally signifies study equivalent to at least two-thirds of a full-time academic year at the relevant level (and/or, where credit is awarded, the volume of credit specified by the relevant credit framework)."|access-date=2016-06-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305083730/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-05|url-status=dead}}

The graduate certificate is positioned at Level 6 (bachelor's degree level) of The framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and at Level 9 or 10 (bachelor's degree at ordinary or honours level) of The framework for qualifications of higher education institutions in Scotland. In reference to the European Qualifications Framework, it is a 'first-cycle' qualification at the same level of knowledge and challenge as a first or bachelor's degree but without the same depth and breadth of study. Successful students will typically demonstrate some, but not all, of the kinds of skills, knowledge and capabilities that would be expected for a Bachelor's candidate. Hence this certificate is not considered to be an 'end-of-cycle' qualification (it demonstrates only some of the 'first-cycle' learning outcomes).{{citation|last=Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education|url=http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf|title=The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies|date=October 2015|pages=17–18|quote="In addition to bachelor's degrees at this level are short courses and professional 'conversion' courses, based largely on undergraduate material, and taken usually by those who are already graduates in another discipline, leading to, for example, graduate certificates or graduate diplomas"|access-date=2016-06-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305083730/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-05|url-status=dead}}

Graduate certificates are available in a limited range of subjects that are typically work-related, for example psychology, management, counselling or law.

Graduate certificates are normally taken by those who have already graduated with a bachelor's degree in another discipline (hence the name). This qualification should not be confused with postgraduate certificates or postgraduate diplomas,{{citation|last=Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education|url=http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf|title=The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies|date=October 2015|page=35|quote="titles with the stem 'graduate' (for example, 'graduate diploma') are used for qualifications from programmes of study that typically require graduate entry, or its equivalent, and have learning outcomes that match relevant parts of the descriptor for a qualification at level 6 on the FHEQ or SCQF levels 9 or 10 on the FQHEIS"|access-date=2016-06-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305083730/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-05|url-status=dead}} which are master's degree-level qualification, or with certificates of Higher Education, which are lower-level qualifications normally taken by those without previous HE qualification.

In the United States, a graduate certificate (GCert, GCERT, or CGS.) is a higher education qualification that may be awarded by universities upon completion of a graduate-level{{clarification needed|reason=graduate-level is not well defined, does this mean postgraduate level?|date=January 2024}} programme.{{cite web |last1=Pugachevsky |first1=Julia |title=Graduate certificate programs can be cheaper, faster alternatives to grad school — here's how they compare to master's degrees and what you should consider before signing up for one |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/learning/what-is-graduate-certificate-vs-masters-degree-faq |website=Business Insider |access-date=3 January 2024}} Graduate certificates are not equivalent to master's or doctoral degrees, typically focusing on a subset of the knowledge domain of such programmes.{{cite web |title=What's the Difference Between a Graduate Certificate and a Master's Degree? |url=https://www.coursera.org/articles/graduate-certificate |website=Coursera |access-date=3 January 2024 |language=en |date=29 November 2023}} Many graduate certificate programmes do not require admissions tests, such as the Graduate Record Examinations, for entry.{{cite web |last1=Missman |first1=Kayla |title=Graduate Certificate Vs. Degree: What's The Difference? – Forbes Advisor |url=https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/graduate-certificate-vs-degree/ |work=Forbes |date=14 August 2023 |access-date=3 January 2024}} They generally consist of four to six courses, rather than the twelve courses that is standard for a master's degree.{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/paying/articles/2013/03/20/consider-graduate-certificates-to-save-time-money |title=Consider Graduate Certificates to Save Time, Money |last1=Gobel |first1=Reyna |date=2013-03-20 |website=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=2014-12-06}}

In teaching, holding a graduate certificate may satisfy programme-specific education requirements not met with some interdisciplinary degrees.{{cite book|last1=Polly|first1=Drew|last2=Putman|first2=Michael|last3=Petty|first3=Teresa|last4=Good|first4=Amy|title=Innovative Practices in Teacher Preparation and Graduate-Level Teacher Education Programs|date=2017-12-15|publisher=IGI Global|isbn=9781522530695|pages=350–357}}

• Academic certificate / (Undergraduate certificate)
• Australian Qualifications Framework
• Certificate of Advanced Study, a post-masters certification credential.
• Graduate diploma
• Tech certificate

{{reflist|2}}

{{Academic degrees}}

Category:Higher education in England

Category:Academic degrees of the United Kingdom

Category:Academic degrees of the United States

Category:Qualifications