Professional qualifications are generally qualifications awarded directly by professional bodies. Most professional qualifications involve practical training, which allows you to gain hands-on experience in your chosen field. This training is delivered in various formats. Most commonly, universities and colleges offer courses accredited by the relevant professional body. Professional bodies can provide lists of these courses.
Graduates normally pursue a professional qualification part time alongside their job, with employers covering or contributing towards the cost of fees. In some areas, employers provide loans to cover fees, and repayments are deducted from your salary.
Why obtain a professional qualification?
In some areas, for example law, individuals must obtain specific professional qualifications in order to practise their profession. In other fields obtaining a professional qualification is not mandatory but a way to continue professional development. Pursuing the qualification may be voluntary or an employer may insist that you go on a course in order to fulfil your potential and perform better in your role.
Some graduates choose to leave their employer and obtain a qualification independently because they want to change career direction, or because their current employer is unsupportive of continuing professional development.
Some professional bodies can award chartered status to individuals who can demonstrate that they have achieved a clearly defined level of competency within their profession. It normally takes several years to obtain chartered status (professional bodies clearly explain their chartership process). Having chartered status may improve job prospects and salary levels.
What are the options?
The most common professional postgraduate qualifications are Masters degrees, postgraduate certificates and diplomas. Obtaining the qualification may involve all or some of the following:- attending lectures and seminars/workshops;
- being monitored by other professionals;
- writing essays;
- sitting exams.
Which course should I choose?
If you have chosen a profession and/or wish to stay in the field of your degree the choice of course is usually straightforward. Contact your professional body, employer or careers service to discover your options. For certain professions, such as accountancy, there may be several routes to obtaining a professional qualification. Look at explore types of jobs to investigate further.
If you are thinking of moving into a new profession you should explore qualification routes with relevant professional bodies. It is important to ensure that you will be studying an accredited course.
Future prospects
Obtaining a professional qualification can offer rewards such as entry into your chosen career area, promotion or an increase in salary, and it shows that you have achieved a recognised benchmark level of competence and are committed to CPD. You should carefully evaluate whether pursuing the qualification is the right option for you and will be worth your time, effort and in some cases mon
