How To Build A Certificate Program Workers Actually Want In 6 Steps

Forbes

09-04-2025

How To Build A Certificate Program Workers Actually Want In 6 Steps
Certificate programs are everywhere now. Universities, tech companies, even influencers are offering them. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC), more students earned a certificate in 2023 than in any of the previous 10 years. But some of them feel like a letdown. You sign up hoping to gain something practical and maybe even transformational. Instead, you get recorded interviews, awkward discussion boards, and assignments that seem pulled from a high school workbook. If it is not going to challenge, inspire, or genuinely teach something useful, why are learners paying thousands of dollars?
I recently completed a certificate course at a major university and found myself increasingly frustrated. The content was limited to recorded interviews and materials that offered little beyond what I could have found through a quick search. What made it worse was that the course released content one week at a time. I had to wait for each new section to open, even though I could have completed the entire program in a few days. Dragging it out made the experience feel like an attempt to justify the high cost. I kept thinking: I could have learned this with a few well-phrased prompts or YouTube tutorials.
How Are Certificate Programs Different From University Courses?
I have developed quite a bit of curriculum throughout my career for many different universities, online platforms, and even Forbes. Much of what universities do is create a template with course learning outcomes (aka what you want people to learn by the end of the course) and align assignments to reach those goals. It is not that different to write a certificate program. A college course is typically part of a degree program, focused on academic learning and theoretical foundations, often taught over several weeks for credit. A certificate program is designed to teach a specific skill or outcome, usually in a shorter, more flexible format geared toward working professionals. A college course teaches you why something matters, while a certificate program shows you how to do it.
So, I thought it might be interesting to write an article that is a mini certificate program on how to build a certificate program. For this example, let's assume you want to create an emotional intelligence trainer certificate. The steps below apply to nearly any professional certification, whether you're building it as a consultant, a university, or a learning and development leader.
Step One: Start With The Learner's Goal In The Certificate Program
Step Two: Map The Milestones In The Certificate Program
Step Three: Choose The Right Format For The Certificate Program
Step Four: Build Assignments That Add Value To The Certificate Program
Step Five: Test The Certificate Program Like A Product
Step Six: Market The Outcome Of The Certificate Program
What Learners And Employers Want From A Certificate Program
Learners want clear results, a practical toolkit, a sense of progress, and content they cannot find with a quick search. Many do not want delayed access, forced discussions, or assignments that serve no clear purpose.
Certificates only matter to employers if they lead to real skill-building. Can the learner apply what they have learned? Can they show the presentation, workshop, or framework they created, not just a digital badge. Did they solve a relevant problem? For example, they helped improve team communication through an emotional intelligence training they designed. Did they take initiative to grow in a specific direction? Certification should be a proactive approach to professional development.
A Final Thought For Anyone Creating A Certificate Program
A good certificate program is about leveling up. If someone pays a premium, they should walk away with something they could not have learned from a free video or generic course. Whether you are a university, an entrepreneur, or a training leader, the ultimate test is this: Can your learners do something new, useful, and relevant because of your course? If the answer is yes, you are building something that truly gives value.