Many qualifications are paid highly in Canada. With just a brief training session, you may strengthen your resume, make yourself more appealing to employers, and take the first step toward a rewarding and well-paying profession in a variety of industries.
Certificate programs that pay well are widely available, whether you are a first-time job seeker or an experienced professional looking to advance your career. There are certifications available for careers in a variety of fields, including technology, health care, business, and media arts.
Many of the best certificate programs can be finished in a year or less, allowing you to apply your abilities in the paid job sooner. A fast certificate program can prepare you for a range of rewarding occupations. We’ve included some excellent possibilities for both recent high school graduates and educated and seasoned professionals.
We’ve also included 11 certificate-free job opportunities in Canada for business, information technology, and skilled crafts. Use these tips to kickstart your job research and begin considering the best possibilities for your future.
11 Certificate-Free Job Opportunities in Canada (2024)
Certificate Program vs University Degree: What’s Better?
Many high-paying careers do not require a formal degree. They only ask applicants to be certified in select high-demand specialties. Skilled technicians and trade people sometimes have an easier time finding jobs than university graduates do.
Just ask all of the college and university graduates who work in low-wage professions outside of their field of study.
A certificate program is a concentrated educational program that will give you specific skills or information for your intended vocation, such as:
- Automotive repair
- Web/app development
- Digital marketing
- Digital art or music production
- Fitness/yoga instruction
- Information technology/cybersecurity
Aside from modern technical capabilities, certificate programs can provide crucial training and certification for time-tested trades such as:
- Electrical work
- Welding
- Plumbing
Most programs can be completed at community colleges, technical schools, or vocational schools. Private education platforms may also offer training in technical domains, such as web development, without requiring candidates to present official qualifications.
Certificates often focus on skill-specific training for immediate application and often take less time to complete than regular degrees. Earning a certificate can help you start or advance in a certain career, prepare for higher education, or improve your current degree, making you a more valuable employee.
On the other hand, a standard university degree, whether an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral, necessitates several years of comprehensive study in a broader academic discipline.
During this period, you will need to commit to full-time schooling, which may require you to postpone your job and take out student loans to meet your expenses.
I’m not attempting to discredit the university in any way. Many professional professions continue to require a degree.
However, the long-held belief that people require university degrees to be successful should be reconsidered.
One-Year Certificate Programs And Jobs: No Degree Required
If a four-year degree sounds like too much time to devote to pursuing a job, consider a one-year certificate program instead. These programs often need only a high school diploma and train students for entry-level positions.
After earning their degree and finding work, many people seek additional training and certifications to enhance their skills and earn even more.
1. Web Designer
Average Base Salary: $54,296
Web developers are coders who have been taught in basic programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and Javascript. After learning the fundamentals, they may progress to complex web frameworks such as Ruby on Rails or Python, or they may specialize in mobile app development by studying languages such as Swift or Java.
Most web development certificate programs can be completed in a year or less through part-time study. If you’re prepared to commit to a full-time “boot camp” program, you could be certified in as few as three or four months.
While web design is a competitive field today, you can increase your chances of finding work by focusing on difficult-to-learn languages, understanding how to use AI tools to your advantage, and networking with potential employers.
2. Makeup Artist
Average Base Salary: $61,652
How long do you spend looking in the mirror each day? Do you enjoy movies, theater, and dance? Canada’s film business is massive (due to film tax credits); hence, there are several work prospects in this profession.
If so, a job as a makeup artist could be both profitable and enjoyable. The certification program required to become a makeup artist usually lasts 10 to 12 months, depending on where you attend. During your education, you will master the fundamentals of cosmetology as well as the art of makeup application.
3. Flight Attendant
Average Base Salary: $39,469
If you don’t mind constantly changing time zones and enjoy the concept of traveling, becoming a flight attendant could be a great fit for you.
The Canadian Aviation College provides a 54-week flight attendant curriculum that will teach you all you need to know about airline safety, procedures, and customer service so you may work for major airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet.
4. Dental Assistant
Average Base Salary: $85,639
Dental assistants play an important role in supporting dentists, dental surgeons, and technicians.
Although they do not perform sophisticated dental operations, dental assistants may aid with cleanings, x-rays, and other easy procedures in dental clinics, as well as give instruments to the head dentist for major procedures.
5. Event Planner
Average Base Salary: $53,563
Are you the party planner in your family or social circle? If this is something you already enjoy, you can become certified as an event planner and manager in as little as eight months.
This will teach you all you need to know about time management and marketing, allowing you to arrange and prepare memorable parties.
6. Telecommunications Technician
Average Base Salary: $66,226
Telecommunications technicians are critical in creating and maintaining sophisticated communication infrastructures for large corporations such as Bell and Rogers.
Their responsibilities include repairing, installing, updating, and modifying telecommunications systems such as phones, the internet, and cable connections.
7. CAD And Drafting Technician
Average Base Salary: $72,578
Drafting technicians typically employ CAD and drafting technology, as well as traditional drafting stations, to convert sketches into blueprints, diagrams, or layouts.
They frequently collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams, assisting engineers, architects, and industrial designers.
Some technicians may operate independently or in a variety of settings, including consulting, construction, utility, manufacturing, and government organizations.
8. Computer Animator
Average Base Salary: $48,007
Computer animators employ cutting-edge technology to create immersive worlds and characters for cinema, gaming, and even education.
Most computer animation courses may be finished in one year, with advanced training available for those who are dedicated and want to earn more.
9. Music Producer
Average Base Salary: $75,088
Music programs generally educate students how to use digital audio workstations (DAWs) like ProTools, Logic, and others.
They will utilize these applications to learn how to record audio, create entire tracks, and mix tracks for artists, film projects, and other purposes.
10. Emergency medical tech (EMT)
Average Base Salary: $48,365
Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are first responders who operate with ambulance teams to offer life-saving assistance and transportation to patients in need.
Although the compensation is not significant, this job can lead to a career as a fireman or police officer. The advantages can also be quite good.
11. Electrician
Average Base Salary: $73,851
Electricians are always in demand as cities grow, new communities are developed, and existing communities are upgraded to current systems.
Household electricians frequently handle minor house repairs such as repairing outlets and lighting fixtures, whereas commercial electricians help build electrical networks for new buildings or work on city high-rises.
As an electrician, you can specialize in a variety of fields and find work throughout the country.
Trade Certificate Programs That Pay Well
If you prefer hands-on work, there is a vast job market for skilled tradespeople. Some of these certification programs also include on-the-job apprenticeship programs, allowing you to earn money while applying your textbook knowledge to real-world settings.
Some companies may even offer to pay for good apprentices to obtain trade certificates.
12. Plumber
Average Base Salary: $69,966
Some plumbing repairs are as simple as repairing a broken faucet, while others require extensive roots, digging up pipes, and replacing water main lines. It is not always clean labor, but it pays well, is always in demand, and provides plenty of opportunities for advancement.
You can become certified in as little as one year. During your training, you can also work as a plumber’s apprentice or assistant, gaining vital hands-on experience.
13. Automotive Technician
Average Base Salary: $69,220
Automotive service technicians are trained to service and repair automobiles. During your training, you will study about basic automobile systems like suspension, drivetrains, brakes, and electrical systems. Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals, you can get work at a regular automotive repair shop.
If you want to make good money, you should specialize and learn how to operate with specific brands and models, such as Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, or Toyota. With these certificates, you’ll be able to work for a dealership, which can offer higher compensation, perks, and opportunities for growth.
Conclusion
If you’re not sure about getting a college degree, earning a training certification from one of these schools can be a great option. Trade laborers and competent technicians can often earn the same or more than college graduates.
If you decide to return to school later, you will have had time to consider the profession in which you want to work and will have a certification that allows you to earn a higher pay while attending school, making it more reasonable. Alternatively, you might work remotely and earn up to six figures while traveling the world.
