A lot has been debated about the value of non-accredited certificate course.  It is our firm belief that such courses have a very important role to play in the growth and development of people. People interested in continuing education (CE) and professional development (PD) realize its outreach and value.

Any form of CE/ PD undertaken is valuable, whether pursued professional or personal reasons. You can’t go wrong with a strategy of personal improvement.

As you will find when looking at sources of courses (whether online or classroom), there is a multitude of vendors in the marketplace. Your choice will only be limited by the type of topic or credential that you are pursuing. So the question is: Would a Non-Accredited course be of any value to you?
The purpose of a non-accredited course differs from the purpose of an accredited program.

Value of a Non – Accredited Course

Many people are under the impression that a non-accredited course has less value, which is not true. Non-accredited courses are great for learning a new skill set or building on your existing proficiencies. Typically, they’re shorter in duration, which means that you can gain a new skill set in a shorter time-frame.

A non-accredited course can be leveraged for better employment prospects; as more employers grow increasingly accustomed to hiring more applicants with resumes that feature more skills and knowledgebase, the employment opportunities for those who enroll in unaccredited degree programs continues to increase proportionally.

Features of a Non-Accredited Course

• Non-accredited courses focus on equipping the student with specific knowledge and skillset.
• You can study a non-accredited course to help you in your current and future career.
• Even though it does not carry significant professional recognition, you can still list it on your CV.
• Non-accredited courses are usually shorter in duration.
• Non-accredited courses are not as expensive as professional study programs.
• Non-accredited courses are more affordable than accredited study programs.

The Advantages of Studying a Non-Accredited Course

• The study material and assignments are not as complicated.
• Non-accredited courses are often shorter in duration, which means that you can gain a new skill set in a short period of time.
• Non-accredited courses are still valuable in the job market.
• You can build on your knowledge and skill.
• The entrance requirements for non-accredited courses are not as strict as those for accredited courses.
• Non-accredited courses are more affordable than accredited study programs.

Non-Accredited Training Popular Amongst Employers

As we know, employers use a variety of training approaches, including accredited, unaccredited and informal. Unaccredited training is becoming popular as it often takes the form of a structured training or instruction that does not lead to the attainment of a formal qualification or award but helps attain short term goals and hone skill sets, for example, short courses, product-specific training, and industry- or organization-specific training. Informal training is unstructured and occurs on the job.

Recent studies have found that most employers using unaccredited training are satisfied that it provides the required skills for their workers.  It is also the form of training with which they are most satisfied. In fact, when responding to the requirements of new technology, more employers prefer unaccredited over nationally recognized training because it is seen as cost-effective, tailored to their needs, and held at convenient or flexible times. There has also been an increasing trend for employers to use unaccredited training to meet highly specific training needs. And, as has been often reported:

Can I Get a Job With a Non-Accredited Course?

Yes, you can get a job with a non-accredited certificate if you have the required expertise and skills suitable for a job. However, it is important to note that you will not be able to apply for roles that stipulate accreditation as part of the role description. A non-accredited course focuses on equipping the student with a specific skill set.

Our non-accredited courses include capacity building for employment equity and skills development, diversity training, conflict management, and customer experience training, to name a few.