What are some certifications/qualifications I can study for at home in my free time and get through correspondence, the internet, or a single test in a physical location?

November 10, 2008 9:05 AM

What are some certifications/qualifications I can study for at home in my free time and get through correspondence, the internet, or a single test in a physical location?

I currently have a lot of free time that it's necessary for me to spend at home, and this is going to remain the situation for a year or longer. I enjoy studying and memorizing things for fun (long lists of terminology, detailed maps of foreign countries, etc., not necessarily things I have a pre-existing interest in), and I'm not sure where I'm headed career-wise, so I'd like to use this time to get a few qualifications that may or may not prove useful later on. It's important that whatever I do be self-paced, and I don't have the money to take classes online. I live near a major city, and it would be possible for me to go in to take a test -- or, of course, to take a test offered in my town -- if *all* the preparation for it could be done at home. Those things said, I'd like to hear whatever suggestions you can offer.

posted by Great Insect Task Force Comet Ranger to education (8 comments total)

If you spend the greater part of that year assiduously studying a foreign language, you will make greater gains than you might think possible. Look to do it 6-8 hours a day.

A language has the advantage of being career-agnostic, so it will be an asset no matter what track you end up going on. Plus, it has obvious benefits in your personal life.

Then, at the close of the year, you could shoot to take a certification/proficiency test, at the very least to see where you fall in terms of progress made.

For my money, this would be a pragmatic thing to do that would actually yield serious gains; cramming for certifications in arbitrary things like HTML or calligraphy will both get so boring that you won't be able to sustain it for a year, and have little to no application - getting certs for the sake of getting certs is like collecting badges and coins in a videogame.
posted by softsantear at 9:14 AM on November 10, 2008

This thread may be of interest to you
posted by Calloused_Foot at 9:29 AM on November 10, 2008

there are some technical and IT related certifications that just require a single test. ccna and other cisco certifications. ccisp. others, i'm sure.

the language may be a more productive idea, however.
posted by rmd1023 at 9:30 AM on November 10, 2008

Seconding a language. On a lark, I studied German for a few months at a local Goethe Institute. Their classes will prepare you to take the official proficiency tests required for some jobs (and residency? I can't quite recall).

I have a mechanically-handy friend who studied for and passed the HVAC test that allows him to buy refrigerant and such for working on his home AC unit. I think that was all via mail. There are probably other oddball little things out there that might come in handy someday. For awhile, I considered ASE certification or possibly an OTR driver license as back-pocket insurance for another downturn.
posted by jquinby at 9:32 AM on November 10, 2008

LEED accreditation (sustainable construction consulting) or Canadian Securities Course (for financial advisors, but with some knowledge that's useful for investors too).

But I agree languages would be the most flexible and useful. And fun!
posted by jamesonandwater at 10:11 AM on November 10, 2008

I'm not sure, but what about notary public? If I recall, you can download the info free and then take the test.
posted by cestmoi15 at 11:17 AM on November 10, 2008

You could become a Licentiate of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 12:41 PM on November 10, 2008

Ms. Vegetable is an actuary.

If you are math-inclined, potentially actuarial exams?
posted by a robot made out of meat at 5:13 PM on November 10, 2008