Top Professional Marketing Certifications to Advance Your Career

In the fast-paced world of marketing, staying ahead of the curve can be the difference between success and stagnation. While formal certification isn't a prerequisite for excelling in the field, it offers a unique opportunity to broaden your knowledge, refine your skills, and distinguish yourself in a crowded job market. If you're looking to take your career to the next level, here are some top certification options to consider.

American Marketing Association

Among the most established professional marketing organizations in the United States, the American Marketing Association (AMA) offers certifications in four tracks: Digital Marketing, Marketing Management, Sales Management and Content Marketing. All programs begin with an overview of the skills required for the certification and a free practice exam. To maintain your certification, AMA requires that you earn 30 continuing education units every three years, with a minimum of 10 units per year, and you must recertify every three years.

• Digital marketing: There are two options, Digital Marketing Pro and Digital Marketing Expert. Pro requires 30 hours of online learning on social media, PPC, email marketing, SEO, content marketing and digital marketing strategy. Expert requires 120 hours of learning. There is no exam for either, but you are required to write two 5,000-word assignments: a digital marketing research paper, and a digital marketing strategy document.
• Marketing Management: This certification requires you to pass an exam, which you can prepare for with the AMA Marketing Management Study Package.
• Sales Management: Earning this certification requires passing an exam which you can prepare for based on topics explain on the AMA website.
• Content Marketing: Similar to the Sales Management track, there is an exam based on topics described on the AMA website.

Accredited University Certifications

Several top accredited universities offer marketing certifications, for everyone from recent graduates to established professionals to people wishing to change careers or upskill. These options come with the additional perk of adding a prestigious university to your resume, which will impress recruiters and hiring managers. Here are just some options worth considering:

• Cornell’s Marketing Strategy Certificate Program: Designed for professionals who want to reach the next level in their career, this six-class program takes three months to complete.
• Duke Continuing Studies Digital Media & Marketing program: An online, self-paced program created for individuals seeking to enhance their existing digital marketing skills or pursue a new career in the growing digital marketing industry.
• Harvard Extension School’s Marketing Management and Digital Strategy Certificate: This certification focuses on marketing fundamentals, digital marketing strategies, and marketing management.
• Berkeley Extension Certificate Program in Marketing: Program covers topics such as marketing analytics, digital marketing, search engine optimization, brand management, paid advertising, social media, and marketing research.

Additional Marketing Certifications & Training Programs

• Google Analytics Individual Qualification: An online course and certification program that provides expertise in Google Analytics tools and techniques.
• Google Ads Search Certification: A certification program that assesses proficiency in Google Search advertising campaigns, including creating, managing, and optimizing search ad campaigns.
• Google Ads Display Certification: A certification program that tests expertise in Google Display advertising, including creating and optimizing display ad campaigns, managing and measuring ad performance, and targeting techniques.
• Meta (Facebook) Blueprint marketing certifications: A set of certification programs that cover various aspects of Facebook advertising, including advertising principles, campaign optimization, and measurement.
• Twitter Flight School: A training program and certification that teaches marketers how to effectively use Twitter's advertising platform and tools to reach and engage with target audiences.
• HubSpot Academy: A comprehensive online learning platform that provides certifications and courses on inbound marketing, sales, customer service, and more
• Hootsuite Social Media Marketing Certification: Designed for social media marketers, this certification covers social media strategy, community building, content marketing, and social media advertising.
• Facebook Certified Planning Professional: This certification focuses on Facebook's ad platform, including planning, buying, and measuring the success of Facebook ads.
• DigitalMarketer Certified Content Marketing Specialist: This certification covers content creation, promotion, and optimization, and includes lessons on creating a content marketing strategy.
• Copyblogger Certified Content Marketer: This certification covers content creation, promotion, and conversion optimization, and includes lessons on creating effective copy.

Marketing practitioners are responsible for keeping pace with the ever-evolving technological advancements and emerging approaches in their field, which necessitates a consistent and ongoing process of learning, both on the job and during their personal time, while obtaining a certification can showcase their skills and areas of expertise, thereby setting them apart within their profession to recruiters, managers, customers, and colleagues alike. Talk to one of our experienced talent specialists today about upskilling your career, or search for open roles!