How to make sense of the confusing clutter of post-secondary academic credentials

What they really mean and what you should know before you enroll

“Your degree is not an antiperspirant; it’s a certificate for running shoes.”

Dr. Phil fluttered into my nightmare to offer those words of wisdom as I tried to end a painful marathon in which sadistic little Shih Tzu puppies chased me, barefoot, through a vast college library littered with peanut shells because I incorrectly answered their question, “Who do you call Master?” My response: “Not you, boot lickers!”

I dreamed this shortly after plowing through my research for this article. It took me from feeling mildly irritated about the subject of academic credentials to experiencing full disorientation. So if you don’t know your diplomas from your degrees from your doctorates, or how each of these options relates to your prospects for a new career or further education, relax—you’re normal.

With so many colleges, universities and trade schools offering such a scattershot collection of programs and certification—and no clarity or consistency about what, exactly, employers or varying educational institutions require—it’s no wonder that plenty of students feel adrift at sea without an anchor or visible shoreline.

In fact, you may be forgiven for feeling more baffled than a dyslexic seven-year-old trying to build an M.C. Escher-inspired sailboat by following a technical manual written by William Shakespeare while being dangled, upside down, over a giant, steaming cauldron of Russian alphabet soup. At least that experience would be more entertaining than trying to sort out North America’s twisted system of education levels, admission requirements, college credits and accreditation.

Put on your waders!

At first glance, things seem pretty straightforward. After high school, there are essentially five basic types of academic credentials—three at the undergraduate level of studies and two at the graduate level. It isn’t until you start digging into what each type of certification means, in practice, that the picture becomes a kaleidoscopic mixture of gemstones and puppy doo-doo.

So before you begin sifting through this mess, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

• There are degrees and other types of certification for just about everything these days. But they are not all created equal. And different professions sometimes use different lingo or hierarchies; law and medicine are two prime examples.

• Being credentialed does not guarantee you a job in your field of study. Consider that two people with the same degree—awarded by different schools—can have dramatically varying experiences when they seek employment or try to continue their education. For one of them, the degree is recognized and respected. For the other, it might as well be that citizenship award you received in kindergarten for sharing M&Ms with the kid who gave you incurable cooties.

• Every post-secondary institution sets its own standards. Schools with the same accreditation won’t necessarily recognize each other’s programs. So, unless you’ve done your homework ahead of time, you could be in for a rude surprise when you try to transfer credits from one school’s degree program to another’s.

• All advice about what type of credential you should be seeking should be taken with a bucket of salt (figuratively, of course)—especially if it comes with promises attached. The investment you make in your education can have far-reaching consequences. And there is often more than one path to success.

• The best thing you can do before beginning any post-secondary education is real-world research. Speak with potential employers about what they look for in the people they hire. Interview professionals who already have the kind of career you want—and beg them to be honest. Make sure you know exactly which credentials you must have, and which ones would be nice but not mandatory.