Haven’t you always wondered what to do with my life after studies, where will I end up, will I get my dream job….
All those concerns are real and valid. The period after graduation is most confusing for many people. Even though you have figured out your ambition, the path to reach there might be a little hard.
For all those who have and haven’t figured out their post-graduation plans, the USA provides a wide range of educational and job opportunities for graduates to explore their chances with the world.
These opportunities are categorized in this article as follows:
- Professional certification courses (Provided by various schools and universities)
- Postgraduate entrance examinations
- License examinations
Professional certification courses
Having a professional course certificate is a major aid when it comes to job opportunities. Whatever you missed in your graduation studies and whatever you wish to study more can be achieved through these courses. Many universities and colleges provide certificate programs in various disciplines. Some of the important courses are given in this article. Choose your ideal course and enjoy learning!
- School of The Museum of Fine Arts, Tufts University
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program
The one-year Post-Baccalaureate Certificate offers an intensive year of studio art study and practice supported by the School of the Museum of Fine Arts faculty. The program is ideal for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree and want to immerse themselves in intensive studio artmaking.
Eligibility
- All applicants must hold an undergraduate degree, such as a BA or BFA, from an accredited institution of higher education.
- All applicants are expected to be engaged in art practice or have had some art training, general education advancement, and/or professional experience.
Tuition Fees- USD 998
Deadline
The application deadline is in June for international applicants, and in August for domestic applicants.
To know more details, visit the official website
https://smfa.tufts.edu/graduate/post-baccalaureate
- San José State University School of Information
Post-Master’s Certificate in Library and Information Science
The program focuses on technology and emerging trends in the information profession. It is designed for information professionals who want to update their professional knowledge and expand their skill sets. The program is fully online with a flexible schedule.
Eligibility
- A master’s degree from any regionally accredited institution in any discipline with an overall GPA of 3.0.
- A general understanding of computers and technology.
- Access to a computer with an Internet connection and appropriate software.
- International applicants must have a TOEFL score of 600 (paper version), 250 (computer version), or 100 (Internet-based); or an IELTS score of 8.
Tuition Fees – USD 7,584
There is no application deadline. You can apply throughout the year.
To know more details, visit the official website
https://ischool.sjsu.edu/post-masters-certificate
- Tufts School of Engineering
Tufts school of engineering provides various courses in the engineering domain. The courses can be taken through campus or online mode.
Certified Courses for post-graduates:
- Post-Baccalaureate in Computer Science
- Post-Baccalaureate in Offshore Wind Energy Engineering
- Post-Baccalaureate in Mathematics
Computer Science
Tuition fees- USD 1697
Requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree in any discipline (B.A. or B.S.)
- One college-level introductory computer course
Earliest start date – January 2021
Deadline-
International applicants: September for spring admission
Domestic applicants: December for spring admission
Mathematics
The Post-Baccalaureate program in Mathematics is intended for students with a bachelor’s degree (in any field) who would like to expand or deepen their mathematical skills for use in the workplace or preparation for graduate programs in mathematics.
Tuition fees- USD 998
Offshore Wind Energy Engineering
The post-baccalaureate program in Offshore Wind Energy Engineering provides a pathway for students from other disciplines to pursue the MS and/or Ph.D. degree program at Tufts. Students enroll in graduate-level courses alongside other engineering students to learn the core concepts of the industry. Credits earned may be transferred to the MS and/or Ph.D. program in Offshore Wind Energy Engineering at Tufts.
Tuition fees- USD 1697
Earliest start date – January 2021
Deadline–
International applicants: June
Domestic applicants: August
To know more details, visit the official website
- Media Design School
Postgraduate Certificate in Design
The Postgraduate Certificate is designed to extend the knowledge of design theory and practical skills in a particular digital design discipline whilst giving the academic foundation to undertake further postgraduate study. The school has five different locations to provide the classes including San Diego, USA.
Requirements:
- The applicant must have completed a Bachelor’s degree that is relevant to design; OR
- Completed an appropriate international qualification requiring at least three years of full-time tertiary study;
OR
- Over six years of professional experience in a related design discipline
Course intake
Students can enroll for the program in January, March, May, July, September, and November
For more details, visit the official website: https://www.mediadesignschool.com/courses/postgraduate-studies/postgraduate-certificate-design
- The University of Arizona
The University of Arizona provides various certification courses under different domains. All these courses are of 6-month duration with a tuition fee of $10,063 per semester. The application dates differ with the course. The classes will be held on the campus of Tucson, United States. The classes commence in August or January or both months as two batches.
Some of the major courses offered by the University of Arizona are given below.
Technology in Second Language Teaching
This program focuses on providing students with knowledge about language-learning technologies and the skills on how to effectively integrate and use them to enhance and support second language teaching and learning.
Starting in: August, January
Statistics
The program aims to develop the next generation of data scientists, trained to meet the challenges of modern interdisciplinary data extraction, analysis, and interpretation.
Starting in: August, January
Apply date: July 2021
Law Librarianship NDP
The course offers several niches and specializations including foreign and international law, government documents, patents, taxation, computer-related services, administration, and special collections such as archives and antiquarian books.
Full-time Duration: 6 months
Starting in: August, January, May
Deadline: March 2021(For May program)
Science Communication (Certificate NDP)
The goal of this program is to train future science professionals in the skills needed to communicate effectively. The certificate and minor require three electives to be taken at any time before graduation. Postdoctoral fellows can use the Qualified Tuition Reduction (QTR) benefit to take courses at a discounted rate.
Starting in: August, January
Language Program Administration NDP
The program focuses on providing students with the knowledge and skills specific to administration within collegiate foreign/second language programs.
There is no application deadline for the course. You can apply at any time.
Starting in: August
Real Estate Development Practice (Certificate NDP)
The program focuses on the fundamentals of real estate development implementation through an in‐depth analysis of development projects from project conception to final proposals.
Starting in: August, January
Students can apply for this course anytime.
Microbiology and Immunity (Certificate NDP)
The core mission of the course consistent with the missions of the College of Medicine and the University of Arizona is to perform cutting-edge research and to disseminate its results through the teaching of new health professionals, scientists, and the public.
Starting in: August, January
The duration of this course is not specified.
Other major courses offered by the institution are:
- Military Families (Certificate NDP)
- Instructional design and tech
- Rock mechanics
- Mining Occupational safety and health
- Language program administration NDP
- Judaic Studies NDP
- Science Communication (Certificate NDP)
- Real estate development finance
- Water policy (Certificate NDP)
- Statistics and data science (Certificate NDP)
- Public health (Certificate NDP)
- Hydrology and water resources NDP
- Optical sciences (Certificate NDP)
To know more details, visit the official website.
https://grad.arizona.edu/admissions/types/certificate-programs
Postgraduate entrance examinations
Postgraduate courses are really important for many career opportunities. Through the graduation study period, if you have figured out your career path, having a postgraduate degree in your desired domain is a huge benefit. There are many standardized entrance examinations throughout the USA for admissions to various post-graduation degree programs. Those entrance exams are discussed here.
- GRE
The Graduate Record Examinations is a standardized test that is an admissions requirement for many graduate schools in the USA and Canada. Prospective graduate and business school applicants who are interested in pursuing a master’s, specialized master’s in business, MBA, J.D., or doctoral degree take the GRE General Test.
Eligibility
There are no specific eligibility criteria for the exam.
Exam dates
You can take the GRE General Test once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period. This applies even if you canceled your scores on a test taken previously. The best time to give your GRE for Fall 2021 is between September to November. The GRE Subject Tests are offered worldwide up to three times a year in September, October, and April.
Deadline
The application deadline for the 2021 GRE test is May 2021.
To know more details and to apply, visit the official website https://www.ets.org/gre
- GMAT
The GMAT exam is the first and only standardized exam specifically designed for admission to graduate business and management programs. Students from all over the world can attempt the GMAT exams for business and MBA admissions.
Eligibility
- Number of attempts: Candidates will be able to appear more than 5 times in one year to be eligible for the examination.
- In case, the candidate will score 800, he/ she must wait 5 years to take the examination again.
- Age limit: There is no upper age limit to appear for this exam. For the minimum age limit, the candidates need to be at least 18 years. However, it has been reported that aspirants that fall in the age group of 13 to 17 are also allowed to attempt the exam given that they have a written approval or consent provided by their legal guardians or parents.
There is no specific degree requirement for the GMAT exam.
Exam dates
The GMAT exam is conducted around September-October and the interview and final list may extend till March.
Due to the COVID pandemic, GMAT exams can be taken in online mode also if the test centers are closed in your area.
Deadline
There is no application deadline for the exam. You can apply any time throughout the year.
To know more details and to apply, visit the official website https://www.mba.com/exams/gmat
- MCAT
The Medical College Admission Test is a computer-based standardized examination for prospective medical students in the United States, Australia, Canada, and the Caribbean Islands. MCAT scores are essential for MBBS and MD admissions in the US. Many schools provide BS/MD programs that don’t require taking the MCAT for acceptance. BS/MD programs are combined programs provided by schools that allow students to first earn their bachelor of science degree before automatically progressing into medical school and earning their medical degree.
Eligibility
For MD admissions, you need to have an MBBS degree and no other requirements are needed for appearing to the exam.
Exam dates
There are 31 MCAT testing dates between January and September, including a similar number of testing appointments. One extra date in January is added knowing there may be examinees in the U.S. who want to test and are applying to the 2021 application cycle.
The score is usually valid for 2-3 years, and the test can be taken up to a maximum of 3 times in a year and 7 times in a lifetime.
Deadline
November – Register for January and March exam dates
February – Register for April, May, and June dates
May – Register for July, August, and September dates
To know more details and to apply, visit the official website https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/taking-mcat-exam/
- LSAT
The Law School Admission Test is a half-day standardized test administered seven times each year at designated testing centers throughout the world. The LSAT is the standardized test for admission in law schools approved by the American bar association.
Eligibility (For LLM Program)
Qualifying exam: The candidate needs to have passed a 3-year LLB or 5-year LLB program.
Marks in qualifying exam: The candidate must have secured a minimum of 45% marks in aggregate in the qualifying exam.
Age limit: There is no upper age limit that has been prescribed for admission to the LLM program.
Exam dates
February and April 2021
Deadline
January and February 2021
To know more details and to apply, visit the official website https://www.lsac.org/lsat
- DAT
The Dental Admissions Test is a standardized test to get admission to dental schools in the United States. DAT is a computer-based test that can be administered almost any day of the year at Thompson Prometric Centers throughout the United States, its territories, and Canada.
Eligibility
- Candidates should have completed at least one year of collegiate education, which should include courses in biology and general and organic chemistry. Advanced level biology and physics are not required.
- Each applicant may only take the test a total of three times before having to ask special permission to take the exam again. After taking the exam you must wait 90 days before repeating it.
To know more details and to apply, visit the official website https://www.ada.org/en/education-careers/dental-admission-test
License Examinations
To carry out any licensed profession in the US, you need to pass the respective license exam in your domain. For some courses, the whole point of postgraduate study is to pass the license exams. So, realize, what is the exam you need to work as a professional in your field.
- CPA Exam
Qualifying the Uniform CPA exam is a necessity to be a Certified Public Accountant in any state of the USA. The license is mandatory to practice in any state.
Eligibility
- The applicant must be an American citizen
- He/she must have 150 credit hours from an accredited accounting program (Have a bachelor’s degree in accounting)
- Must be 21 years old
For international candidates, the exam application process is the same as that of US candidates. But you will have to establish your eligibility through a jurisdiction participating in the international administration of the exam.
To get your license, you must also have documented work experience.
Exam dates
The CPA exam is conducted throughout the year.
Deadline
The application deadlines are tentative for the exam dates. The application generally begins in April.
To know more details and to apply, visit the official website https://www.aicpa.org/becomeacpa/cpaexam.html
- USMLE
The United States Medical Licensing Examination is a three-step examination for medical licensure in the United States and is sponsored by the Federation of State Medical Boards and the National Board of Medical Examiners.
Eligibility
For US citizens:
- For Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS: You must be a medical student who is officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a U.S. or Canadian medical school program leading to an MD degree that’s accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Or you need to be a medical student who is officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a U.S. medical school leading to a DO degree that is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
- For Step 3: Before submitting your application, you must obtain an MD degree (or its equivalent) or a DO degree from a U.S. or Canadian medical school that is accredited by the LCME or the AOA, and you must pass Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS.
For international candidates, they must be certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) to become a licensed doctor. To become certified by ECFMG, you must pass USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS.
For national and international candidates, the application portal is different as specified by
the USMLE.
To know more details and to apply, visit the official website https://www.usmle.org/bulletin/overview/
- FE Exam
The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam is the first step in the process of becoming a professional licensed engineer (P.E.). It is designed for recent graduates and students who are close to finishing an undergraduate engineering degree from an EAC/ABET-accredited program.
The FE is offered in seven disciplines which are:
- FE Chemical
- FE Civil
- FE Electrical and Computer
- FE Environmental
- FE Industrial and Systems
- FE Mechanical
- FE Other Disciplines
Eligibility
The FE exam is open to anyone who has a degree in engineering or a related field or is currently enrolled in the last year of an ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accredited engineering degree program.
For getting the P.E license, the following requirements have to be met:
- A bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering from a program accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET
- An acceptable result on the FE exam
- Four years of acceptable work experience in the candidate’s engineering discipline
- An acceptable result on the PE exam in the candidate’s discipline
Exam dates
The FE exams are conducted in January–February, April–May, July–August, and October–November every year.
To know more details and to apply, visit the official website https://ncees.org/engineering/fe/
- NPTE
The National Physical Therapy Examination is one part of the evaluation process used by licensing authorities. The NPTE is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. You must pass the NPTE if you are seeking to become a licensed physical therapist or physical therapist assistant in the United States.
Eligibility
The candidate must be a graduate of or graduating from a PT or PTA program that meets the accreditation standards of CAPTE or has an education that is substantially equivalent to a recognized credentialing process.
Exam dates
The NPTE exams will be held in January, April, July, and October 2021.
Deadline
The application deadlines are in December, March, June, September
To know more details and to apply, visit the official website https://www.fsbpt.org/Secondary-Pages/Exam-Candidates/National-Exam-NPTE
- Praxis Tests
The Praxis tests measure the academic skills and subject-specific content knowledge needed for teaching. The Praxis tests are taken by individuals entering the teaching profession as part of the certification process required by many states and professional licensing organizations.
Eligibility
There are no specified eligibility criteria for the Praxis exam. You can attend the tests even without a bachelor’s degree. If you do want to become a licensed teacher, a bachelor’s degree in education isn’t necessarily required, but in many states, a passing score on the Praxis is required.
Exam dates and deadline
The Praxis exams are conducted in September, October, November, and December. You can apply for the tests at any time of the year.
To know more details and to apply, visit the official website https://www.ets.org/praxis
To know what you have to do is a different thing from knowing how to do that. No preparation for your dream is a waste. Each moment you spend on what you need will get you closer to success. Opportunities never knock on your doors, so it is important to seek your chances and know where to give your shot.
Stay updated on the changes around you and never hesitate to express yourself.
Scholarship Track 