UC Berkeley Extension - Certificate Programs - is it worth it? (Stanford: 2009, credit)

[francoE]

Hi, I'm thinking of going back to school and take a post-graduate degree in Accounting or Finance from Berkeley Extension.

Finance Certificate Fall 2009 - UC Berkeley Extension


Background:
I have a Bachelors degree from an unknown university in the east coast, and completed an internship (1 full semester) in a big accounting firm (not big 4) in ATL.
I moved here in the SF Bay area and now working part time in a small company doing admin and basic accounting (AR/AP) role. I just can't find a full time accounting job coz I don’t have an accounting/finance degree.
I’m very interested in pursuing either a CFA or CPA in the future, but for the mean time I just want to take a post grad degree that would boost my resume while searching for a full time finance job.


Is Berkeley Extension certificate worth time/money?

[Huckleberry3911948]

i really like certificate programs.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

It does give usable skills as well as some slight "graduate school" cred. Not unlike having a partially completed masters. Of course, one must ask themselves the question, "why not go for a masters?"

[City Boy]

Is your university accredited? Whether it's unknown or not doesn't matter if it's a legit school.

[grapico]

I'd go for the masters (maybe sf state/sonoma state/usf) if you can't get in Berk...... it would be better than a certificate from Berkeley...A lot of these programs are often employer sponsored... if you are coming up with it oop, I wouldn't do it.

[jrb724]

I'm not sure how long the certificate program lasts but 16 units is a good amount of coursework. It's almost worth it to get a masters. If you want less of a commitment then a masters, I'd recommend the CPA or CFA if you have enough coursework in your undergrad major to sit for the CPA exam.

It took me about a year to study for the CPA while working full time. I think that is about average and it can be done more quickly than that if you are consistent. The CPA is more valuable than a certificate - even one from Berkeley.

An MBA from other accredited schools here is good but its not the same as getting one from Berkeley or Stanford. Nearly every school in the Bay Area has an MBA program so there are lot of options.