Whether you are looking for a new job or trying to grow in your current one, getting a certification can be a great way to improve your skills.

---

Anyone can put that they are proficient in a computer program on their resume but having a certificate can help you stand out amongst the competition and give credence to the strength of your skills.

But what’s the best way to invest in yourself without breaking the bank? Some certification programs can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars. We are going to walk through six of the best certifications you can get for $100 or less.

Tableau

Who is it best for: Those who work with analyzing and presenting data.

Cost: $100 for Tableau Desktop Specialist; additional certifications are available for a larger fee.

More companies than ever see themselves as data companies. Being able to understand data and use it to guide decisions at your company is often critical to taking on a leadership role. Not to mention, being able to present the data in a clean, attractive, and compelling way can help get buy-in from others in your organization or clients. That’s why Tableau is a great tool to have in your toolbox.

Tableau allows you to create interactive visual analytics dashboards. In layman’s terms, you can take data; create graphs, maps, or charts; and then allow end-users to interact with these graphics to better understand the information. It’s a fantastic tool allowing non-technical users to gain insights for data-driven decision-making.

Tableau Desktop Specialist certification starts at $100 and has no expiration date. There are many videos on Tableau’s site to prepare for your exam as well as Tableau Starter Kits allowing you to play around and learn the different capabilities of the program. Tableau offers a 14-day free trial as well as free license for one year for students.

Additional certifications after Desktop Specialist are Desktop Associate and Desktop Professional. Those working with a Tableau server may also be interested in a separate certification as a Server Associate or Server Professional.

“File:Sales Dashboard Full screen v2.png” byMarissa-anna is licensed underCC BY-SA 4.0

Tableau’s data visualization capabilities are comparable to Domo and Power BI.

Six Sigma

Who is it best for: Operations professionals or those managing processes for any type of company.

Cost: Free for White Belt; additional certifications are available for a fee.

Six Sigma is a methodology to find defects or variations in a process. Six Sigma methodology is used across industries all over the world to improve operational efficiencies in all different processes. It’s not just manufacturing; it can even be used to streamline the efficiency of the work in your office to save time and reduce errors.

Six Sigma White Belt Certification is currently free and allows you to understand the methodology and the impact it can have at your organization. It is an ideal jumping-off point for those with no previous experience with Six Sigma who are looking to get a high-level overview of the program.

Six Sigma offers additional certifications in Yellow Belt, Green Belt, Black Belt, and Master Black Belt as well as customized courses for many particular industries.

“Busy girl working in the office and looking at his watch” byshixart1985 is licensed underCC BY 2.0

Six Sigma principals can help your company improve its processes.

Alteryx

Who it is best for: Those who work with analyzing and presenting data.

Cost: Free.

Alteryx, like Tableau, is most-suited for those working in data analysis. However, the tools are very different. Alteryx allows users to take very large data sets, manipulate and clean them, and then can return a clean data set for easy analysis as well as ready-made reports and visualizations made in the program itself. If you have large amounts of data you need to manipulate or a report that needs to go out regularly, Alteryx is a great choice to streamline your workflow.

Alteryx Designer Core and Designer Advanced are both free, with Alteryx Designer Expert also available for $150. The forums are very active and the weekly challenges on their website are widely considered the best way to master the program.

Alteryx offers a one-year free license for students as well as a six-month free license for recent graduates and the unemployed throughAlteryx for Good.

Image courtesy of Alteryx and Velocity Business Solutions.

Alteryx is a useful tool for any company looking for data-driven decision-making.

Facebook Blueprint

Who it is best for: Social media managers and marketing professionals.

Cost: $99 for Associate certification; additional certifications are available for additional fees.

Facebook has been the largest social network for a long time. If your job involves marketing or social media, understanding Facebook’s platform is critical to your career success. Facebook Blueprint offers free self-paced courses for online advertising on Instagram, Messenger, and Facebook. These courses cover useful topics including ad policies, how to grow your audience and reach, as well as how to manage campaigns on Facebook’s platform.

Facebook Blueprint Certification can show your advanced proficiency in these topics and allows you to leverage one of the largest online advertising platforms to its full potential. The exams to become a Facebook Certified Digital Marketing Associate or a Facebook Certified Community Manager start at $99, with professional-level exams also available for $150.

“Facebook Screenshot” bycodemastersnake is licensed underCC BY 2.0

Mastery of Facebook is a must for any marketing professional in the 2020s.

Google Analytics

Who it is best for: Marketing professionals.

Cost: Free.

Facebook is an advertising behemoth, but Google is even bigger. Marketing professionals use Google tools to both reach their customers as well as understand the effectiveness of their marketing efforts. Having a certificate from Google attesting to your skills on the platform can give a huge leg-up in any organization that relies on the web to reach their customers.

Google offers aGoogle Analytics Individual Qualification exam for free as well as free training inGoogle Academy. They also offer free Google Ads Certifications as well as YouTube Certifications for those seeking to display expertise in a more narrow subject matter.

“Google Analytics on Computer Screen” bybluefountainmedia is licensed underCC BY 2.0

Google Analytics can be leveraged to help your company reach its customers.

Amazon Web Services

Who is it best for: IT Professionals, managers, or any professional that works in the AWS cloud.

Cost: $100 for a Foundational certificate; additional certificates are available for a higher fee.

Amazon is the biggest player in web hosting, but the certifications aren’t just for IT professionals. Purchase, sales, finance, and all sorts of different departments in your organization are likely to use Amazon Web Services (AWS) for cloud computing. Demonstrating an understanding of the back end of this process can be a real asset as you grow in your field. Managers throughout organizations often need a good grasp of IT services from AWS and this certification may help unlock that next step in your career.

Amazon offers a full array ofcertifications for IT professionals who work more-heavily in AWS, but we recommend theAWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam if you are only seeking to demonstrate an overall understanding of the Amazon Web Services Cloud not tied to a particular technical role. That certification costs $100 with practice exams available for $20.

“File:CSIRO ScienceImage 2042 A row of computer servers in a server rack.jpg” by, CSIRO is licensed underCC BY 3.0

Your company likely relies on the Amazon Cloud and knowledge of the back-end can help differentiate you.

string(12903) "
Whether you are looking for a new job or trying to grow in your current one, getting a certification can be a great way to improve your skills. 
Anyone can put that they are proficient in a computer program on their resume but having a certificate can help you stand out amongst the competition and give credence to the strength of your skills.
But what's the best way to invest in yourself without breaking the bank? Some certification programs can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars. We are going to walk through six of the best certifications you can get for $100 or less.
Tableau
Who is it best for: Those who work with analyzing and presenting data.
Cost: $100 for Tableau Desktop Specialist; additional certifications are available for a larger fee.
More companies than ever see themselves as data companies. Being able to understand data and use it to guide decisions at your company is often critical to taking on a leadership role. Not to mention, being able to present the data in a clean, attractive, and compelling way can help get buy-in from others in your organization or clients. That's why Tableau is a great tool to have in your toolbox.
Tableau allows you to create interactive visual analytics dashboards. In layman's terms, you can take data; create graphs, maps, or charts; and then allow end-users to interact with these graphics to better understand the information. It's a fantastic tool allowing non-technical users to gain insights for data-driven decision-making.
Tableau Desktop Specialist certification starts at $100 and has no expiration date. There are many videos on Tableau's site to prepare for your exam as well as Tableau Starter Kits allowing you to play around and learn the different capabilities of the program. Tableau offers a 14-day free trial as well as free license for one year for students.
Additional certifications after Desktop Specialist are Desktop Associate and Desktop Professional. Those working with a Tableau server may also be interested in a separate certification as a Server Associate or Server Professional.
"File:Sales Dashboard Full screen v2.png" byMarissa-anna is licensed underCC BY-SA 4.0
Tableau's data visualization capabilities are comparable to Domo and Power BI.
Six Sigma
Who is it best for: Operations professionals or those managing processes for any type of company.
Cost: Free for White Belt; additional certifications are available for a fee.
Six Sigma is a methodology to find defects or variations in a process. Six Sigma methodology is used across industries all over the world to improve operational efficiencies in all different processes. It's not just manufacturing; it can even be used to streamline the efficiency of the work in your office to save time and reduce errors.
Six Sigma White Belt Certification is currently free and allows you to understand the methodology and the impact it can have at your organization. It is an ideal jumping-off point for those with no previous experience with Six Sigma who are looking to get a high-level overview of the program.
Six Sigma offers additional certifications in Yellow Belt, Green Belt, Black Belt, and Master Black Belt as well as customized courses for many particular industries.
"Busy girl working in the office and looking at his watch" byshixart1985 is licensed underCC BY 2.0
Six Sigma principals can help your company improve its processes.
Alteryx
Who it is best for: Those who work with analyzing and presenting data.
Cost: Free.
Alteryx, like Tableau, is most-suited for those working in data analysis. However, the tools are very different. Alteryx allows users to take very large data sets, manipulate and clean them, and then can return a clean data set for easy analysis as well as ready-made reports and visualizations made in the program itself. If you have large amounts of data you need to manipulate or a report that needs to go out regularly, Alteryx is a great choice to streamline your workflow.
Alteryx Designer Core and Designer Advanced are both free, with Alteryx Designer Expert also available for $150. The forums are very active and the weekly challenges on their website are widely considered the best way to master the program.
Alteryx offers a one-year free license for students as well as a six-month free license for recent graduates and the unemployed throughAlteryx for Good.
Image courtesy of Alteryx and Velocity Business Solutions.
Alteryx is a useful tool for any company looking for data-driven decision-making.
Facebook Blueprint
Who it is best for: Social media managers and marketing professionals.
Cost: $99 for Associate certification; additional certifications are available for additional fees.
Facebook has been the largest social network for a long time. If your job involves marketing or social media, understanding Facebook's platform is critical to your career success. Facebook Blueprint offers free self-paced courses for online advertising on Instagram, Messenger, and Facebook. These courses cover useful topics including ad policies, how to grow your audience and reach, as well as how to manage campaigns on Facebook's platform.
Facebook Blueprint Certification can show your advanced proficiency in these topics and allows you to leverage one of the largest online advertising platforms to its full potential. The exams to become a Facebook Certified Digital Marketing Associate or a Facebook Certified Community Manager start at $99, with professional-level exams also available for $150.
"Facebook Screenshot" bycodemastersnake is licensed underCC BY 2.0
Mastery of Facebook is a must for any marketing professional in the 2020s.
Google Analytics
Who it is best for: Marketing professionals.
Cost: Free.
Facebook is an advertising behemoth, but Google is even bigger. Marketing professionals use Google tools to both reach their customers as well as understand the effectiveness of their marketing efforts. Having a certificate from Google attesting to your skills on the platform can give a huge leg-up in any organization that relies on the web to reach their customers.
Google offers aGoogle Analytics Individual Qualification exam for free as well as free training inGoogle Academy. They also offer free Google Ads Certifications as well as YouTube Certifications for those seeking to display expertise in a more narrow subject matter.
"Google Analytics on Computer Screen" bybluefountainmedia is licensed underCC BY 2.0
Google Analytics can be leveraged to help your company reach its customers.
Amazon Web Services
Who is it best for: IT Professionals, managers, or any professional that works in the AWS cloud.
Cost: $100 for a Foundational certificate; additional certificates are available for a higher fee.
Amazon is the biggest player in web hosting, but the certifications aren't just for IT professionals. Purchase, sales, finance, and all sorts of different departments in your organization are likely to use Amazon Web Services (AWS) for cloud computing. Demonstrating an understanding of the back end of this process can be a real asset as you grow in your field. Managers throughout organizations often need a good grasp of IT services from AWS and this certification may help unlock that next step in your career.
Amazon offers a full array ofcertifications for IT professionals who work more-heavily in AWS, but we recommend theAWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam if you are only seeking to demonstrate an overall understanding of the Amazon Web Services Cloud not tied to a particular technical role. That certification costs $100 with practice exams available for $20.
"File:CSIRO ScienceImage 2042 A row of computer servers in a server rack.jpg" by, CSIRO is licensed underCC BY 3.0
Your company likely relies on the Amazon Cloud and knowledge of the back-end can help differentiate you.


"

As the old saying goes…the proof isn’t only in the pudding it’s in your closet, your cupboards, your back porch and – if you have one – your garage. You’ve got too much stuff. Everywhere. It’s not just a bunch of grandmas building enormous collections of margarine tubs or Uncle Bill’s believe it or not

Keep reading

Though the wave of tech layoffs and the threat of a recession has overshadowed yesteryear’s news of the great recession, everywhere you look, employees are asking for more — and getting it. Though this time of uncertainty could have given employers back the power, it’s still in the hands of the workforce. From Gen-Z’s boundary

Keep reading

The Momager May Be Worth More Than You Think… Kris Jenner is a pop culture icon for many reasons. While you may have watched her meteoric rise to fame on Keeping Up with the Kardashians — which originally debuted on E! — she’s actually been a fascinating figure in the public eye for ages.  As

Keep reading

By Massimo Tornambe Scott Disick, aka “Lord Disick” has gained fame and a devoted following since his appearances on the reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Disick is renowned for his expensive taste in clothes, cars, and women. The question that millions of fans are asking is: where did his fortune come from? Scott

Keep reading

Everyone says the economy’s healthier than ever, but some of us still find it necessary to make that paycheck stretch…and stretch…and stretch. The better we understand our spending habits, the better we can manage them. Living frugally can benefit you in many ways. You’ll grow more self-reliant, creative, and resourceful as you learn to make

Keep reading

Spring is in the air — and while you’re clearing out closets and scrubbing the back corners of the kitchen drawers, why not do a deep clean on something that really weighs you down? We’re talking about debt. Yep, those sneaky credit card balances, student loans, Buy Now Pay Later plans, and subscriptions that keep

Keep reading

In the 1980s movie Little Shop of Horrors, the protagonist Audrey fantasizes about owning a house of her very own. She doesn’t ask for much: just a simple one-storey place with a washer, dryer, and bedding will do.  And while this moment in the film is intended to satirize the American Dream by underlining how

Keep reading

Imagine this: you marry the man of your dreams. You have two beautiful children with another on the way. You spend your days cooking gorgeous, nutritious meals for your family…. from scratch. You get paid to share your daily life and meals with people around the world. But here’s the catch: half of those people

Keep reading

In this month’s Money Journal, Celia is organized and disciplined yet enjoys her life “to the Max” Welcome to Money Journal, a monthly Paypath series that examines how Americans really handle their finances. Our participants keep a journal of their earnings, spending, and savings (if any), then share what it’s like to live in their

Keep reading

Trying to cancel your gym membership can be more tiring than actually attending that kickboxing class you keep skipping. Getting out of your gym contract can be so tough that people are going to great lengths to avoid paying any penalties. After going into debt living a lifestyle she couldn’t afford, this woman forged fake

Keep reading