Child Therapy Certification in Nebraska

As a Nebraska resident interested in pursuing a career in child therapy, you have likely searched the internet looking for educational opportunities in your chosen career field. The internet, of course, is laden with information and advertisements on this very thing, so it's very likely that you've seen online colleges and universities asking you to sign up for their certification programs. Before you pay your tuition and sign up for classes, however, there are a few things you need to know and to look out for so that you don't end up disappointed or, worse yet, wasting your time and your hard earned money.

First and foremost, you should know never to attend a school, online or otherwise, that is not fully licensed and accredited. If you're not sure of a school's accreditation status, don't be afraid to ask somebody directly. Even if an online school puts an accreditation seal on its website or on other documentation they send you, make sure you verify it! Check out the accrediting institution, and make sure everything is legit. The reason you have to be so serious about this is because a degree or certificate that doesn't come from an accredited learning institution is essentially useless in the real world, and you could find yourself paying thousands of dollars for nothing more than a sheet of paper!

Secondly, you should know that a certification is in no way a substitute for a formal learning experience, such as a bachelor's degree program, or a master's or doctoral level degree program. While a certification program can be an excellent way to supplement a lower level degree, such as a bachelor's degree, or to gain expertise or more knowledge in a specialized area, a certificate alone will not enable you to land work in the field or enable you to become a licensed therapist in the state.

With that said, then your first step, before you even think about certification, should be to seek out a formal education if you don't already have one. Again, it's important, perhaps even more so, to find a school that is fully accredited. After all, even the lowest level degrees, associate's degrees, take around two years to earn on average, and that's a large chunk of your life to waste on a "degree" that's ultimately going to be of no real use or value to you.

The good news, though, is that there are many fully legitimate colleges and universities in the state that can provide you with excellent learning opportunities and can propel you into the career you want. Associate's degrees, as mentioned above, are a good starting off point for many and provide an affordable way to earn credits which can later be transferred to a bachelor's degree program. Or, you can just start right off with a bachelor's degree program, which typically takes around four years to complete and can be very closely related to your interest or your career goals. Common majors include child development, child psychology, general psychology, school psychology, sociology, social work, and more. The sky's the limit!

After earning a bachelor's degree, you can then continue your education by applying for a master's degree program and then a doctoral degree program. With either one of these degrees, you're open for licensure by the state and can enjoy a higher salary than professionals with lower levels of education. Many people with these degrees, however, will choose to take on certification programs to enable them to practice in or to better understand more areas or to meet the continuing education requirements of their licenses.