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Certification and licence finder

What each job actually requires before someone will hire you: the credential, who issues it, the education behind it, and where a state licence applies. Every line comes from the job's own guide.

  • 911 Dispatcher

    Certification required
    In short
    Requires passing a skills test; works nights, weekends, holidays; about a year of probation.
    Credential
    Required in many states; common credentials include Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) and APCO Public Safety Telecommunicator 1
    Education
    High school diploma, then classroom and on-the-job training
    Training
    About 4 months beyond that education
    Pay
    $53,040 (BLS, May 2025)

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Accounting Manager

    Certification common
    In short
    Requires a bachelor's degree, CPA or CMA progress, and managing a team through the accounting close.
    Credential
    CPA (most states require 150 semester hours, though some now accept a bachelor's degree plus 2 years of experience) or CMA (bachelor's degree, 2 years of relevant experience, 2 exam parts)
    Education
    Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance; many employers prefer progress toward a CPA
    Training
    About 12 months beyond that education
    Pay
    $166,570 for financial managers overall, a category that includes accounting managers and controllers (BLS, May 2025)

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Accounts Payable Specialist

    None needed
    In short
    High school diploma plus accounting coursework is typical; certification is optional, not required.
    Credential
    Optional; IOFM offers an AP-specific APS credential
    Education
    High school diploma plus accounting coursework; some employers prefer an associate or bachelor's degree
    Training
    About 3 months beyond that education
    Pay
    $50,670 (BLS, May 2025)

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Administrative Coordinator

    None needed
    In short
    High school diploma typically enough; strong Excel and Outlook skills matter more than a degree.
    Credential
    Optional: IAAP Certified Administrative Professional (CAP), Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)
    Education
    High school diploma at minimum; some employers prefer college coursework
    Training
    About 1 month beyond that education
    Pay
    $48,310 overall; $76,590 for executive administrative assistants (BLS, May 2025)

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Agile Business Analyst

    Certification common
    In short
    Bachelor's degree is typical; the IIBA-AAC certification is preferred but not required to work.
    Credential
    Not required but often preferred: the IIBA Agile Analysis Certification (IIBA-AAC). IIBA lists no formal prerequisites, though it recommends 2 to 3 years of agile analysis experience before the 85-question, 2-hour exam
    Education
    Bachelor's degree is typical, often in business, information systems, or a related field
    Pay
    $101,860 for management analysts, the closest BLS category to this role (BLS, May 2025)

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • AWS Networking

    Certification common
    In short
    Typically requires 5 or more years of networking experience; certification is preferred, not required.
    Credential
    AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty, though AWS is retiring this exam with a last test date of December 31, 2026; the SAP-C02 Solutions Architect Professional exam covers overlapping VPC and hybrid connectivity material
    Education
    A bachelor's degree in a computer-related field is typical, often with 5 or more years of networking experience
    Pay
    $134,050 a year for computer network architects overall (BLS, May 2025); BLS doesn't track AWS-specific networking roles separately

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Behavior Interventionist

    Certification required
    In short
    Requires the RBT credential, a 40-hour training plus exam, and works under a BCBA's supervision.
    Credential
    Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) through the BACB: be at least 18, have a high school education or equivalent, pass a criminal background check, complete the 40-hour training (updated requirements for applications from January 1, 2026), pass the Initial Competency Assessment, and pass the RBT exam
    Education
    High school diploma is the base requirement; many employers prefer some college coursework or a bachelor's degree in psychology or education
    Training
    About 1 month beyond that education
    Pay
    $45,130 for psychiatric technicians, the closest tracked occupation (BLS, May 2025); RBT-specific pay isn't broken out separately

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Clinical Pharmacist

    State licence required
    In short
    Requires a PharmD, a state pharmacist license, and typically a PGY1 residency for clinical roles.
    Credential
    State pharmacist license (NAPLEX and MPJE); BCPS or a specialty BPS certification like BCIDP or BCCCP is often preferred or required for clinical roles
    Education
    Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), a 4-year professional degree after prerequisite coursework
    Training
    About 12 months beyond that education
    Pay
    $140,910 for pharmacists overall (BLS, May 2025); BLS doesn't track clinical pharmacist pay as a separate occupation

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Clinical Research Coordinator

    Certification common
    In short
    An associate degree plus clinical experience can qualify; CCRP or CCRC certification is voluntary.
    Credential
    Voluntary but increasingly preferred: CCRP (SOCRA) or CCRC (ACRP)
    Education
    Bachelor's degree in a life science or nursing is typical; some sites hire with an associate degree plus clinical experience
    Training
    About 1 month beyond that education
    Pay
    $57,510 for biological technicians, the closest tracked occupation (BLS, May 2025); CRC-specific pay isn't broken out separately

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Data Architect

    None needed
    In short
    Designs enterprise data models and platform strategy; median pay is about $139,500 a year.
    Credential
    Vendor credentials like SnowPro Advanced Architect, Databricks Certified Data Engineer Professional, or Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer are common, though none are required to work in the role
    Education
    A bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a related field is typical; many data architects move up from data engineering or database administrator roles
    Pay
    $139,500 a year for database architects specifically (BLS, May 2025); the combined database administrators and architects median is $126,760

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Director of Nursing

    State licence required
    In short
    Runs nursing home clinical care, staffing, and CMS survey compliance; requires an active RN license.
    Credential
    AAPACN's Director of Nursing Services-Certified (DNS-CT)
    Education
    ADN or BSN; many operators prefer a BSN plus prior ADON or unit manager experience
    Pay
    $123,860 overall; $100,520 in nursing and residential care facilities (BLS, May 2025)

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Epic Analyst

    Certification required
    In short
    Builds and supports Epic EHR workflows; requires employer-sponsored certification in a specific application.
    Credential
    Epic certification in a specific application (such as Ambulatory, Willow, or Beacon), which requires sponsorship from an Epic customer or from Epic directly
    Education
    Bachelor's degree, often in computer science, information systems, health informatics, or a clinical field
    Pay
    $105,850 for computer systems analysts, the closest tracked occupation (BLS, May 2025); Epic-specific pay isn't broken out separately

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Esthetician

    State licence required
    In short
    Requires a state license; performs facials and waxing within scope, often with retail sales duties.
    Credential
    State license required in all states; most states use the NIC written and practical exams to test candidates
    Education
    State-approved cosmetology or esthetics program; hours required vary widely by state, from a little over 200 hours in some states to more than 1,000 in others
    Training
    About 6 months beyond that education
    Pay
    $45,330 for skincare specialists (BLS, May 2025)

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • European Wax Center

    State licence required
    In short
    Requires an existing esthetician or cosmetology license; independently owned franchises set pay locally.
    Credential
    State esthetician or cosmetology license, or a state waxing license where one exists; requirements vary by state
    Training
    About 6 months beyond that education
    Pay
    Set by each franchisee; one posted opening listed $16.90 to $30.00 an hour plus product, service, and tip income

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Fast Food

    Certification required
    In short
    Entry-level food service role; food handler card required in most states within 30 days.
    Credential
    Food handler card or ServSafe Food Handler certificate, required in most states within 30 days of hire
    Education
    No formal credential required (BLS)
    Pay
    $31,710 a year, $15.24 an hour (BLS, May 2025)

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Identity and Access Management

    Certification common
    In short
    Manages authentication, authorization, and provisioning systems like Okta and Entra ID; often on-call.
    Credential
    Vendor and industry credentials such as Microsoft's SC-300 (Identity and Access Administrator), Okta Certified Professional, or CompTIA Security+ are common, though none are required for most roles
    Education
    A bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field is typical; some IAM engineers move up from help desk or systems administration roles with certifications
    Pay
    $129,180 a year for information security analysts overall (BLS, May 2025); BLS doesn't track IAM engineering as a separate role

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Implementation Specialist

    Certification common
    In short
    Guides SaaS clients from contract to go-live: requirements, data migration, UAT, and training.
    Credential
    Not required; a PMP from the Project Management Institute or a Certified Scrum Master credential is sometimes preferred
    Education
    Bachelor's degree, often in business, information systems, or a related field
    Pay
    $102,320 for project management specialists, the closest tracked occupation (BLS, May 2025); implementation-specific pay isn't broken out separately

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • In-N-Out Burger

    Certification required
    In short
    Entry-level fast food role, made to order; all store managers are promoted from associates.
    Pay
    In-N-Out doesn't publish a specific starting wage; its careers site says it offers "a competitive wage" and "a higher starting wage" than typical for the industry

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Legal Assistant

    Certification common
    In short
    Typically needs an associate's degree or paralegal certificate; NALA or NALS certification is optional.
    Credential
    Optional: NALA Certified Paralegal (CP), NALS Certified Legal Support Professional (LSP)
    Education
    Associate's degree or paralegal certificate is typical; some firms prefer a bachelor's
    Training
    About 9 months beyond that education
    Pay
    $62,890 for paralegals and legal assistants; $55,570 for legal secretaries (BLS, May 2025)

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Operational Excellence Manager

    Certification common
    In short
    Usually requires 5+ years of process improvement experience and often a Six Sigma Black Belt.
    Credential
    ASQ's Certified Six Sigma Black Belt requires a completed project with a signed affidavit, plus either 3 years of full-time Six Sigma work experience or a second completed project. IASSC's Black Belt exam has no prerequisite experience or project requirement
    Education
    Bachelor's degree is typical; 5 years or more of related supervisory or process improvement experience is common before reaching this level
    Pay
    $126,060 for industrial production managers, the closest BLS category to this role (BLS, May 2025)

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Phlebotomist

    Certification required
    In short
    Needs a phlebotomy certificate and CPT or PBT certification; CA, LA, NV, and WA also require a license.
    Credential
    Most employers require NHA's CPT or ASCP's PBT even where state law doesn't mandate it; some hospital systems accept either California, Louisiana, Nevada, and Washington require a state license or credential on top of national certification
    Education
    Postsecondary non-degree phlebotomy certificate, typically a few months
    Training
    About 4 months beyond that education
    Pay
    $45,230 (BLS, May 2025)

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Preschool Teacher

    Certification common
    In short
    Needs at least a CDA credential; Head Start requires an associate's or bachelor's degree for many roles.
    Credential
    Every state licenses child care and preschool programs separately, setting minimum staff-to-child ratios and qualifications that vary by state
    Education
    Varies by setting: many centers accept a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, while Head Start requires at least an associate's degree for lead teachers and a bachelor's degree in child development or early childhood education for at least half of its preschool teachers nationwide
    Training
    About 4 months beyond that education
    Pay
    $38,140 a year (BLS, May 2025)

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Procurement Specialist

    Certification common
    In short
    Bachelor's degree is typical, though some employers hire with a high school diploma plus experience.
    Credential
    Not required but often preferred: the Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) from the Institute for Supply Management
    Education
    Bachelor's degree is typical; some employers hire with a high school diploma plus relevant experience
    Pay
    $77,710 for buyers and purchasing agents (BLS, May 2025)

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • RN Case Manager

    State licence required
    In short
    Requires an active RN license; CCM or CMGT-BC case management certification is often preferred, not mandatory.
    Credential
    CCM (Certified Case Manager) through the Commission for Case Manager Certification, or CMGT-BC (Nursing Case Management Certification) through ANCC, which requires 2 years of full-time RN experience, 2,000 hours in nursing case management within the last 3 years, and 30 hours of case management continuing education
    Education
    RN license (ADN or BSN); many hospital systems and payers prefer a BSN for case management roles
    Pay
    $97,550 a year for registered nurses overall (BLS, May 2025); BLS doesn't track case management as a separate nursing specialty

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Salesforce Business Analyst

    Certification common
    In short
    Bachelor's degree is typical; the Salesforce Business Analyst certification has no prerequisite to sit for it.
    Credential
    Salesforce Certified Business Analyst credential through Trailhead; there's no prerequisite to sit for the exam, though Salesforce recommends hands-on platform and requirements experience first
    Education
    A bachelor's degree is typical; many people move into this role from Salesforce administration, QA, or general business analyst work
    Pay
    $101,860 a year for management analysts overall (BLS, May 2025); BLS doesn't track Salesforce-specific business analyst roles separately

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • School Counselor

    State licence required
    In short
    Master's degree and state credential required; median pay about $64,330 a year.
    Credential
    State-issued credential (called a certification, license, or endorsement depending on the state), requiring a supervised internship, an exam, and a background check
    Education
    Master's degree in school counseling or a related field
    Pay
    $64,330 for school and career counselors overall (BLS, May 2025)

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • School Nurse

    State licence required
    In short
    RN license required; BLS doesn't track school nurse pay separately from registered nurses overall.
    Credential
    State department of education school nurse certificate or endorsement, required in many states for public schools; NCSN (National Certified School Nurse) through NBCSN is a respected voluntary credential
    Education
    RN license (ADN or BSN); many districts prefer or require a BSN
    Pay
    $97,550 for registered nurses overall (BLS, May 2025); BLS doesn't track school nurse pay as a separate occupation

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Security Engineer

    Certification common
    In short
    Bachelor's degree typical; median pay $129,180 a year; CISSP requires 5 years of experience.
    Credential
    CompTIA Security+ for entry-level roles (2 years of security-related IT experience recommended); CISSP for senior roles (5 years across 2 or more of its 8 domains, per ISC2)
    Education
    Usually a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field; some enter through IT experience plus certification
    Pay
    $129,180 a year (BLS, May 2025)

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Special Education Teacher

    State licence required
    In short
    Bachelor's degree and state teaching license with special education endorsement required; median pay $67,170.
    Credential
    State teaching license specific to the grade level and disability category taught; alternative certification routes exist in every state for career changers with a bachelor's degree in another field
    Education
    Bachelor's degree minimum in every state; some states require a degree specifically in special education, others accept a general education degree plus a special education endorsement
    Pay
    $67,170 a year (BLS, May 2025)

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • SSAS Tabular

    None needed
    In short
    Topic guide for BI/database roles; no license needed; database architects and admins median $126,760.
    Credential
    Microsoft's PL-300 Power BI Data Analyst certification covers overlapping DAX and modeling content, though there's no certification specific to SSAS Tabular itself
    Education
    A bachelor's degree in computer science or information systems is typical; many people move into this role from BI development or SQL Server DBA work
    Pay
    BLS doesn't track SSAS or BI developer roles separately; the closest category, database administrators and architects, shows a combined median of $126,760 a year, with database architects specifically at $139,500 (BLS, May 2025)

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Substitute Teacher

    State licence required
    In short
    Requirements vary by state, some need a bachelor's, others a high school diploma; median pay $46,420.
    Credential
    Set by each state, and sometimes by district: some states require a bachelor's degree and a substitute permit, others accept a high school diploma or a set number of college credit hours plus a background check
    Pay
    $46,420 a year, or $20.03 an hour, for substitute teachers (BLS, May 2025); most subs are paid a per-day rate rather than a salary, so actual pay depends on how many days you work

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Technical Recruiter

    Certification common
    In short
    Bachelor's degree typical; median pay $75,940 for HR specialists; many start at staffing agencies.
    Credential
    Optional: SHRM-CP, AIRS Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR)
    Education
    Bachelor's degree is typical (BLS); many recruiters start at staffing agencies
    Pay
    $75,940 for HR specialists overall (BLS, May 2025)

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Utilization Review Nurse

    State licence required
    In short
    RN license and 2 to 5 years clinical experience required; UR-specific pay varies by employer.
    Credential
    Not usually required; a Certified Case Manager (CCM) or similar credential helps, and many UR departments operate under URAC utilization management accreditation
    Education
    Active RN license (ADN or BSN); most employers want 2 to 5 years of clinical experience before moving into UR
    Pay
    $97,550 a year for registered nurses overall (BLS, May 2025); UR-specific pay varies by payer or health system

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • WAF

    Certification common
    In short
    Web application firewall work sits inside security engineering roles, not a job title of its own.
    Credential
    None required for WAF work specifically; Security+, OSCP, or AWS Certified Security are common on resumes in this field
    Education
    Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field is common; strong hands-on lab experience can substitute
    Pay
    $129,180 for information security analysts, the closest BLS category (BLS, May 2025)

    Full requirements and interview questions

  • Wells Fargo Personal Banker

    Certification required
    In short
    Needs 6 months of customer-facing work, NMLS registration, and a credit review rather than a score cutoff.
    Credential
    FINRA Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam plus a Series 6 or Series 7 for bankers who sell investment products, confirmed on FINRA's site
    Training
    About 2 months beyond that education

    Full requirements and interview questions

Before you rely on this

  • Licensing rules are set state by state and change. Confirm with your own state board before you pay for a course or an exam.
  • Employers often ask for more than the law does. A credential listed as optional here may still be how you get shortlisted.
  • Each guide links to the issuing body, which is always the final word on eligibility.