Your career is more than a job. It’s integral to the quality of your life.

A great career provides purpose, fulfillment, and financial security. If your career is missing these three critical points, it’s time to change your game plan ASAP.

No more coasting. You need a new set of skills to get out of that cubicle.

One way to get there is through business certifications. These are true resume boosters and can put you in the running for a top job promotion.

Discover eight of the best professional certifications to pursue in 2019.

1. Supply Chain Business Certifications

Supply chain management (SCM) is one of the fastest-growing business careers. Managers can earn $75,000 or more, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The ‘supply chain’ refers to the flow of goods, from production to consumer. SCM is a branch of business logistics.

You may be responsible for purchasing products, negotiating vendor contracts, and managing product life cycles.

You can earn SCM certificates through the following institutions:

• APICS
• The Institute for Supply Chain Management (ISM)
• SCPro
• The International Society of Logistics (SOLE)
• The National Contract Management Association (NCMA)

SCM certificates are also available through community colleges and universities.

2. Retail Management Certificates

Are you a sales associate making the leap from entry level to upper management?

The retail industry allows associates like you to climb the corporate ladder. But you can ascend quickly with management certificates.

Retail management certifications prove you’re motivated. You also learn valuable skills for exceeding sales goals.

You can find certifications through the following programs:

• Food Marketing Institute (FMI)
• North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA)
• Community colleges around the country.

This can make all the difference between a ‘meh’ manager and a rockstar manager.

3. Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Accounting certifications are arguably the best business certifications to have. They can open the door to more lucrative careers in payroll, finance, analytics, and executive management.

There are many institutions that offer accountancy certifications.

Most professional accountants start with the CPA exam. This stands for “certified public accountant.” This exam is required by most states to become an accountant.

At least 150 hours of college-level accountancy coursework is required. Thus, it’s highly recommended to earn an accountancy degree first.

Flexible programs are offered by:

• Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU)
• Penn State World Campus
• Colorado State University Online,
• Arizona State University Online

You can also enroll in accounting courses at your local community college.

4. Financial Analyst Certification

Another way to advance your business career is financial analytics. A solid foundation in accounting is highly recommended for this path.

Financial analysts help industries make sound business decisions through meticulous data analysis. They may be responsible for analyzing macroeconomic trends, evaluating stocks, and assess cost-benefits, for example.

Like the CPA, the Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) certification is also an exam. The best place to start is with the CFA Institute.They offer a college graduate-level curriculum to help you pass their 3-level CFA exam.

48 hours of applicable professional work experience is also required for this certification.

5. Project Manager Certification

Project management challenges both your analytical and creative side.

Like supply chain managers, project managers oversee the ‘flow’ of a project from beginning to end. Similar to financial analysts, project managers analyze data to make necessary changes.

Project managers also need creative vision to ensure projects resonate with their intended audiences.

There are several ways to earn a project management certificate. Here are four top choices:

• The Project Management Institute (PMI)
• eCornell
• EC-Council
• American Academy of Project Management

If you’re interested in the six sigma approach to project management, read this helpful link to learn more about your course options.

6. Salesforce Certifications

Salesforce is the leader in customer relationship management software. They’re so influential, their certifications are now industry standard.

One of their certifications proves you’re up to speed on the latest customer relationship technology. This benefits professionals in sales, IT, analytics, and executive management.

Entry-level business professionals are highly encouraged to earn Salesforce certifications to move up the ladder.

Salesforce offers 22 certifications. These include Sales Consultant, Marketing Consultant, and Salesforce Administrator.

7. HubSpot Marketing Certifications

Like Salesforce, HubSpot is also a leader in its space. So much so, they have their own set of industry standard certifications!

These are great for entry-level professionals who want to break into marketing.

There are 10 certifications available:

• Inbound Fundamentals
• Inbound Marketing
• Inbound Sales
• Social Media Marketing
• Content Marketing
• Email Marketing
• HubSpot Software Certification
• Sales Enablement
• Sales Software
• Growth-Driven Design

HubSpot certifications are free and expire after a year. Owning a website is also required for certification.

Discover free courses on blogging, search engine optimization, brand engagement, Facebook, and Instagram. Free sales management courses are also available.

8. Certifications for Entrepreneurs

Do you assume a leadership role in any given situation? Global companies look for this type of drive in their executive management.

It’s also foundational to the growth mindset. This is the entrepreneurial mindset you need to start and grow a business.

There are even certification programs that can help:

• Wharton University Online
• University of Irvine Online
• Harvard Extension
• Babson College Online

These flexible online programs focus on developing vision and innovation.

Students gain skills in idea generation, design thinking, business frameworks, and marketing ideas.

Next Steps

That job promotion isn’t as elusive as you think. But you have to compete for what you want.

You can’t compete without an arsenal of marketable skills, including business certifications. Discover a career path that works for you and use any of these certifications to get there.

To stay the course, check back often to find more insider tips for taking your career to the next level!