What is the difference between a certification and a college degree?

Many people confuse an industry certification awarded by a vocational training program with a college degree. It’s important to note that these are two different things, serving very different purposes:  An industry certification proves you completed your industry training to work in a specific type of career.  A certification proves that you retained the most important knowledge from that particular career. Not all training programs are the same. A well respected program should have required multiple modules covering a wide range of topics.  A nationally recognized certification such as the PSC (Pharmaceutical Sales Certificate) Certification demonstrates that no matter what path of training you took, you obtained the core knowledge expected by your potential pharmaceutical employers. By successfully passing the PSC Certification exam, you earn a credential that employers throughout the country understand and respect. Many people choose to have both a certificate of completion and a certification.   A college degree in Business or other major is good to have and with some companies strongly preferred but it does train you to work in Pharmaceutical Sales.  A college degree is broad and can be used to work in all different types of industries and is much respected but typically is not specific enough to qualify a candidate for a specific job type such as a career in Pharmaceutical Sales.