Certificate Programs

Certificate programs are designed for students looking for short-term programs of instruction with a high degree of specialization. They are designed to prepare individuals to enter a particular field of employment or provide a level of in-service training or education for those already employed. Cañada College awards two levels of certificates. Certificates of Achievement are those that are 12 or more units of course work that have been approved by the State of California and will be posted to the student’s transcript. Skills/Career Certificates are those that are up to 11.5 units of course work and will be awarded to the student by the department offering the certificate. Skills/Career Certificates will not be posted to the transcript. The section–Associate Degrees, Certificates, Transfer in this Catalog, lists programs alphabetically by subject and identifies the certificate and associate degree programs available.

The Certificates of Achievement have been designed on the career ladder concept. Some of the course work applied to the certificates can also be applied to associate degrees. If no associate degree major exists in the area, some of the units can be counted as electives toward any associate degree. If an associate degree with the specific major exists, the units may make up an Associate Degree major.

Certificate of Achievement General Requirements

  1. The prescribed courses and units must be completed as identified in the Cañada College Catalog under core and selective courses.
  2. Fifty percent of the required courses (identified as core and selectives) must be completed at Cañada College. Equivalent lower division courses completed at other institutions holding district approved accreditation may be submitted on a Request for Substitution petition for consideration to satisfy some certificate requirements. Petitions for this purpose are available in the Admissions and Records Office, Building 9, first floor.
  3. All CORE classes applied to the certificate must receive a grade of C or better. If the course is evaluated by pass or no pass ONLY then a “credit” evaluation for the course is acceptable. If the course is offered as “grade option” a letter grade of C or better is required. A 2.0 grade point average is required for all degree applicable coursework taken within the San Mateo County Community College District and all incoming degree applicable coursework taken outside the District.
  4. Overall grade point average of at least 2.0 in all certificate courses (required core + selectives).
  5. Students must be in “good academic standing” to receive a Certificate of Achievement.
page updated 7/10/12