MISSION

The USI seeks to create a challenging environment that encourages high expectations for success through development-appropriate support that allows for individual differences and learning styles.

WHAT ARE ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATES

APC (Advanced Professional Certificates) are professional credentials designed to help executives and professionals advance their employment status or career marketability in their respected fields. In many other countries, certificates are qualifications in higher education. In the United States, a certificate may be offered by an institute, school, government agency or employer. Completion of a certificate program indicates the fulfillment of a series of requisite specific concentration that is different than an educational degree program. Requisite content for advanced professional certificates are set forth through a variety of sources i.e. faculty, committee, instructors, professionals and other subject matter experts in a related field. USI certificates are respected stand-alone credentials and a valuable way to further professional development. Certificates are the fastest-growing form of college credential. Public Institutions award 51 percent of certificates, For-profit issues 45 percent and private colleges are issuing 4 percent. The growth in certificate attainment is largely labor market driven, as more jobs require college or educational organization recognition. There are three types of APC, they are: corporate (internal), product-specific, and professional-wide. We offer professional-wide. Certification in the professional-wide is often offered by particular specialties. In order to apply professional standards, increase the level of practice, and protect the public, an educational institution might establish a professional certificate program. Many colleges, universities (such as Harvard) and educational organizations grant advanced professional certificates as an award for the completion of educational programs.

WHAT WE DO

The USI’s Advanced Professional Bachelor and Master Level Certificate program was established to meet the needs of a growing sector of global citizenry by making available professional and executive post-secondary and graduate level certificates. Our certificates signify a level of professional and experiential achievements reached by the document holder. USI Certificates are intended to offer an innovative way that meets the needs of a specific group of working professionals that may not be interested in attending classes or want to pay the ever increasing cost of tuition. Our certificates are tailored to our clients needs, easily acquired and more affordable than most other programs of similar make-up. We offer an experiential based Bachelor and Master Level Certificate program that considers

• Academic history

• Professional life experience

• Corporate training

• Business training and experience

• Project development

• Competency and,

• Military training and experience

Our program is particularly appealing to the segment of the population that for academic, personal, logistics or financial reasons, would struggle with a full degree’s course load.

WHO WE ARE

The United States Institute of Applied Knowledge is a division of the Foundation for the Civilly Disadvantaged Corporation. We are an educational non-profit foundation recognized by the State of Florida and the United States Department of Revenue as a 501(c)(3) Public Charity. To qualify, the USI met all governmental requirements and regulations and has the authority to issue post-secondary and graduate level Advanced Professional Certificate. We are made up of permanent staff, academics and dedicated volunteers all focused on delivering premier experiential evaluation services to our clients.

HOW TO EARN YOUR APC (ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA)

To earn your Bachelor level or Master level certificate, you are required to be at least 18 years old, and have at least two years of prior learning/work/professional life experience in your preferred area of knowledge. We realize that some of the most effective learning does not come from a textbook, but from real experiences and hands-on learning. We understand that what you have learned in the classroom or boardroom is valuable and that is why we formally acknowledge your accomplishments in the form of proper credentials. Below are some examples that we define as prior learning:

• Job experience in any field

• Educational achievements

• Volunteer activities

• Professional/corporate training/certificates

• National testing

• Independent research projects/self-directed study

• Community service/voluntarism

• Employer-sponsored training and workshops

• Participation in professional and non-professional organizations

• Military service or training

• Job assessments/peer review

You may have other accomplishments other than those mentioned above. We evaluate and consider all information that is included in your Professional Experiential Portfolio.

USI ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS

To obtain a Bachelor or Master Level Certificate you must submit an Experiential Portfolio consisting of:

1. An abstract, summarizing your Experiential Portfolio.

2. Detailed employment, experience and education history in resume format.

3. High School diploma or equivalent (a copy) if you are applying for a Bachelor level Certificate. Bachelor Degree or equivalent (a copy) if you are applying for a Master Level Certificate.

4. 2500 word college/university level paper demonstrating a thorough knowledge of the subject. USI APC Requirements.

5. Military credentials. Army AARTS Transcripts, Navy/Marine Corp SMART Transcript, Coast Guard Institute Transcript, Community College of Air Force Transcript and/or your DD214, if using military experience in-part to qualify.

6. Persuasive Narrative. The aim of a persuasive narrative is to convince the reader and make an acceptable argument of the narrative. Key element should include a) Deep preliminary research b) Logical argumentation c) Evidence supported by reliable sources d) Additional necessary facts e) Clear reasoning and f) Plausible arguments and facts.

When the above requirements are complete and compiled, you will be able to download the information and payment via the USI website. The evaluation of your portfolio is based on a focused, global judgment of how effectively the requirements as a whole use basic features to fulfill the assignment.

Click here to see how to setup your Experiential Portfolio.

BENEFIT OF AN USI ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE

Nowadays, most employment applications are submitted online or by email to a “Talent Acquisition”. The term Talent Acquisition (TA) is often used synonymously with Recruiting. Recruiting is a subset of TA, and includes the activities of sourcing, screening, interviewing, assessing, selecting and hiring. The majority of job application software has “key-word” searching capabilities and recognition. Programs that search for key words like, degree-bachelor-master-certificate-college-university-institute for example. Most programs will by-pass applications if certain key-words are not present. Likewise, employers may reject an applicant if there is not some sort of post-secondary or graduate level attainment listed on the resume or job application. USI offers national and international professionals with an excellent opportunity to earn their Bachelor or Master Level Certificate completely online through the most flexible, quick, convenient and affordable way. The USI Advanced Professional Certificates are designed for individuals with significant accomplishments. They signify that you have reached a standard of applied knowledge of a certain profession or job. Our Advanced Professional Certificates offer the holder an array of benefits and features:

• Convenience – complete your program at your own pace.

• Flexibility – begin anytime/submit anytime.

• Verification – we provide free verification inquiry response service.

• Portability – since they do not depend on one company’s definition of a certain job, they go with you.

• Endorsement – We strengthen your resume and professional standing by being an impartial third-party endorsement of your professional knowledge and experience.

• Customization – Your certificate is tailored to your background

• Payoff – Cost you less money, greater and faster return on investment, increase of salary, career advancement, pride in accomplishments, and displayable.

Advanced Professional Certificates can outperform two year and four year degrees. On average workers with certificates earn 20 percent more than workers with only high school diplomas. They are the fastest growing form of post-secondary credentials in the United States, increasing from six percent in 1980 to twenty two percent today. Due in part to the fact they are affordable, take only months to complete and, often yield high returns.

Certificate Growth

The number of certificates awarded has skyrocketed more than 800 percent over the past thirty years. In 1984, less than two percent of adults had a certificate as their highest educational attainment. By 2010 the percentage had grown to almost thirteen percent.

•Twenty four percent of all 23 to 65 year-old workers had attended a vocational, technical, trade, or business program at some point.

•Seventy five percent of those who had attended these schools earned a certificate.

•Overall, eighteen percent of prime-age professionals have obtained certificates and twelve percent have certificates as their highest educational attainment.

•One third of certificate holders have an Associate’s, Bachelor’s or graduate degree; and

•On average, certificate holders earn twenty five percent more than high school graduates without post-secondary education.

Overall, a certificate is the highest form of education held by one in ten American workers. Studies show that one-third of certificate holders also hold associates, bachelor’s or graduate degrees; suggesting that workers are getting certificates to bolster their skills, increase their clout and exploit their skills in a tight job market place; as well as going back to educational institutions throughout their careers with a third of certificates earned by students over the age of thirty.