Certifications, Certificates & College Credit
Jump start your career!
Earn a Poway Adult School Pathway Certificate
- Self-paced. So, you go as fast or as slow as you need.
- Qualified instructors meet with you when you need help.
- Start anytime in our open-entry format to earn your certificate to a new career today.
Entry-level Clerk Certificate
- Intro to Basic Clerical Skills
- MS Word Level 1
- MS Excel Level 1
Clerical Assistant Certificate
- Prerequisite: Entry Level Clerk or Competency Test
- MS PowerPoint 1 or Google Slides
- MS Word 2
- MS Excel 2
Administrative Assistant Certificate
- Prerequisite: Entry Level Clerk Certificate or Competency Test
- MS Word 3 (with Microsoft Office Specialist option)
- PowerPoint 2
- MS Outlook
- MS Excel 2, 3 (with Microsoft Office Specialist option)
- Google Drive (with Google Certification option)
Accounts Payable / Accounts Receivable Billing Clerk Certificate
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Accounting Level 1 and 2 (with college credit option)
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MS Excel Level 2, Level 3 (with Microsoft Office Specialist option)
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QuickBooksPro (with QuickBooks Certification option)
For pathway courses, see Accounting, Business & Finance and Computer Applications.
What's the difference between certifications and certificates?
Certification generally represents an earned credential that demonstrates specialized knowledge, skills, and experience. Certifications are usually awarded upon passing a proctored exam under a strict protocol. Earning a certification is a way to prove competencies defined by the related industry. Certifications are usually backed by companies that are industry leaders such as Microsoft, Comptia, and Intuit to name a few.
Certificates are different from certifications in that certificates are generally awarded upon successful completion of educational courses and / or programs. Students who complete Poway Adult School Pathway Certificate programs are awarded a Pathway Certificate endorsed by the Poway Adult School and validated by the School's business partners who are experts in their fields.
Industry Certifications
This certification assesses industry-valued and recognized standards produced by Southwest Airlines, a leader in their class. The certification validates knowledge and skills in interpersonal, oral and graphic communication. It's hard evidence to prove you have what it takes in soft skills for careers requiring good communication and excellent customer service skills. Sign up for our next offering of the
Professional Communications course and prepare to earn your industry-valid certification! Watch the Southwest Airlines Professional Communications video for more information.
Palomar College Credit
Poway Adult School partners with Palomar College to offer you the opportunity earn college credits in the courses listed below. Each course is worth three (3) credits upon completion with an "A" or "B." This is at no additional cost to you!
How can college credit help me?
College credit is demonstrated on a transcript that is generally lasting evidence of coursework you've completed. Transcripts are received by most colleges. So, credits you earned may be accepted at the school of your dreams! And, you can keep adding to your credits to use them later towards a college degree or certificate.
Students who complete all required coursework at a grade of “B” or better in any of these PAS courses:
- Computer Concepts & Applications (Palomar CSIT 105)
- Accounting 1, 2 (Palomar ACCT 101)
- Hardware (Palomar CSNT 110)
- Networking Fundamentals (Palomar CSNT 111)
Follow these steps to earn college credit in one of the courses listed above.
- Let your Poway Adult School instructor know you will be taking the course for college credit. He or she will direct you in the process and ensure you receive a letter grade upon completion.
- Complete all of the course requirements with an "A" or "B" grade.
- To get college credit, you will have to be a Palomar College student. You won't be charged to get this credit. Follow both of the next steps in order and make sure to save your login information for both systems in which you will need to create accounts.
- Enroll in Palomar College (instructions here).
- Follow the Quick Start instructions here.
- Contact your instructor or the Career Education Specialist for help with the process if needed!
Round off your pathway in business education at Palomar College!
BOOKKEEPING / ACCOUNTING CLERK
ACCT 101 Bookkeeping 3
(take this at Poway Adult School)
ACCT 104 Accounting Spreadsheet Concepts 2
ACCT 110 Quickbooks 2
ACCT 115 Sales Tax, Payroll Taxes, and Employee Benefits 2
TOTAL UNITS 9 - 10
Typing Tests
Call the Poway Adult School at (858) 668-4024 to schedule a typing test appointment. Tests are $15 + $5 per copy of your certificate.