You can join hundreds who have made a difference in their careers with these high-impact, accelerated Professional Development and Star Certificate programs. From foundation to mid-level skills and knowledge, the critical learning outcomes from these industry-focused Certificates support your career and professional development for a career in banking and finance. You can expect:
- Convenient online courses
- Assurance of an accredited college
- Full college credit for courses
- Guarantee that your education is relevant to the industry
Star Certificates
Star Certificates are designed in bite-sized packets of three courses each, and are tailored for tellers, customer service representatives, operations staff, operations supervisors, assistant branch managers, branch managers and more.
Customer Service Star Certificate I
Customer Service Star Certificate II
Management and Supervision Star Certificate III
Management and Supervision Star Certificate IV
Professional Development Certificates
Specific Professional Development Certificates are comprehensive programs of four to seven courses designed for employees from entry-level to 3-5 years of experience in the banking and finance industry.
Advanced Forensic Accounting Certificate*
Banking Studies Certificate
Basic Accounting Certificate
Branch Management Certificate
Commercial Lending Certificate I
Commercial Lending Certificate II
Financial Services Studies Certificate
Intermediate Accounting Certificate
Management Studies Certificate
Mutual Funds and Investments Certificate
*Minimum Bachelor Degree Required
Advanced Forensic Accounting Certificate | Return to the top |
Certificate Description
This course track is designed with the objective of enabling the student to understand the purpose of forensic accounting as it applies to modern financial institutions and e-commerce activities. This field is a rapidly expanding and focused area that has gained much attention with the advent of Sarbanes Oxley and the Digital Copyright Laws enacted during the 1990´s. Businesses now focus more attention on fraud prevention and detection processes to ensure that they are not victims of these crimes.
Detailed forensic analysis is the tool that enables accountants and computer professionals to proactively search out suspect transactions and identify their origin before a business incurs substantial damage. It is the role of the forensic accounting professional to detect and safeguard against fraud, and to police the business environment.
Certificate Curriculum
15 Credits
This five-course certificate includes the following three-credit courses:
- Forensic Accounting*
- Fraud Examination and Techniques
- Forensic Data Analysis
- Asset Recovery & Loss Prevention
- The Forensic Audit
Core Competencies
After completing this certificate program, the student will be able to:
- Comprehend the basic fundamentals of economic and financial crimes.
- Gather and deduce evidence needed to support an investigation activity.
- Provide an overview of fraud examination.
- Preserve the digital crime scene and duplicate hard disks for "dead analysis".
- Understand the history of loss prevention and the strategies that have been fostered during this time frame.
- Understand the business implications of loss prevention and asset recovery strategies.
- Understand the detection of fraud committed by managers, employees, vendors, and customers within different accounting systems.
- Discuss the role of the auditor as expert witness.
Target Audience
The Certificate in Forensic Accounting is designed for mid-level managers within the financial or retail banking center. These college level courses target both those individuals who are transitioning into a business development role as well as those incumbent managers with multiple years of experience needing retooling of core competencies and skills. A bachelor's degree in accounting or a related business field is required for admission into this program.
Banking Studies Certificate | Return to the top |
Certificate Description
The Banking Studies Certificate focuses on the broad-based knowledge, tools, skills, and strategies used in the field of banking. Seven industry-focused courses provide students with current, real-world knowledge and skills that can be immediately applied to a variety of positions in the banking industry, including entry-level administrative support positions and office and administrative support supervisors and managers who wish to enhance skills and remain current in industry trends and changes.
Certificate Curriculum
21 Credits
This seven-course certificate includes the following three-credit courses:
- Fundamentals of Banking
- Consumer Credit
- Commercial Lending Practices
- Negotiable Instruments OR Fundamentals of Financial Statement Analysis
- Managing Today’s Branch
- Business Ethics
- One approved elective from any NECF major*
Core Competencies
After completing this certificate program, students can expect to:
- Analyze and evaluate data and apply knowledge of lending standards to make prudent lending decisions within a consumer-oriented framework.
- Understand the rights and duties of financial institutions in the clearing and paying functions.
- Recognize legal problems that occur and when to seek competent legal assistance.
- Conduct a credit interview.
- Make sound credit decisions based on industry accepted principles.
- Identify credit products to satisfy customer needs.
- Identify various payment systems in the United States.
- Know the latest legal, marketing and technological developments in electronic fund transfer.
- Understand consumer lending basics, including regulations, credit policy, operations, loan closings and loan servicing.
Target Audience
This certificate is appropriate for those individuals who are new to the banking industry and have not yet chosen an area of specialty. This certificate can also appeal to anyone currently in the industry who would like to expand their general knowledge in the areas of banking.
Basic Accounting Certificate | Return to the top |
Certificate Description
This Certificate is designed to prepare learners with the basics of Accounting. Students will take five introductory courses in this program to earn a certificate while simultaneously completing the prerequisites required in the Certificate in Accounting – Intermediate program.
Certificate Curriculum
15 Credits
This five-course certificate includes the following three-credit courses:
- Fundamentals of Banking or Fundamentals of Financial Services
- Business Mathematics
- Accounting I
- Accounting II
- Fundamentals of Financial Statement Analysis
Core Competencies
After completing this certificate program, the student will be able to:
- Know how the banking industry functions as a financial intermediary.
- Relate functions of bank departments and employees to overall bank operations and performance.
- Know how the financial services industry developed.
- Understand basic accounting terminology and the process by which transactions are analyzed and transformed into financial statements.
- Understand management and accounting issues associated with assets, liabilities, and capital.
- Understand the accounting measurement of assets and their associated effects on a company´s earnings.
- Prepare budgets to assist management in decision-making.
- Apply math fundamentals to business applications, including profit calculations, payroll, banking, interest calculations, insurance, taxes and more.
- Develop a game plan for analyzing any company´s balance sheet, income statement, cash flow, and reconciliation of retained earnings statements.
- Determine whether a company´s current performance trends are indicative of its future financial viability.
Target Audience
The Certificate in Accounting – Basics is designed for individuals with entry-level industry experience and little or no undergraduate level course work in accounting and finance. This certificate will appeal to those who are just entering the field as well as those who want to shift their career path into accounting and finance within the financial services industry.
Branch Management Certificate | Return to the top |
Certificate Description
This certificate is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to efficiently manage a bank branch in a highly competitive and increasingly complex industry. Students will learn to identify and evaluate industry trends and synthesize that data into action plans that increase procedural and human effectiveness and efficiencies within their branch. The program is also intended to provide students with the ability to understand technological, legal, and marketing issues relating to a global banking economy. Ethical decision-making as it relates to managing a branch is an integral theme of this program.
Certificate Curriculum
21 Credits
This seven-course certificate includes the following three-credit courses:
- Fundamentals of Banking
- Managing Today's Branch
- Marketing
- Consumer Credit
- Negotiable Instruments
- Residential Mortgage Lending
- Business Ethics
Core Competencies
After completing this certificate program, the student will be able to:
- Analyze and evaluate data and apply knowledge of lending standards to make prudent lending decisions within a consumer-oriented framework.
- Understand the rights and duties of financial institutions in the clearing and paying functions.
- Recognize legal problems that occur and when to seek competent legal assistance.
- Conduct a credit interview.
- Make sound credit decisions based on industry accepted principles.
- Identify credit products to satisfy customer needs.
- Develop and implement a marketing plan.
- Identify various payment systems in the United States.
- Know the latest legal, marketing and technological developments in electronic fund transfer.
- Create a budget to meet bottom line expectations.
Target Audience
The Branch Management Certificate was designed for individuals with 3-5 years of supervisory experience in the banking industry. Certificate participants will have college-level course or banking experience. This certificate will appeal to those who want to shift their career path into the management level of a bank branch as well as those who are currently employed as banking supervisors and require advanced skills to move into higher-level management positions.
Commercial Lending Certificate I | Return to the top |
Certificate Description
This certificate is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to maneuver in this highly regulated and increasingly complex industry. Students will develop skills in understanding and managing a variety of borrowing situations as well as the ability to recognize trends that are common in commercial lending.
Certificate Curriculum
12 Credits
This four-course certificate includes the following three-credit courses:
- Business Mathematics
- Accounting I
- Accounting II
- Commercial Lending Practices
Core Competencies
After completing this certificate program, the student will be able to:
- Understand basic accounting terminology and the process by which transactions are analyzed and transformed into financial statements.
- Understand management and accounting issues associated with assets, liabilities, and capital.
- Understand the accounting measurement of assets and their associated effects on a company's earnings.
- Prepare budgets to assist management in decision making.
- Apply math fundamentals to business applications, including profit calculations, payroll, banking, interest calculations, insurance, taxes and more.
- Analyze and evaluate data and apply knowledge of lending standards to make prudent and ethical lending decisions within a consumer-oriented framework.
- Analyze and apply principles of commercial lending.
Target Audience
The Commercial Lending I Certificate was designed for individuals new to the field of financial services or commercial lending and little or no undergraduate-level course work in accounting and finance. This certificate will appeal to those who want to shift their career path into the area of commercial lending as well as those who are currently employed in the field and require advanced skills to move into higher-level management positions.
Commercial Lending Certificate II | Return to the top |
Certificate Description
This certificate is designed to provide students with advanced knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to maneuver in this highly regulated and increasingly complex industry. Students will learn to conduct research and apply advanced analysis techniques to evaluate economic and industry factors. Ethical decision making as it relates to commercial lending is an integral theme of this program.
Certificate Curriculum
15 Credits
This five-course certificate includes the following three-credit courses:
- Negotiable Instruments
- Fundamentals of Financial Statement Analysis*
- Advanced Commercial Lending Practices*
- Corporate Finance
- Business Law
Core Competencies
After completing this certificate program, the student will be able to:
- Understand the instruments of capital markets.
- Calculate and apply commonly-used ratios that test financial condition, operating performance and cash flow sufficiency.
- Utilize and understand the limitations of industry ratios as gauges of a company's financial condition and performance.
- Apply more sophisticated management tools necessary to survive in today's competitive commercial lending environment.
- Analyze a company's balance sheet, income statement, cash flow, and reconciliation of retained earnings statements.
- Know the concepts of negotiable instruments as well as the rights and duties of each party to a negotiable instrument.
- Recognize legal issues and apply rules of law to arrive at a logical solution.
Target Audience
The Commercial Lending II Certificate was designed for individuals with 3-5 years of experience in the financial services industry or those who have completed the Commercial Lending I Certificate. This certificate will appeal to those who want to shift their career path into the area of commercial lending as well as those who are currently employed in the field and require advanced skills to move into higher-level management positions.
Financial Services Studies Certificate | Return to the top |
Certificate Description
The Financial Services Studies Certificate focuses on the broad-based knowledge, tools, skills, and strategies used in the areas of banking, insurance, mutual funds and investments. Three introductory-level courses kick off this certificate program after which students choose from electives in banking, insurance, mutual funds, and investments.
This certificate program emphasizes real-world knowledge and skills that can be immediately applied to the workplace.
Certificate Curriculum
21 Credits
This seven-course certificate includes the following three-credit courses:
- Fundamentals of Financial Services
- Introduction to Investments
- Business Ethics
- One approved banking elective*
- One approved mutual fund elective*
- Two approved electives from any NECF major*
Core Competencies
After completing this certificate program, the student will be able to:
- Appreciate the complexity of business decisions and evaluate alternative courses of action.
- Apply ethical principles and guidelines to business decision making.
- Relate the functions of the industry sub-sectors to overall industry performance.
- Know the expanded product lines offered via all of the various sectors in financial services.
- Understand principles and concepts of the insurance industry.
- Know the key elements of the mutual funds industry.
- Understand the basics of portfolio management, federal and state regulatory oversight, marketing and distribution, custody, technology issues, and the function that mutual funds serve in our society.
- Relate bank functions, departments, and employees to overall bank operations and performance.
- Know how the banking industry functions as a financial intermediary.
- Be informed about and sensitized to the deep ethical issues and currents in our business society.
Target Audience
This certificate is appropriate for those individuals who are new to the financial services industry and have not yet chosen an area of specialty. This certificate can also appeal to anyone currently in the industry who would like to expand their general knowledge in the areas of the banking, insurance, and mutual funds and investments.
Intermediate Accounting Certificate | Return to the top |
Certificate Description
This certificate is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to identify industry trends and evaluate the impact of those trends at a corporate and industry level. It is also intended to enhance accounting proficiencies and provide students with the ability to develop corporate level financial documents, as well as the ability to critically analyze and synthesize information found in complex accounting and financial reports. Ethical decision-making, as it relates to financial reporting, is an integral theme of this program.
Certificate Curriculum
21 Credits
This seven-course certificate includes the following three-credit courses:
- Intermediate Accounting I*
- Intermediate Accounting II
- Managerial/Cost Accounting
- Federal and State Individual Income Taxes or Business Ethics
- Statistics
- Fundamentals of Financial Statement Analysis
- Corporate Finance
Core Competencies
After completing this certificate program, the student will be able to:
- Analyze and evaluate data and apply knowledge of lending standards to make prudent and ethical lending decisions within a consumer-oriented framework.
- Develop and implement a marketing plan.
- Establish a marketing budget.
- Understand the instruments of capital markets.
- Calculate and apply commonly used ratios that test financial condition, operating performance and cash flow sufficiency.
- Utilize and understand the limitations of industry ratios as gauges of a company´s financial condition and performance.
- Apply more sophisticated management tools necessary to survive in today´s competitive commercial lending environment.
- Analyze a company´s balance sheet, income statement, cash flow, and reconciliation of retained earnings statements.
- Know the concepts of negotiable instruments as well as the rights and duties of each party to a negotiable instrument.
Target Audience
The Intermediate Accounting Certificate was designed for individuals with 3-5 years or experience in the financial services industry and/or undergraduate-level course work in accounting. This certificate will appeal to those who want to shift their career path into accounting within the financial services industry as well as those who are currently employed in the industry and require advanced skills to move into higher-level management positions.
Management Studies Certificate | Return to the top |
Certificate Description
The Management Studies Certificate focuses on the broad-based knowledge, tools, skills, and strategies needed to handle the tough challenges facing managers in an ever-changing financial services industry. Four introductory-level courses kick off this certificate program after which students choose from electives in banking, financial services, mutual funds, and investments.
This certificate program emphasizes real-world knowledge and skills that can be immediately applied to the workplace.
Certificate Curriculum
21 Credits
This seven-course certificate includes the following 3-credit courses:
- Recruitment, Selection and Orientation
- Quality Customer Service
- Managerial/Cost Accounting*
- Business Ethics
- Three approved electives*
Core Competencies
After completing this certificate program, the student will be able to:
- Conduct job analysis and define job requirements.
- Apply techniques and strategies that result in the recruitment and hiring of candidates that match the organization´s future direction.
- Apply strategies and techniques that result in quality customer service.
- Calculate the contribution of quality customer service to the bottom line.
- Look at accounting from the manager´s perspective rather than the practicing accounting perspective.
- Bring together the combination of events that produce profits.
- Appreciate the complexity of business decisions and evaluate alternative courses of action.
- Apply ethical principles and guidelines to business decision making.
Target Audience
This certificate is appropriate for new and veteran supervisors or lower level managers who are looking to retool or advance their skills or take their careers to the next level. This certificate can also appeal to those who are in the banking and financial services industry and are looking to shift their career focus.
Mutual Funds and Investments Certificate | Return to the top |
Certificate Description
The Certificate in Mutual Funds and Investments removes the general unfamiliarity with and "mystique" of investments. It provides learners with an integrated understanding of the monetary process both in the United States and around the world. The role of the computer automation of business processes as an integral part of this globally competitive environment is explored as well. The main objective of the certificate is to provide learners with a level of competence that allows them to "talk the talk" and "walk the walk" in this multi-trillion dollar industry.
Certificate Curriculum
21 Credits
This seven-course certificate includes the following three-credit courses:
- Fundamentals of Financial Services
- Introduction to Investments
- Money and Banking*
- Mutual Funds I
- Mutual Funds II
- Quality Customer Service
- One approved elective*
Core Competencies
After completing this certificate program, the student will be able to:
- Apply techniques that will enhance daily interactions within the industry.
- Implement an action plan at the corporate, team, and individual level to enhance quality customer service.
- Understand the fundamentals of money and credit and what their role is in our economy.
- Understand the fundamentals of portfolio management and equity trading.
- Understand elements of marketing to and the servicing of mutual fund shareholders.
- Calculate the return and risk for financial assets by using various formulas.
- Calculate bond yields, determine how interest rates affect bond prices.
- Differentiate between passive and active strategies in the management of bond portfolios.
- Evaluate the human element as it relates to the performance of various computer information systems.
Target Audience
The Mutual Funds and Investments Certificate is designed for working professionals who are new to the investment and mutual funds industry.
Customer Service Star Certificate I | Return to the top |
Customer Service Star Certificate I builds a fundamental understanding and skill in banking and is designed for entry-level employees in retail banking and operations.
- Fundamentals of Banking
- Understand the Banking System as a financial intermediary and how it is evolving
- Business Math
- Apply math fundamentals to business applications including profit calculations, payroll, banking, interest calculations, insurance, taxes and more
- Quality Customer Service
- Apply quality customer service techniques including cross selling
Customer Service Star Certificate II | Return to the top |
Customer Service Star Certificate II continues to build customer service and banking services skills and understanding.
- Consumer Credit
- Understand and apply the consumer credit application process, review and analysis, and decision making
- Building Customer Relations
- Apply interaction skills that lead to increased business
- Business Ethics
- Understand ethics and ethical behavior and how it guides decision making
Management and Supervision Star Certificate III | Return to the top |
Management and Supervision Star Certificate III is the initial education for new first-line supervisors and managers designed to build skills in planning, directing and coordinating.
- Critical Thinking
- Apply general principles to solve practical problems and make decisions
- Principles of Management
- Apply principles to manage the organization’s mission and reach goals
- Organizational Behavior
- Examine the impact of an organization’s structure on behavior, culture and communications
Management and Supervision Star Certificate IV | Return to the top |
Management and Supervision Star Certificate IV is the next step for leading performers being groomed for branch management and other manager roles.
- Leadership and Management
- Recognize and apply good leadership and management skills
- Managing Today’s Branch
- Examine the issues and trends facing contemporary branch managers
- Marketing
- Develop and implement marketing strategies and plans