There are many opportunities in the Kansas City area for students who are interested in pursuing career areas that don’t involve a college degree. One are is that of certification which is a formal award certifying the satisfactory completion of an organized program of study following high school. Typically certificates require at least one but less than two full-time equivalent academic years, or from 900-1800 contact hours.Many companies are looking for competencies that students exhibit such as collaboration, reading for information, using basic applied math skills, good customer service, good communication skills.