Thinking about which Certifications to do before MBA? Well, you are not alone. But many students think an MBA will explain everything from zero level. This is not the entire reality. The MBA course progresses faster. Professors expect you to have conceptual clarity. This is where the right certifications before an MBA can help you.
Certifications help you build strong concepts. It eventually adds value to your resume. It helps you identify which specialisation aligns with your career goals and interests. This boosts your confidence before entering a top MBA college. If you are wondering before MBA what we have to study, the answer is simple. You should first grasp basic business concepts. Learn important aspects of finance, marketing, analytics, and management tools. Read on to learn about the best certifications to do before MBA and other crucial information.
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Certifications to Do Before MBA in India
Choosing the right certification depends on your career goals. You do not have to study everything. You just have to focus on certifications associated with your future specialisation. These certifications offer a lot of benefits. It improves your familiarity with MBA subjects in advance. It can enhance your profile for top colleges. It helps you perform well in internships. All this knowledge and experience can help you land better placement opportunities. Many students also search for free certifications to do before MBA. The best part is that many top global companies and platforms offer free courses. Popular platforms include Google, HubSpot Academy, Coursera, etc. We have discussed below specialisation-wise Certifications to Do Before MBA for reference purposes:
Finance Certifications for MBA
Finance is one of the most popular specialisations in the MBA program. It offers careers in investment banking, financial analysis, and corporate finance. If you want to pursue finance in an MBA, you must first learn all about accounting, financial statements, and valuation. Here are the top finance certifications for an MBA:
| Institute Name | Certificate Name |
| CFA Institute | Chartered Financial Analyst |
| GARP | Financial Risk Manager |
| ICAI India | Chartered Accountant |
| CPA | Certified Public Accountant |
| ACCA | Association of Chartered Certified Accountants |
| AICPA / CIMA | Chartered Global Management Accountant |
| CAIA Association | Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst |
| Institute of Actuaries of India | Actuarial Science |
| CFP | Certified Financial Planner |
| CMA | US Certified Management Accountant |
| IIA India | Certified Internal Auditor |
| CISA | Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) |
| CMT Association | Chartered Market Technician (CMT) |
| Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) | Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) |
| Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) | Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) |
| CFA Institute | Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement |
| NISM | NISM Certifications (Advanced Series) |
| CMA | CMA India |
| Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (IIBF) | Certified Associate of Indian Institute of Bankers |
| ICSI | Company Secretary (CS) |
Marketing Certifications for MBA
Marketing is the most dynamic MBA specialisation. It provides job roles in digital marketing, brand management, and product management. Digital marketing skills are very crucial in today’s era. Some of the excellent online courses to do before MBA for marketing are:
| Institute | Course Name |
| Google Ads Certifications | |
| Google Analytics (GA4) Certification | |
| Meta | Meta Certified Digital Marketing Associate |
| HubSpot Academy | Inbound Marketing Certification |
| HubSpot Academy | Content Marketing Certification |
| HubSpot Academy | Email Marketing Certification |
| LinkedIn Marketing Solutions Certification | |
| Hootsuite | Social Media Marketing Certification |
| American Marketing Association (AMA) | PCM- Professional Certified Marketer |
| The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) | Chartered Institute of Marketing (Level 6/7) |
| Digital Marketing Institute | Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CDMP) |
| MICA | Advanced Digital Marketing Certification |
| Kellogg School of Management | Digital Marketing Specialization |
| Wharton (University of Pennsylvania) | Marketing Analytics Certification |
| Columbia Business School | Digital Marketing Strategy Exec. Cert. |
| Nielsen | Marketing Mix Modeling / Analytics Cert. |
| Kantar | Insights & Market Research Certification |
| London Business School | Brand Strategy Certification |
| Salesforce | Marketing Cloud Certification |
| Adobe | Adobe Experience Cloud / Marketo Certification |
Consulting Certifications for MBA
Consulting is among the highest-paying MBA careers. Top companies like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain hire MBA graduates every year. These consulting certifications for MBA can help you build problem-solving and business strategy skills. Here are the top Certifications to do before MBA for consulting:
| Institute | Course / Certificate Name |
| International Council of Management Consulting Institutes (ICMCI) | Certified Management Consultant (CMC) |
| Project Management Institute (PMI) | PMP-Project Management Professional |
| IASSC | Lean Six Sigma Black Belt |
| IASSC | Lean Six Sigma Green Belt |
| All India Management Association (AIMA) | Advanced Certificate Programme in Business Consulting |
| International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) | Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) |
| Project Management Institute (PMI) | PMI-PBA (Business Analysis) |
| CAP | Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) |
| McKinsey & Company | McKinsey Forward Program |
| Boston Consulting Group (BCG) | BCG Strategy Consulting Virtual Experience |
Business Analytics Certifications for MBA
Business Analytics is gaining increasing popularity among MBA specialisations. It aligns business with data. Companies nowadays require professionals who can analyse data and make smart decisions. Here are the best certifications for business analytics:
| Course Name | Institute |
| Business Analyst Professional Certificate | Microsoft |
| Data Analytics Professional Certificate | |
| Foundations of Business Analytics | Edx |
| Business Analytics with Excel: Elementary to Advanced | Coursera (Course Offered by Johns Hopkins University) |
| Business Analysis Fundamentals | Microsoft |
| Business Analyst Professional Certificate | IBM |
| Power BI Data Analyst Professional Certificate | Microsoft |
Operations Certifications for MBA
Operations certifications help aspirants develop practical skills in supply chain, logistics, and production. These certifications add industry-oriented knowledge and improve your resume. Here are the best Operations certifications to do before an MBA:
| Course Name | Institute |
| Introduction to Operations Management | Coursera |
| Supply Chain Management Specialization | Coursera (Course Offered by Rutgers the State University of New Jersey) |
| Operations Management | edX |
| Project Management Professional Certificate | |
| Operations and Process Management | Coursera |
Human Resource Certifications for MBA
HR specialisation is perfect for students interested in people management. HRs are primarily responsible for hiring, training, and employee relations. Here are the best HR certifications to do before an MBA:
| Course | Institute |
| Human Resource Management | Coursera |
| Strategic Human Resources Management | edX |
| People Analytics | Coursera |
| HR Foundations: Core Human Resources | |
| Organizational Behaviour | Coursera |
Importance of Certifications to Do Before MBA
There are various benefits of Certification courses. It can simplify your MBA journey. Here is why certifications are important before an MBA:
- It builds strong foundations and helps you understand MBA subjects easily.
- Certifications enhance your profile and resume. Companies nowadays hire skilled students.
- Certifications increase your chances of securing a better internship opportunity.
- Certifications can help you discover your interests. This helps you select your specialisation
- Certifications can make you more confident before joining MBA course.
An MBA is a huge career investment. You must have a strong foundation before joining the program. Doing the right certifications gives you an edge. The good news is that you do not need costly courses. Many free certifications to do before MBA are available. Start with the fundamentals. Choose certifications based on your goals. These certifications can simplify your MBA journey and help you get better internships/placements. Start today. Even one certification can transform your MBA journey.
