Here's a list of the questions we get most often. Have additional questions or concerns? Give us a call at 612-624-4000 or send us an email.
General Certificate Questions
Can I take the entire certificate program online?
Many of our certificates can be completed online. Most of our online courses combine the convenience of virtual connection with the engagement of synchronous instructor-led learning over Zoom. Check individual certificate pages for course formats and see the online PD course FAQ page for details on how our online courses work.
What is a certificate program?
Professional development certificate programs offer a cluster of courses that provide knowledge and training in a specific competency. The knowledge and skills you gain can be used immediately in the workplace and offer you:
- applied knowledge to help you stay current
- information to help you be an effective manager and leader
- preparation for a new field or career
- skills that position you for advancement
Completion of a certificate demonstrates:
- commitment to master a specific body of knowledge or set of skills
- breadth and depth of skill and understanding that comes from planned learning
- dedication to professional advancement
How long do I have to complete a certificate program?
Participants have four years from the date of the first course to complete a professional development certificate, after which you will need to reenroll.
Will I receive an actual certificate?
Yes. Upon completion of each course, you will receive a certificate of completion. Once you have completed all of the courses required for the certificate program, you will receive a formal certificate from the University of Minnesota's College of Continuing and Professional Studies. You can also request that an official notification letter of completion be sent to an identified employer, supervisor, personnel manager, or association.
Will I receive a digital credential?
Yes. Certificate completers will earn a digital badge to display in your email signature and on your website, blog, and LinkedIn account as verification of your accomplishment to employers and peers.
How do I get a transcript of the courses I've taken?
You can receive a PDF transcript of the professional development courses you've taken by emailing ccapsreg@umn.edu, or by mail:
CCAPS Registration Team
360 Coffey Hall
1420 Eckles Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55108
Is there a fee to enroll in a certificate program?
There are fees for the courses, but not an additional fee to enroll in a certificate. You can pay for the whole certificate at once or pay for each course individually.
Can I bring your courses to my organization?
Yes. We can bring the expertise of the U of M directly to your workplace with over 90 individual professional development courses and 14 certificate options for you, whether in-person or virtually, via Zoom. More information is available on our Workforce Development website.
What type of credit is available?
A variety of professional credits is awarded for successfully completing the entire course.
- Continuing Education Units (CEU)
The CEU is a nationally recognized unit of measurement awarded to participants in a qualifying noncredit continuing education program. One CEU is defined as 10 contact hours. Six-contact-hour courses earn 0.6 CEUs. - Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
Continuing professional education credits are frequently needed by accountants, finance professionals, and others. One CPE is awarded for every 50 minutes of instruction. Six-contact-hour courses award 7.2 CPEs. - Professional Development Units (PDU)
These are required for certified project managers, business analysts, and others. One PDU is awarded for every hour of instruction. Six-contact-hour courses earn six PDUs. - Professional Development Hours (PDH)
These are awarded to engineers, architects, surveyors, and related professionals. One PDH is awarded for every hour of instruction. Six-contact-hour courses earn six PDHs.
How can I access my course records, request a schedule change, and see announcements?
- Go to learning.umn.edu (works best in Firefox or Chrome)
- Click on the login button in the upper right corner and choose learner log-in. You might need to update your password or create a guest account. If you have an account already, click on 'continue' under 'I have a University Internet Account'. Otherwise, go to 'I am new to the University' and click 'continue.' If you have issues resetting a password or with access please call UMN IT at 612-301-4357 and explain that you are having issues with a guest account.
- Once you are logged in, use the navigation tools on the left-hand side of the page, under Learner Profile:
Tab | What you can do there |
My Profile | Manage or update your contact information |
My Enrollment History | See all the classes you are enrolled in, and have completed or dropped. To drop or transfer a class, click "Request [Drop or Transfer]." It may take one business day before your change is confirmed. |
My Course Schedule | See a calendar of your upcoming courses |
My Applications | See any program applications you've completed |
My Certificates & Badges | View your certificate progress |
My Account History | Overview of transactions |
My Saved Items | Overview of courses saved in your cart |
Forms & Policies | Check registration, cancellation, and privacy policies |
Announcements | View announcements about changes to learning.umn.edu |
Help | If you have issues with learning.umn.edu, enrolling, transferring, or canceling courses, or need any other assistance, please use the Help tab to reach out for support |
Cancellation Policy
If We Cancel
All courses need to meet a minimum enrollment to be held. If we have to cancel your course because of insufficient enrollment, you will receive a full refund, made to the original method of payment. If you are enrolled in the discount option and a course is canceled because of insufficient enrollment, we will work with you to transfer you into the next upcoming course at no charge.
If You Cancel
You can cancel or transfer to a different course or course date before the start of the course you have registered for. Cancellation and transfer requests received after the first scheduled course date will not be eligible for a refund or transfer. You may complete a cancellation or transfer using self-service or by contacting us.
- self-service: learning.umn.edu
- phone: 612-625-2900
- email: ccapsreg@umn.edu
Disability Accommodations
The University of Minnesota views disability as an important aspect of diversity, and is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students. The Disability Resource Center (DRC) is the campus office that collaborates with students who have disabilities to provide and/or arrange reasonable accommodations.
- If you have, or think you have, a disability in any area such as, mental health, attention, learning, chronic health, sensory, or physical, please contact the DRC office on your campus (UMN Twin Cities: 612.626.1333) to arrange a confidential discussion regarding equitable access and reasonable accommodations.
- If you are registered with the DRC and have questions or concerns about your accommodations please contact your (access consultant/disability specialist).
- If you need ASL Interpretation Services please fill out the request form for your class.
Please submit your request for accommodations at least two weeks in advance to guarantee we can accommodate the request.
Additional information is available on the DRC website or reach out by email: drc@umn.edu.