Frequently Asked Questions

You can register directly in the Carson Certificate Programs. Since these are non-credit and non-degree certificates, there are no formal applications or admissions requirements. If your employer is sponsoring your enrollment, we recommend contacting your HR or L&D team to coordinate your registration.

These certificates are non-degree programs, so they are not eligible for federal financial aid (FAFSA) or traditional student loans. However, you may seek tuition support through your employer or explore other personal financing options.

Carson Certificate Programs are self-paced and delivered fully online, so you can learn on your own schedule. Each module takes about five to six hours to complete and is designed to be practical, flexible, and directly applicable to your career.

The time to completion depends on the certificate chosen and your individual pace. Most certificates consist of five modules and can typically be completed in 25–30 hours. Many learners finish their certificates within a few months, depending on workload and schedule.

The best certificate for you depends on your career goals. The Carson College offers several options designed to align with high-demand business skills. For example:

• Accounting (coming soon): Strengthen financial literacy and reporting expertise.
• Finance: Build analytical and decision-making skills for organizational growth.
• Management: Develop leadership and team-building capabilities.
• Marketing: Learn strategies for connecting with customers and driving innovation.

All Carson Certificate Programs provide digital credentials you can share on LinkedIn, helping you showcase your new skills to current and future employers.

Yes. Business certificate programs provide a practical way to enhance your professional skills, prepare for new responsibilities, and demonstrate your expertise to employers—without the time or cost of a degree. WSU’s Carson Certificate Programs are developed by faculty with research and industry experience, ensuring that what you learn is both academically rigorous and relevant in the workplace.

Founded in 1890, Washington State University is one of the nation’s leading land-grant research universities. With six campuses and a global online presence, WSU serves more than 26,000 students and is recognized for advancing education, research, and service across Washington state and beyond.

The Carson College of Business is home to 11 undergraduate majors, MBA and Executive MBA programs, a PhD in Business Administration, and innovative certificate programs. It is committed to preparing business leaders through research-driven teaching, industry partnerships, and programs that align with the evolving needs of today’s workforce.

Washington State University has been preparing business leaders for more than 125 years and is recognized as a premier land-grant research university. The Carson College of Business combines academic excellence with industry partnerships to deliver high-quality, practical certificate programs that meet the evolving needs of today’s workforce.

WSU’s Carson Certificate Programs are designed to provide specialized training rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Built on faculty expertise, these programs are skills-based, flexible, and entirely online. This structure allows employees to apply what they learn immediately to real workplace challenges. Employers can also collaborate with the Carson College to adapt programs for specific organizational goals.

Yes. Refunds are available within the first 14 days after purchase, provided that less than 10 percent of a module has been accessed. Refunds are issued to the original payment method minus a $12 per-module or $60 per-certificate transaction fee. Once a refund is processed, the learner will be unenrolled from the course, and any completed progress will not be saved.

This refund policy only applies to purchases made directly through this site.

To request a refund, email wsu.carson@learningplatform.support with:

• Full name
• Email address
• Name of the product (certificate)
• Reason for your request

You’ll receive a confirmation once your refund is processed. Please allow 7–10 business days for the funds to appear in your account.

If you purchased certificates through a corporate account, please contact your designated representative for refund assistance.

Carson Certificate Programs provide employees with opportunities to improve their leadership, management, financial, and marketing skills in a way that’s directly applicable to their roles. Participants earn digital badges for each module and a full certificate upon completion, providing visible recognition of their growth that can be shared on internal talent platforms.

WSU’s Carson Certificate Programs are aligned with the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Career Readiness Competencies. Employees gain skills in critical thinking, leadership, teamwork, communication, professionalism, and technology—capabilities that support both immediate performance and long-term career advancement.

Employers can offer their teams online certificates in six high-demand areas:

• Accounting (coming soon)
• Business of Aging
• Finance
• Management
• Marketing
• Wine Business Management

Each certificate is composed of five modules, allowing employees to complete programs at their own pace.

Organizations benefit from employees who return to work with new skills, increased confidence, and practical tools they can apply right away. Over time, this investment supports stronger leadership pipelines, improved retention, and workforce readiness for emerging business challenges.

Employers can collaborate directly with the Carson College Corporate Engagement team to design certificate offerings that meet their workforce development needs.

Programs can be delivered to groups of employees and tailored to your industry-specific goals.

Carson Certificate Programs are fully online and self-paced , offering employees the flexibility to complete modules on their own schedule. Employers can integrate certificates into their current development strategies, customizing the sequences or prioritizing specific modules to align with their organization’s needs.