Flexible Mom Jobs: Quick Certifications That Pay Well

Are you a mom looking for flexible work that pays well? You may be surprised to learn that there are plenty of jobs out there that do not require a traditional college degree. Many moms take advantage of quick certifications and specializations to make the most of their talents and interests while avoiding student loan debt.

This article will review the benefits of getting a specialized certification and the 6 top choices for busy moms.

Why Consider Quick Certifications?

By focusing on specific areas with quick certifications (rather than the generalized education that a degree offers), moms can find lucrative and adjustable work to their family’s needs. With the right certifications and qualifications, you can start working in a field you love while providing for your family.

The Benefits of Getting Certified

For some career paths, there is certain job training, certification, and testing required. However, some jobs don’t require any specific certification. Yet, choosing a certification program is beneficial anyways for these reasons:

• A structured curriculum that helps you deliver your services more effectively
• Get support to launch a successful business
• Marketing training to get people interested in your services
• Develop a very specific skill set for your desired career path

The Top 6 Quick Certifications for Moms

The following six jobs were chosen for their flexibility and realistic income potential. Let’s review.

1. Become a Doula

A doula is a trained professional who provides prenatal and postnatal support to mothers on their journey through pregnancy and childbirth. The training process is fairly quick and inexpensive, so you could start working as a doula while also caring for your family.

Certification for a birth doula typically requires around 27 hours to complete (including childbirth education and on-the-job shadowing). Depending on the program, courses can run from $300 to over $1500. What you can expect for a salary can range significantly from $25 to $50+ per hour.

Supporting moms in their pregnancy and the postpartum journey can be very fulfilling. The biggest catch with this profession is the hours since you will likely need to be on call when a mom is near their due date.

2. Become a Pediatric Sleep Consultant

A pediatric sleep consultant helps families build optimal sleep habits. Depending on the nature of your business, you could help parents online or in person.

Many programs offer certification and training at varying costs in two to six weeks. For example, the Center for Pediatric Sleep Management offers a self-paced course that takes approximately 50 hours and four to six weeks to complete. The program offers extensive business mentoring and costs $2550 (with payment plan options). When scaled correctly, sleep consultants can make six figures per year.

Helping tired parents and sleepless babies can be a rewarding job. A sleep consultant certification is also an excellent addition for anyone that is a Doula.

3. Become a Health and Wellness Trainer

If you want to be in the health and wellness space without a bachelor’s degree (and beyond), you have quite a few choices. These include becoming a personal trainer, exercise instructor, or health coach.

Specific certifications you can obtain include:

• Personal training with the National Academy of Sports Medicine. This certification program takes four to twelve weeks and costs $649.
• Zumba dance instructor. Learn how to teach Zumba in eight to ten hours for $400.
• Health and nutrition coach with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition: Learn to support clients in their health goals. Get certified in approximately 1 year for $7,000.

There are tons of other options if you look around. To start, choose a specialty, get certified, find a job, and start making money. Salaries for being a health trainer range from $20 to $50+ per hour.

4. Get Certified as a Real Estate Sales Agent

A real estate agent helps clients buy and sell property. This has been an especially lucrative job in the past several years as the housing market took off.

To become a real estate agent, you need to get a license from the state where you plan to practice. Depending on your state, you’ll need around 120 hours of training before you can take a final exam that costs around $125. The whole process takes anywhere from four to twelve months to complete.

Helping clients buy and sell real estate can be a fun and engaging career for some moms. In 2020, the median income for a real estate agent was $50,000. However, this particular job has a lot of upside income potential if you can find success. Unlike the first three options above, it’s also important to note that this job is correlated very strongly to the state of the economy.

5. Train to Be a Computer Support Specialist

A computer support specialist helps people troubleshoot computer and software problems. With the explosion of technology, this job is in high demand and requires minimal training.

Becoming a certified CompTIA A+ Technician is within reach in as little as three months, whether you opt for an online course or learn independently. The beginner’s cost of obtaining this certification stands at around $400. Alternatively, you can train within a specific company, such as Microsoft, to become a Certified Systems Engineer.

If you like computers and tech, this is a great job to consider. The median salary of a computer support specialist makes around $50,000 per year.

6. Become a Medical Coder

Medical coders help doctors and other healthcare professionals assign codes to medical procedures, treatments, and diagnoses that allow them to bill insurance and get paid correctly. This job is an excellent option for those who understand complex instructions and like numbers.

Medical records and health information specialists can demonstrate their expertise with the Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Coding Associate (CCA), or Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certifications. These certifications tend to take nine months to a year and cost $4,000 or more to complete.

Options Not Included

Some of the other quick certifications cited online are not a great fit for moms. These include:

• Mechanics repair
• Certified nurse assistant
• Phlebotomist

Overall, these jobs are time-intensive, making them less than ideal for moms who want flexible schedules.

Other Certification Options

There are many flexible jobs that moms can do and enjoy. They don’t necessarily require a certification, but as mentioned initially, often, some formal training can help you be successful. Examples include:

• Starting a blog
• Becoming a virtual assistant
• Graphic design
• Social media marketing
• Search engine optimization (SEO) consultant
• Freelance writing or editing
• Photography
• Reiki practitioner
• Yoga instructor/trainer.

With any of these options, moms can build their businesses, set their hours, and enjoy the flexibility of being their boss. To get started, you can take classes online or find mentors to help guide you through the process. With a little hard work and determination, you can be successful in any of these careers.

How to Choose a Job Certification You’ll Love

The key to success with any job certification is to choose something you’re passionate about. To ensure you get a certificate that fits your needs, it’s essential to be honest and realistic about what kind of work and hours you can commit to. Consider these factors:

• Flexibility: Is the job flexible? Can you adjust your hours and workload as needed?
• Compensation: How much will you be paid for the work you do? Do you have a good chance of making a living wage?
• Market and client potential: Do you have an evergreen market to tap into? Are there enough clients to make the job worthwhile? (For example, moms always have babies. And there are always sleep-deprived parents with kids going through sleep regressions!)
• Recession-proof: Is the job affected by economic downturns? Can you rely on consistent income no matter what?
• Growth and scaling potential: Can you easily scale up your business? If needed, is it possible to hire staff, allowing you to grow?
• Fulfilling: Is the job satisfying and enjoyable? Will you find a sense of fulfillment in the work you do?

Related: How Teachers Are Replacing Their Full-Time Income with Part-Time Work

Quick Certifications FAQ

You have many choices when it comes to quick certifications. Learn more about your options below.

What is the easiest certification to get that pays well?

All of the certifications listed above are great options for moms.

What certification pays the most?

Your job salary will depend on many factors, including your experience level, marketing skills, connections, and the state you live in.

What certificate can I get in 3 months?

You can become a dance instructor, personal trainer, sleep consultant, or doula in less than three months.

What certification is most in demand?

Certification in tech and lifestyle (pregnancy, parenting, health, etc.) is always in high demand.

Getting Started

If one or more of these ideas intrigues you, it’s time to research. Check out local meetups, workshops, classes, and online courses. Read up on success stories to better understand how you can make your dream of getting certified a reality. The most important part is to get started!