IAP Career College review

IAP Career College offers the opportunity to pursue unconventional yet potentially rewarding careers. All without breaking the bank.

In as little as four weeks, you can fast-track your career and earn a certificate that boosts your credibility and sets you apart in your field.

But can IAP Career College truly deliver on their promises of affordability, flexibility, and career advancement?

In this IAP Career College review, we'll dive deep into the platform to help you decide. We'll explore their course offerings, costs, and student experience, and weigh the pros and cons to see if IAP Career College measures up.

This detailed IAP Career College review will cover:

• What is IAP Career College?
• How does IAP Career College work?
• How much does IAP Career College cost?
• What an IAP Career College lesson is like
• Best IAP Career College courses
• Who are IAP Career College instructors?
• How I reviewed IAP Career College, and what I did and didn’t like
• What others have said about IAP Career College
• Who IAP Career College is for
• Can you buy IAP Career College as a gift, is it legit, and what’s the refund policy?
• IAP Career College alternatives and other reviews
• Is IAP Career College worth it?
• FAQs

Let’s get started!

What is IAP Career College?

IAP Career College has served over 500,000 career changers with affordable, short-term, online certificate programs in a wide range of professions.

With IAP Career College, you can learn the ropes in nontraditional lines of work that don’t require a college degree and can be done with flexible hours, such as becoming a motivational speaker, event planner, professional organizer, or interior decorator.

Also known as The International Association of Professions Career College, IAP Career College is a division of FabJob Inc., an award-winning online publishing company that has sold over half a million career guides since 1999.

FabJob Inc. has been featured in CNN, Wall Street Journal online, ABC, and Oprah’s newsletter.

Through IAP Career College, FabJob elevates its career guides through online courses that will walk you through getting started in nontraditional careers that allow you to run a business from your own home or start a brick-and-mortar enterprise.

Who are the instructors?

The faculty and staff of IAP Career College have been handpicked among hundreds of applicants and have academic designations up to the Ph.D. level.

Among esteemed instructors is Dr. Ken Khan, who brings more than two decades of experience from Hyatt, Continental Hotels, Marriott, and Sheraton to teach courses in the hospitality industry at IAP Career College.

Todra Payne, who teaches a certificate course for aspiring makeup artists, has worked with celebrity clients including Mariah Carey and Donna Karan (creator of the DKNY clothing labels). Payne’s artistry has been featured in international fashion lifestyle magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and German GQ.

With collective experience spanning six continents, all instructors at IAP Career College have real-world experience in their respective fields and have started their own businesses and/or mentored others to do the same.

How does IAP Career College work?

All courses are paid for individually, and the IAP Career College offers five major types of courses:

• Basic Certificate Courses
• Master Professional Certification Courses
• Life Experience Certifications
• Scholarly Certificate Courses
• Short Courses on Business Skills

Basic courses are scheduled for six weeks but can be completed within 4 to 12 weeks. 

The Master Professional Certification Courses are for students who have already completed a basic course at IAP Career College. These courses are designed to provide advanced training and knowledge in your chosen field.

Life Experience Certifications go beyond regular training and provide a certification once you’ve proven that you’ve already established yourself as a professional in a chosen career. You'll qualify based on your work history or relevant life experiences like volunteer work.

The difference comes down to the number of years of experience under your belt. Typically, individuals with three years of experience in a career qualify for the IAPO Certification while those who have five qualify for a Master Certification.

Scholarly Certificate Courses are more academic and emphasize theoretical knowledge, and you can participate in classes on Business Ethics, Economics, Anatomy, and more.

Finally, Short Courses on Business Skills are co-developed with the International Business and Management Career College (IBMCC). You can complete a business skills certificate course online in only three hours, equivalent to a half-day professional corporate training program.

Class topics in all course types include, but are not limited to:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Antiques Shop Owner
• Architecture
• Art Gallery Owner
• Astronomy
• Bakery Owner
• Bookkeeping
• Business Startup
• Cake Decorating
• Child Daycare Center Director
• Computer Networking
• Creative Writing
• Early Childhood Education
• Event Planning
• Fashion Design
• Floral Arranging
• Graphic Design
• Horticulture
• Hotel Management
• Interior Design
• Legal Assistant
• Medical Billing & Coding
• Paralegal
• Photography
• Social Media Marketing
• Web Design

Some courses aim to help you get started in a career that lets you work from home, such as being an Image Consultant or a Motivational Speaker, while others show the nuts and bolts of starting a brick-and-mortar business like an Art Gallery, Dance Studio, or Spa.

How much does IAP Career College cost?

One of IAP Career College’s striking selling points is the affordability of its programs compared to other online education providers.

Different course categories come at different price points but generally range between $49 to $149 for the more basic courses.

Each course is paid for individually and grants access to a Faculty Member for a limited number of hours which you can split into different sessions for personal assistance and career advice.

You’ll also get a textbook in e-book format and a downloadable certificate upon course completion. 

Each course also comes with optional features, including the ability to order a personalized certificate printed on fine linen embossed with a gold seal of the college, as well as a discounted rate for joining a professional association in your field for only $2 a month.

The price for basic 6-week certificate courses for prices ranges from $97 to $149. 

Courses in the Master Professional Certification Courses category are more expensive than the others, with prices ranging between $377 to $797.

For Life Experience Certifications, the application fee for the International Association of Professional Organizations (IAPO) Professional Certification is $197 and the fee for IAPO Master Certification is $297. 

Scholarly Certificate Courses cost up to $149, and the short courses on business skills go as low as $49.

The IAP Career College also offers generous discounts, so be on the lookout. At the time of this writing, the IAP Career College has a Spring Special discount that brings the prices for Master Certification courses from $797 to $377.

IAP Career College free trial

IAP Career College doesn’t offer a set free trial period.

However, you can explore their course offerings for free and each course comes with a detailed description that outlines the topics it includes. This will give you a sense of what you’ll get for each course and evaluate whether it’s the appropriate level for you.

What a lesson is like

Lessons are structured around key concepts and practical examples, with skills broken down into sections so you can digest information in good chunks. Here’s an example of a course and what a class might entail:

A class also includes text-based materials, videos, and quizzes.

And then, after each section comes a review to help solidify the techniques and principles you learned for that skill.

Classes contain suggested readings from a corresponding textbook or career guide published by the IAP Career College, and each course is self-directed and can be taken flexibly without teaching assistance.

Classes then culminate in a final exam for which you must receive at least a 60% grade to qualify for your certificate.

Best IAP Career College classes

The most popular classes at IAP Career College are:

• Life Coach Certificate Course
• Death Doula Certificate Course
• Professional Organizer Certificate Course
• Event Planner Certificate Course

But remember, the best IAP Career College class depends on your unique goals and interests! Here are the most popular classes in each category:

Certificate Courses Online

Death Doula Certificate Course. This part-time online course will equip you with the essential skills to guide individuals and families with end-of-life support, to comfort the dying and their loved ones. It also includes death doula specializations, such as elder care, supporting the terminally ill, conducting living funerals, and pet doula death services.

Professional Organizer Certificate Course. In this class, you’ll learn how to start your own professional organizing business. This course will help you start a career in organizing not only the homes of your clients but also apply organizing principles to help clients order their lives and business. 

Life Experience Certifications

Librarian Professional Certification. Aimed toward people with experience as a librarian but lacking formal certification, this program offers valuable professional recognition without a traditional degree. It offers qualified applicants with a one-year membership in the IAPO International Association of Professional Librarians and the right to use the certification designation on business cards, showcasing their expertise to potential employers. 

Sports Management Professional Certification. This program is ideal for experienced sports managers seeking formal recognition without a traditional degree. You'll qualify based on your work history or relevant life experiences like volunteer work or coaching, allowing you to showcase your expertise and advance your career in the sports industry.

Master Certification Courses

Business Consultant Master Professional Certification. This course will increase your knowledge of business consulting techniques. Aimed at professional business consultants, you will use consulting skills to complete a business project of your choice.

Event Planner Master Professional Certification. For experienced event planners who have excelled in IAP’s basic Event Planner Certificate Course, this advanced course offers personalized guidance from a faculty member, the opportunity to apply event planning techniques on a real-world project, and a Master Event Planning Professional certification.

Scholarly Certificate Courses

Psychology Certificate Course. In this class, you’ll gain a comprehensive introduction to the field of psychology, or the scientific study of the mind and how it influences human behavior. It features information from both classic and contemporary studies of the mind.

Anatomy and Physiology Certificate Course. This course is perfect for anyone fascinated by the human body. In this class, you’ll learn about all of the major systems of the body, the structures of the body and their physical relationships, and the functions of those structures.

Business Skills Short Courses

Business Organizing. This three-hour online certificate course is designed for anyone who wants to transform workspaces and help a company maximize its resources, workplace, and people. This includes strategies for dealing with both digital information such as emails and databases and paper trails.

Business Events Management. This three-hour online certificate class empowers consultants and professionals to plan and manage successful business events of any size and scope with confidence. These include new product launches, board meetings, open houses, and all types of business events.

IAP Career College for business

IAP Career College's current program offerings are geared towards individual enrollment. The platform doesn’t currently provide customized training packages for businesses or organizations.

How I reviewed IAP Career College

To give an in-depth review of the IAP Career College, I took a deep dive into their class catalogs, course descriptions, and offerings, which gave me a clear picture of the content and learning goals for each program.

I also took advantage of their Live Chat feature and connected with a customer service representative in real time. 

I asked questions about the terms of their money-back guarantee, as well as potential student discounts or availability of their courses for organizations.

Finally, I sought out reviews from past students to gain insights into their experiences. This helped me identify what sets IAP Career College’s programs apart and any areas for improvement.

What I liked about IAP Career College

Potential networking opportunities

Discounted rates for membership to professional associations are a fantastic benefit. These associations connect you with a network of established professionals in your chosen industry and can open doors to career opportunities.

Affordability

IAP Career College is accessible to a lot of learners due to its low costs. While other providers may charge thousands of dollars for an online course in your selected topic, you can explore IAP Career College to start learning the ropes of a profession for lower prices.

Learning by Doing

IAP places a lot of emphasis on applying practical skills in the real world, like getting clients for your business or learning techniques in public speaking. Courses have practical required assignments that are geared to making sure you acquire the skills you need to get started in your chosen career.

Personalized learning with limited class sizes

A lot of classes in the platform have small classes such as 15 students per course and this comes as a big plus. To ensure that the student has personal access to a Faculty Member, only 15 students will be accepted into each Event Planner Master Professional Certification Course.

What could be improved

IAP Career College offers an accessible approach to online education, but like any platform, there's always space for improvement.

Ensuring Up-to-Date Course Content

Some students have expressed concerns about outdated course content, such as the use of text-based or video materials that have not been updated for many years. IAP could address this by regularly reviewing and updating courses to reflect current industry trends.

Building a Community Feature

While IAP Career College courses are designed to be self-paced, creating a forum or online community space for students to connect and share knowledge and experience could add a valuable layer of peer-to-peer learning.

Aesthetics

While I think it’s great to offer certificates for completed courses or the IAPO logo for business cards, I think the aesthetics can play a role in how seriously a certificate or business card is perceived by potential employers and clients.

Exploring a refresh of the certificate design to create a more modern and professional look could enhance their value and impact.

Who IAP Career College is for

IAP is perfect for adults who are busy and motivated to pursue fulfilling careers outside the traditional mold. 

And since the courses are flexible, IAP's online courses are designed to fit your busy schedule if you have a demanding job or other commitments but want to develop new skills or launch a business.

Looking for a fresh start? IAP's diverse course selection is also perfect for career changers as it allows you to explore new career paths and gain foundational knowledge quickly to enter a new field.

The affordability of IAP’s online courses makes it a perfect launchpad for career changers since you won’t have to make a huge investment in time and money before you decide what line of work you’d like to take.

So if you just want to break into or advance in a nontraditional career, IAP’s courses is a great place to start.

Can I buy IAP Career College as a gift?

No, IAP Career College courses can’t be purchased as a gift for someone.

Tips to finding great courses on IAP Career College

IAP Career College offers a wide variety of courses to help you launch or advance in your dream career. Here are some tips to navigate the platform and find the perfect course for you:

On the IAP Career College homepage, you can just quickly type a keyword for a career path you’d like to learn more about. For example, “bookkeeping”, “virtual assistant”, or “catering”, depending on your interests.

Another option is to click the link at the bottom of the search bar on the homepage to view the full selection of their Certificate Courses.

It will lead you straight to their Certificate Courses which you can sort according to popularity or filter based on the field or career path you have in mind.

Each course in IAP Career College lays out the content for that class, so make sure to read the course descriptions!

You’ll get a clear picture of what you’ll get out of the course, what skills you’ll learn, and if it’s aligned with your career goals. Here’s an example of a course description for their certificate course on becoming a book publisher.

Is IAP Career College legit?

The IAP Career College is a legitimate platform. IAP has been in business for over 25 years and is a division of a legitimate company, FabJob Inc., known for publishing career guidebooks since 1999.

IAP is also well-reviewed by many other students from websites such as Trustpilot and is accredited by Better Business Bureau, a consumer protection-focused nonprofit that rates the reliability of businesses and their performance in resolving consumer complaints.

IAP Career College refund

IAP Career College promises a 100% money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with your course.

This allows for a full refund within 30 days of your registration date, as long as you haven't taken the final exam for that course.

IAP Career College alternatives

While IAP Career College offers a unique selection of courses in nontraditional careers, it’s always wise to consider alternatives before enrolling.

A great alternative is Coursera, which partners with top universities and companies to offer high-quality, in-depth courses. Coursera provides specialization programs that have a structured learning path. Consider Coursera if you're looking for a more academic approach and recognized credentials from prestigious institutions, which IAP currently lacks.

Udemy also offers a massive selection of courses in nearly every imaginable field, from coding to creative writing. Like IAP Career College, Udemy courses are also affordable, with frequent sales offering courses for as low as $10. It’s perfect for you if flexibility is a top priority and you’re not keen on having a faculty member access that IAP also offers.

IAP Career College reviews: What others have said

To write the best IAP Career College review, I scoured online forums and review websites to get a well-rounded perspective from past students.

I googled Trustpilot and Reddit to get a general sense of what people say about IAP Career College.

Some Reddit users have experienced confusion over the name of IAP Career College and its legitimacy given that it is not a brick-and-mortar institution and does not feature partnerships with universities.

But an IAP student wrote on Reddit that IAP Career College’s finance textbook is from Rice University, to help others who have concerns about their legitimacy.

On Trustpilot, IAP Career College has 4.9 out of 5 stars based on more than 1,970 reviews.

By far, IAP has been praised the most for having excellent customer service. One user mentioned that they always responded quickly and that they were “always quick to fix any problem.”

IAP has also been praised for its flexibility, which busy professionals have always found to be a great feature given the busyness of balancing work and personal life. A customer commented that being able to take the course at one’s own pace gave him the “motivation to work diligently and to complete the course”

Overall, IAP has earned favorable reviews from thousands of students due to its flexibility and affordability.

Evaluating IAP Career College

Features: Purchasing a course brings an all-inclusive package that includes a personalized completion certificate, access to a faculty member for personalized teaching, and a discount to join a professional association to get to know other professionals in your industry.

Content quality: Courses are typically short and have an easy-to-follow structure that emphasizes real-world skills and practical applications in different industries. It also comes in a combination of text- and video-based materials

Content breadth: There are hundreds of courses in a variety of nontraditional careers, from becoming an Art Gallery owner to catering, becoming an image consultant, motivational speaker, and professional organizer.

Teachers: All IAP Career College teachers are established professionals and have academic designations up to the the PhD level, have several years of real-world experience, and have either built their businesses, taught others to do the same, or both.

Supporting materials: Each course is supplemented by a textbook from IAP Career College.

Payments & refunds: IAP offers a 100% money-back guarantee for students who are unsatisfied with any course, provided that the final exam hasn’t been taken yet and the request is made within 30 days from registration.

Support: IAP has excellent customer service that includes a Live Chat on the website with a person – not a robot – at the other end of the line.

How to open an IAP Career College account

Opening an account on the platform is easy.

All you have to do is go to Account on the navigation bar at the top right of the homepage.

Put an active email and choose a secure password that you’ll use to access your courses.

And that’s it! You’ll be on your way to exploring nontraditional career paths with IAP Career College.

Is IAP Career College worth it?

In my opinion, IAP Career College is worth it if you’re seeking flexible and affordable online courses to explore unconventional career paths.

In as little as 4 to 12 weeks, you can complete a practical course that breaks down a career into skills that you can acquire and apply in the real world.

You’ll also get access to a faculty member which you can maximize to be mentored on starting your own business or advancing in your career.

For an attractive price that’s lower than many online training providers, you can also take advantage of the opportunity to join a professional association to boost your career with potential networking opportunities.

All on top of a personalized certificate that you can order to be printed on fine linen to showcase your achievement.

But if you’re looking for certificates accredited by formal institutions, IAP Career College may not be the best fit for you.

You’ll also have to do your own research to see if an IAP Career College would be recognized or distinguish you in your own industry.

For example, while an IAP course may prepare you to become a skilled event planner, a course on Psychology or Anatomy may be better provided by academically affiliated online platforms.

If you're unsure, try out a course or two to see if it aligns with your needs. With a 100% money-back guarantee, IAP Career College can be a stepping stone towards a fulfilling, unconventional career path.

Frequently asked questions

How much does IAP Career College cost?

The cost of IAP Career College courses depends on the level of depth and type of courses you’ll avail. Introductory certificate courses cost as low as $49 to $149 while more advanced Master Certificate courses cost between $377 to $797.

Does the IAP Career College have a refund policy?

Yes, the IAP Career College offers a 100% money-back guarantee if you’re unsatisfied with your course, as long as you haven’t completed the final exam and you request the refund within 30 days of registration. 

How many courses are there?

There are hundreds of courses in the IAP Career College platform from a vast range of subjects, from catering to bookkeeping, becoming a business consultant, or a professional organizer among many others.

Does IAP Career College have a free trial?

No, the IAP Career College does not currently have a free trial. But you can browse its extensive course catalog to get a good feel of what each class will cover, and you can request a refund within 30 days of registration 

Does IAP Career College give certificates?

Yes, IAP Career College gives certificates upon completion of a course. Completers will receive personalized completion certificates with their names printed on them.

What languages is IAP Career College available in?

IAP Career College is primarily available in English.