You’re itching to further your education, either by switching fields or by advancing your skills in the field you’re in now. But you’re also not a kid anymore, at least not in the carefree, days-of-leisure sense. So how do you make concrete progress without dropping everything to go back to the full-time college grind? Do what more and more working professionals are doing every year: opt for a specialized certificate program instead of a traditional degree.

Professional certificates, says Nancy O’Neill, head of certificate programs in Emerson College’s Division of Continuing Education, are the path of choice for those who are "looking for a way to develop skills quickly." These programs are typically taught by industry veterans, and O’Neill says students appreciate that the instructors "are professionals working in their fields, who can bring the experiences of their days into the classroom at night."

That real-world focus is evident in the pace and structure of many professional-certificate programs. The courses can be as short as a few nights or as long as several semesters; very few run the length of a traditional degree, with most schools planning the timing of the classes specifically to fit in after work and on weekends. With much to accomplish in a shorter period of time, the resulting courses are "hard-hitting and concentrated," says O’Neill — just as working adults want them to be.

For many, the appeal is concrete: a relatively short time investment to earn a certificate can yield access to a different job or greater protection against downsizing in a current position. For others, the intense focus on one topic allows them to see whether a particular field is one to which they would be willing to devote even more time, and the certificate becomes a stepping stone to the relevant degree.

Boston-area schools offer plenty of distinct and skill-specific options. Below, a sampling of singular programs at 10 colleges and universities. (All these schools offer more than one certificate program.) Call for more details, and you may be on your speedy way to a new educational milestone.

Clinical-trials management at Boston University

Whether you’re considering medical school or a job in research sciences, or you’re already a scientist seeking a glimpse at the most current regulations and protocols, you can hone your skills in this certificate program offered as a collaboration between Boston University’s Center for Professional Education and School of Medicine. Three day-long seminars over the course of a semester provide in-depth study of each level of the clinical-trial process; in addition to earning a certificate in clinical-trials management, participants receive a document from the medical school attesting to their education in protection of human subjects.

Other certificate programs, including three in real estate, are offered through the Center for Professional Education at Boston University (940 Comm Ave West, Boston, 617-353-4497).

Screenwriting Certificate at Emerson College

Instead of sitting on that killer idea you’ve been turning over in your head for a few years, get that first screenplay written while earning Emerson College’s screenwriting certificate. In two semesters, experienced screenwriters — your instructors here — will help you acquire the skills to analyze film structure and content, then apply those skills to the creation of your own screenplay. The course also includes seminars on how to market your script when you have it polished and ready to go.

Other certificates are available in fields such as publishing and graduate public relations from Emerson College Division of Continuing Education (120 Boylston Street, Boston, 617-824-8280).

Bioengineering certificate at Tufts University

The future of biomedicine is woven into this interdisciplinary program, which blends biomedical instrumentation, biomedical optics, biomaterials/biotechnology, and tissue engineering. For electrical and mechanical engineers working in medical technologies, medical-policy makers, clinicians, or any biotech professional, this a cutting-edge program that addresses the technology itself and the issues that surround it. The courses are taught by faculty from both the engineering and health-sciences departments.

Epidemiology and human-computer interaction are just two of the other programs offered through the Graduate and Professional Studies Advanced Certificate Programs at Tufts University (Ballou Hall, Medford, 617-627-3395).

Advanced professional certificate in counseling and psychology for educators, clergy, managers, and health and human-services professionals at Lesley College

Many workers in human-services positions find themselves expected to deliver impromptu or formal counseling, regardless of whether they hold degrees in related fields or have received adequate training. This certificate is intended to help those not trained as mental-health counselors to develop counseling skills, as well as an ability to discern how best to establish helping relationships appropriate to their work settings and roles.

Lesley College (1815 Mass Ave, Cambridge, 617-349-8300) also offers programs in expressive therapies and arts and multicultural education.

American Sign Language–English interpreting certificate program at Northeastern University

Learning to speak any language well enough to get by is one thing; being able to translate that language is a much tougher task. That seems especially true of American Sign Language (ASL), which relies on gesture and symbol. For students proficient in both ASL and English, and familiar with deaf culture, this Northeastern program offers theory and practice in translation. It’s intended for those preparing for state quality-assurance screening or national evaluation, those seeking entry-level ASL-translation work, and those working to improve their credentials for freelance assignments.

Film studies and marketing new media are two of the many other certificates offered by Northeastern University (180 Ryder Hall, Huntington Avenue, Boston, 617-373-2400).

Spanish court interpretation at University of Massachusetts Boston

With the sizable Latino population in the Boston area, a great need exists for Spanish-language court interpreters. This program prepares you for the State Certification Exam for Massachusetts, using a combination of lectures, in-class exercises, and workshops with court employees and law-enforcement officials, as well as court-department visits. No court experience is required, but near-native fluency in both Spanish and English is mandatory.

University of Massachusetts Boston (203 Wheatley Hall, Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, 617-287-7900) offers a range of certificate programs, including Oracle and Microsoft certified systems administration.

Certificate in museum studies at Harvard Extension School

Harvard University, with its diverse and unique on-campus museums and collections, is the ideal environment in which to pursue museum studies. Whether you have no experience or a limited background you wish to expand on, this certificate program offers formal training and a hands-on practicum that will add depth to your knowledge — and your résumé — in this growing field. The program includes an internship to give you experience with the daily challenges and the overall vision it takes to run a successful museum.

Certificates in public health and technologies of education are two of the other offerings at Harvard Extension School (51 Brattle Street, Cambridge, 617-495-4024).

AutoCAD at Boston Architectural Center

The number-one tool used for drafting, according to Architecture Week, is AutoCAD, and that holds true both for 2-D and 3-D drafting. Boston Architectural Center students get a rigorous hands-on introduction to this software program, which operates like a drawing program for engineers. Whether you’re a city planner, a draftsperson in engineering, an architect, or someone who works in the developmental end of manufacturing, knowing AutoCAD is essential to your marketability and your functional success on the job.

The Boston Architectural Center (320 Newbury Street, Boston, 617-585-0101) also offers certificates in historic preservation and digital photography.

Electronic graphic design at Suffolk University’s New England School of Art & Design

Ideal for students looking to secure entry-level employment in the graphic- or electronic-design fields, without pursuing a bachelor-of-fine-arts program, this design certificate program can be completed part-time in the evenings. It’s also an excellent introduction to the use of computers in design for those wishing to build on current skills or to change focus in their design work. A 15-course sequence puts the emphasis on real-world skills, combining basic design, typography, computer design, and software training.

In addition to design, Suffolk University (8 Ashburton Place, Boston, 617-573-8000) offers certificates in management and arts and sciences, plus other certificates through New England School of Art & Design (75 Arlington Street, Boston, 617-573-8785).

Certificate in Web-site development at New England Institute of Art & Communications

Any sixth-grader can make a Web site these days, but real Web designers who can make a user-friendly, media-savvy site are in demand. This program assumes you already possess basic skills and are ready for a serious upgrade. Your instructors, experienced Web professionals, will keep you abreast of the latest technologies and processes used by the industry. Easier Web authoring, more-sophisticated media integration, and a smoother user interface — these elements will make your Web sites more memorable and your skills more desired.

Ai New England’s Center for Professional Development (10 Brookline Place West, Boston, 617-582-4409) also offers a certificate in digital graphic design.

David Valdes Greenwood can be reached at valdesgreenwood@worldnet.att.net