The Young Artist Certificate Program facilitates advanced artistic and technical achievement through five progressive levels with musical goals and repertoire guidelines for every instrument and voice.

Passing a level requires playing a performance evaluation for a departmental panel in the spring semester, along with completion (or passing out of) all three music theory classes of a level (e.g. Theory 1A, 1B, and 1C). Additional performance requirements and electives also apply, but the main focus of this program is performance readiness and musical achievement. Completing and passing a given level represents a significant achievement and is most often the culmination of multiple years of study. Students may proceed through the level at any pace that is comfortable and individually appropriate.

Private teachers and Department Chairs advise students, in conjunction with the Executive and Associate Directors, on their long-term planning and readiness to undertake passing a given level.