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Digital badges and micro-credentials have increased in popularity recently, with more and more people adding them to their resumes and LinkedIn profiles in an effort to stand out from the crowd. Employers are increasingly looking for candidates with micro-credentials and digital badges, since they are an excellent way to demonstrate that you are keeping yourself up to date in your field. But what do these terms mean and how, exactly, could they help you catch the eye of recruiters and potential employers?

What Is a Micro-Credential?

A micro-credential is a short, focused credential that is generally earned by completing a course, seminar, or series of modules. Micro-credential are usually offered online, asynchronously, at a relatively low cost, and take less time to complete than a traditional college course. The focus of such programs tends to be narrow, concentrating on a specific proficiency or skill, and they are stand-alone, meaning there is not a prior coursework requirement and will not have additional coursework to complete afterward. Micro-credentials are offered by companies and professional and licensing organizations, as well as educational institutions like colleges and universities.

Micro-credentials are related to a set of competencies and specific skills as laid out by a governing body such as a university or professional organization. At Post University, our micro-credentials are based on standards set forth by authoritative bodies such as the American Management Association, FEMA, the CDC, and more. They are taught by instructors that are held accountable for ensuring they uphold these standards and that the participants of the program demonstrate the learning objectives for awarding of the micro-credential.

While a majority of micro-credentials are earned upon completion of a program, others can be acquired through assessment only. Various learning institutions offer competency-based assessments that allow individuals to prove their knowledge by taking an examination. Platforms such as Valid-8 can be utilized to allow a qualified validator to verify a person’s expertise in a given subject area. One example of this micro-credential type is the Microsoft Certification program, which would allow you to demonstrate your proficiency with the Microsoft suite of software programs without having to attend a formal leaning program.

What Is a Digital Badge?

A digital badge is how you tell the world about your newly acquired competency or skill. It acts as a visual representation of the micro-credential you have earned that you can share on social media sites like LinkedIn, affix to your resume, or add to your email signature. Technically, anyone can issue a digital badge for just about anything, and they are not always associated with a formal micro-credential.

Employers and recruiters can easily verify the authenticity of your digital badge because it includes metadata such as where you earned the digital badge, what you did to earn it, and proof that you have fulfilled the necessary criteria.

The Difference Between Digital Badges and Micro-Credential

Micro-credentials are usually issued by educational institutions or businesses working in partnership with one upon completion of a program where the participant has demonstrated the mastery of a skill. This distinction is an important one since some employers might value a micro-credential issued by a university over a digital badge not associated with an institution of higher education.

Essentially, micro-credentials are held to more rigorous standards than digital badges. However, many institutions will use the term interchangeably, or use the term “digital badge” to refer to the proof of having earned a micro-credential that one would display on their e-portfolio or LinkedIn page. When you are looking to advance your skillset and keep up with industry trends, though, it is important to make the distinction between the two, since micro-credentials tend to carry more weight.

Micro-Credentials at Post University

Post University offers a variety of career-focused, stackable micro-credentials to help you re-skill, upskill, and stay relevant in your field of choice. undergraduate and graduate program at Post offers micro-credential opportunities that you can take advantage of to supplement your main course of study, part of a larger certification program, or even as stand-alone micro-credentials.

  • Timely & Relevant: Designed with current and emerging markets in mind to quickly build and refine career-relevant skills
  • Stackable: Complete multiple micro-credentials for an even more in-depth understanding of the topics at hand
  • Useful & Job-Based: From job-specific abilities to soft skills, your micro-credential will prepare you for real-world work in HR, business, healthcare, and more
  • Accessible: Cater your micro-credentials to your needs, whether online, in-person, a la carte, or part of a larger program of study
  • Distinctive & Demonstrable: Developed to meet standards set by industry professionals to guarantee quality and relevance, you can share proof of your knowledge and skills through e-portfolios, social media, digital resumes, and more

Find the Micro-Credential That Is Right for You

Are you ready to take your skills to the next level? Micro-credentials are a fantastic way to show current and future employers that you are a lifelong learner committed to professional development, and Post University can help. With micro-credentials covering everything from business essentials to public relations, computer science to entrepreneurship, there is something for everyone at Post. Reach out to an admissions advisor for more information or apply today!

Thank you for reading! The views and information provided in this post do not reflect Post University programs and/or outcomes directly. If you are interested in learning more about our programs, you can find a complete list of our programs on our website or reach out directly! 

Please note jobs, career outcomes, and/or salaries highlighted in this blog do not reflect jobs, career outcomes, and/or salaries expected from any Post program. To learn more about Post’s program and their outcomes, please fill out a form to speak with an admissions representative.