Credentials

What are Credentials?
A documented award by a responsible and authorized body that has determined that an individual has achieved specific learning outcomes relative to a given standard. Credential in this context is an umbrella term that includes degrees, diplomas, licenses, certificates, badges, and professional/industry certifications.¹

In the 21st Century, learners are utilizing a mix of credentials to showcase their skills and knowledge to employers and educators alike.  Some credentials are connected, others are stackable but all hold value in the economy for learners, institutions and workforce.  With an increasingly diverse learner population, institutions, policymakers, and the workforce must understand, be able to support, and verify a wide variety of credentials in order to fill the demands for hiring and continuing education. 

^{1. Lumina Foundation. (2015) Connecting Credentials: A Beta Credentials Framework.}