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With the awareness of student loan debt and the financial crises of recent years, more adults recognize the value of alternative credentials. An alternative credential can be a certificate in graphic design or a short skills-based course in artificial intelligence from IBM. Completing the course may (or may not) mean earning credit hours. What is most important about an alternative credential is that it typically aligns with real skills and competencies sought by employers. It’s a career enhancement that doesn’t require a full degree.

Degrees can be wonderful; the authors have several! However, if you can earn an industry-recognized certification in less than a year and walk into a sustainable job at the end, why not?

In a study by the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) and Pearson, an industry leader in offering educational services, 73% of higher education institutions indicate that they’re aware of and planning for alternative credentials. This will bring even more online opportunities to learners.

Where a degree may be represented by a transcript listing courses, many alternative credentials are represented as digital credentials or badges. These digital forms display specific information about the skills and competencies acquired and what the learner is capable of doing as a result. They are not self-reported by the learner, but are verified by the institution.