The incremental credentialing process formally captures all types of learning that individuals acquire – in education institutions, in the workplace, or other life experiences.
Incremental credentials can be of any size or level (credit or noncredit, undergraduate or graduate), and from any source. They can be a first credential, act as a bridge between credentials, and build into larger credentials.
These increments can originate from education or industry and be integrated together. In addition, learning acquired outside formal education and training structures – often called “prior” or “experiential” learning – can be integrated within incremental credentials. The Incremental Credentialing Framework captures these different approaches to developing incremental credentials.
OVERVIEW VIDEO
Credential As You Go has acquired three phases of funding to date. Lumina Foundation funded Phase I, resulting in the Incremental Credential Framework for testing. The Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education funds Phase II (Grant R305T210063), which focuses on rapid prototyping of and research on incremental credentials with a national campaign. An anonymous private donor fund at the Program on Skills, Credentials & Workforce Policy at George Washington University funds the development of the prototype Learn and Work Ecosystem Library. Walmart funds Phase III, which focuses on systems change for expansion and sustainability of incremental credentials. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent views of Lumina Foundation, Institute of Education Sciences, the U.S. Department of Education, Walmart, or George Washington University.
