Playbook | March 20, 2023
Incremental Credentialing Framework
Playbook Sections
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Learn & Work Ecosystem Library Credential As You Go DictionaryIncremental Credentialing Framework Approaches
Stack As You Go
Strategies
- Smaller credentials lead to larger credentials (e.g., badges lead to microcredentials lead to certificates lead to degrees).
- Bridge workforce learning and academic learning.
- Transition credentials from one academic degree or industry credential to the next.
- Bridge non-credit and credit learning.
- Build on prior learning and link to next-level credentials.
Examples
- Entry-level microcredential designed to feed into one or more associate degrees (e.g., a microcredential in basic electricity leads to an associate degree in manufacturing).
- Entry-level microcredential designed to feed into associate degree and to bachelor’s degree (e.g., a microcredential in medical coding and billing leads to a health information associate degree, which leads to a bachelor’s in health information).
- Incremental credential designed to transition an associate degree into a bachelor’s degree (e.g., a microcredential in basic management adds onto a technical associate degree and stacks into a business degree).
- A bachelor’s degree is reorganized into multiple microcredentials that accumulate into a degree (e.g., a bachelor’s degree in business administration is redesigned into three microcredentials plus general education courses).
- A graduate certificate added to a microcredential, along with a few more courses, becomes a master’s degree (e.g., a graduate certificate in urban planning, plus a microcredential in sustainable development, plus additional courses stack into a master’s in community and economic development).
- Public-private partnerships between community colleges and employers to promote stackable credential pathways (e.g., Virginia community colleges and health care organizations).
- Associate and bachelor’s degree programs designed for industry workers and the use of prior learning assessment (e.g., Pace University/NACTEL program)
Things to Consider
- How do skills build along a pathway? What skills depend on previous skills and lead to the next level?
- What academic programs or workplace training can be modularized to give learners more entry and exit points?
- What are the transition points between degrees? Between industry credentials?
- What skills that learners develop in the workplace can be integrated into an academic pathway? What skills gained in academic programs can be integrated into industry credentials?
- How can prior learning be used in an academic or industry pathway?
Why Use This Strategy
- Gives learners obtainable credentials on the way to an academic degree or industry credential.
- Helps learners transition from one credential to the next.
- Encourages learners to return to school or the workplace training to obtain next-level credentials.
- Recognizes learning already acquired.