What’s the difference between micro-credentialing and badging and are they worth the effort?

The difference between micro credentialing and badging is simply that micro credentialing is short, highly-focused, and typically digital skills learning and assessment, and badging is the digital proof of the exam’s successful completion. In this article we’ll explain how each is different, how they work together to build a skilled workforce, and why they might be worth the effort for your company or organization.

The great worker shortage created by the pandemic is beginning to equalize, but for many companies and organizations it’s still challenging to find the right people with the desired skills and competencies. It can also be difficult for both companies and their employees to keep up with today’s lightning speed of technological advances.

Not only do hiring managers need to employ creative methods of engaging with new talent, they also need to invest in developing the skilled workers that will help them bridge and minimize the ever-present skills gap. A valuable and effective tool for closing that gap is the use of micro credentialing and badging programs using exam delivery software.

What are micro credentials:

Like most learning and skills assessment programs, micro-credentialing can be fairly open-ended. Rather than a set definition, micro-credentials are widely defined by having these key characteristics:

• Lessons and tests are short and focused on a narrow, targeted set of skills and competencies.
• Learning that’s focused on skills and proficiency instead of on time spent learning.
• The exam assesses the desired competency as a skill or behavior that can be demonstrated.
• The microcredentials are recognized and often co-developed in partnership with members of the industry and industry organizations, based on the skills and competencies employers in the industries seek.
• Review by peers and industry organizations provides quality assurance.
• Some micro-credentials are one-time learning and assessment experiences, while others are modules that can be stacked to create qualifications such as certificates or degrees.
• Implemented using exam delivery software

Micro-credentials are a great way for hiring managers to identify candidates who carry the badges showing they mastered the skills or competencies required to do the job successfully. These short learning programs can also help provide laser-focused training and skills assessment for new hires or employees who are transitioning to new roles and need to improve their skill set. Test delivery software like Gauge offers highly-customizable features that allow you to design and deliver the precise training programs and exams you need to build the best possible career or skilled workforce.

What are badges?

Badges are a digital visual representation of the micro-credential, showing that the individual has passed the exam that demonstrates their proficiency in the new skill or skills. Once earned, badges can be used to promote the new skill by sharing on social media, displaying on websites and resumes or C.V.s, and adding to email signatures and digital badge wallets like Credly and Accredible, which are easily integrated with Gauge, where the final certificate is stored.

This digital badge contains pertinent metadata including information on the issuing entity, the individual who received the badge, the criteria required to earn it, and the evidence that the criteria has been satisfied. Because of the embedded metadata, digital badges are easier to verify for legitimacy than paper certificates, which are often easy to forge.

Individuals can use digital badges to build and promote their professional brand as they develop their careers and master the skills employers seek in a wide variety of fields and industries. The routine use of exam delivery platforms by a growing number of organizations that offer this kind of credentialing makes it easier than ever for pros to add to their skill stack. Businesses can utilize micro-credentialing and badging to highlight their skilled workforce and their company’s growth mindset, showing that they value the efforts employees make to improve their offerings.

Some careers that rely on micro-credentials include:

• Data analysis
• Industrial engineering
• Information Technology
• Electrician
• HVAC
• Cybersecurity
• Medical
• Education
• Manufacturing

Soft Skills

Micro-credentials are also increasingly used to highlight an individual’s commitment to mastering the soft skills that most employers seek, including:

• Empathy
• Oral and written communication
• Critical thinking
• Resilience
• Creative problem-solving
• Collaboration
• Taking initiative

Showing mastery of these soft skills demonstrates to employers that an individual cares about how they communicate and interact with colleagues. They indicate a high emotional intelligence (EQ) and a desire to be an asset to the team who works well with others.

Higher Education

Many colleges and universities around the world offer micro-credentialing and badging in a wide variety of programs. Anyone from instructors wishing to add to what they are able to teach, to enrolled students testing the waters before choosing a degree track, professionals seeking more skills to grow their career, and even hobbyists can benefit from these short, focused programs. Stackable credentials are a flexible way for individuals to build a path to earning a certificate or degree in smaller blocks of time commitment and often at a lower overall cost.

In general, individuals who utilize micro-credentialing and badging are often seen by employers as desirable. The time, money, and effort they expend to learn new skills shows a willingness to improve and grow. Business leadership that prioritizes employee growth can build a clear path to that growth by developing their own micro credentialing programs on exam delivery platforms like Gauge, and also by partnering with organizations and learning institutions that offer them. The flexible features built into Gauge can be just the tool you need to build complete micro-credentialing and badging programs while also help you develop a workforce with the skills you need to grow your business sustainably.

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If your certification program is running on tools that were never built for it — and you’re starting to feel the friction in your daily operations — Gauge was designed for exactly this situation. It handles the full exam lifecycle for professional credentialing programs, from item banking through results and credential issuance, without requiring you to stitch together separate systems.