What Is a Non-Degree Credential?

Non-degree credentials are ways to document learning, skill attainment, competency, participation, or professional readiness outside of a traditional degree program. Across Extension, these credentials may include certificates, industry certifications, occupational licenses, apprenticeships, CEUs, badges, assessments, skill assertions, and other recognized learning endpoints.

In many cases, Extension programs already use these kinds of endpoints. The opportunity is to make them clearer, more consistent, and more valuable to the people who earn, recognize, or rely on them.

For example, a credential in “Small Farm Business Planning” might be a collection of individual learning opportunities combined together to showcase a learner’s skills in aspects of financial management, marketing and sales, and business planning and strategy. Similarly, a credential in “Community Health Outreach” might reflect demonstrated knowledge around public health messaging and communications, local resource identification and coordination, and facilitation of discussions around health related topics. 

From Analog to Digital Credentials 

Extension has used non-degree credentials for decades, from paper certificates and CEUs to licenses, certifications, and other forms of recognition. Digital credentials build on this history by making learning easier to verify, share, transport, and connect to future opportunities.

But digital is not the destination by itself. The strongest credentialing decisions begin with the same core questions, regardless of format: What learning occurred? What skill or competency was gained? How was it verified? Who recognizes it? How will the learner use it?