Iowa State University is currently piloting micro-credentials and digital badges to offer enhanced and innovative learning opportunities. The program will be a resource for badge strategy, design, delivery. If you have interest in unlocking new opportunities with micro-credentials, please contact CELT’s Professional Learning & Micro-Credential Program Specialist, Tanya Austin, tjaustin@iastate.edu.

What is a Micro-Credential?

A micro-credential is a short, focused program that allows you to gain and showcase specific skills or knowledge through various learning experiences. Unlike traditional courses, micro-credentials are shorter and more narrowly focused. Upon completion, you earn a digital badge that validates your achievement—perfect for sharing with employers who are seeking candidates with in-demand skills.

Why Earn a Micro-Credential?

Whether you’re a student or a professional, micro-credentials offer many benefits:

What is a Digital Badge?

At the successful completion of a micro-credential program, you receive a digital badge signifying the skills you’ve acquired. Embedded with metadata, each includes detailed information about the program, its requirements, and your accomplishments.

Digital badges are portable and verifiable, meaning you can easily share them on social media platforms, add them to your resume, or include them in job applications.

Micro-Credentials:

  • stand out by acquiring targeted career skills alongside your broader education.
  • are high quality and competency-based and standalone or are embedded in existing courses.
  • focus on in-demand skills to help you be competitive with employment goals and aspirations.
  • offer transparency and portability. Upon completing a micro-credential, learners will be issued a digital badge to showcase their achievements to coworkers, supervisors, or potential employers. They can be posted on social media, embedded in personal websites or e-portfolios, and downloaded as PDFs.
  • are professional development offering working professionals a flexible and affordable way to grow in their current roles or pivot to new careers.

Developing a micro-credential at ISU involves a review process to ensure quality, rigor, and alignment across campus. CELT  provides comprehensive support to ensure that faculty and staff have the necessary resources and guidance to develop high-quality, market-relevant micro-credentials that students and learners will want to pursue.

How can my department issue digital credentials?

Departments seeking to submit a micro-credential for review and approval will submit the M-C Interest Form to coordinate an initial consultation with CELT’s Professional Learning & Micro-Credential Program Specialist, Tanya Austin, tjaustin@iastate.edu.

What kinds of micro-credentials does ISU support?

Faculty and Staff Resources

ISU micro-credentials are designed to:

  • provide immediate work-force value.
  • close the changing skills gaps.
  • meet emerging industry needs.
  • help build a pipeline of qualified employees.
  • help expand benefits, training, and professional development programs for retention and engagement.
  • support employees in planning for professional growth, advancement, and succession planning.

Why should I partner with you?

  • We’ll work together to develop a micro-credential that provides your current workforce with the skills they need to advance or shift to emerging needs.
  • ISU micro-credentials are comprised of our leading-edge courses from our degree programs working with faculty experts.

If you are interested in partnering, please contact CELT’s Professional Learning & Micro-Credential Program Specialist, Tanya Austin, tjaustin@iastate.edu to schedule a consultation.

Having the chance for Micro-Credentials from ISU has been a high value career development option for our employees and is something we look for in differentiation in the hiring of new graduates.

Ashtyn Zinn, Director of Technical Services and Material Sciences