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Skills-Based Microcredentials Give Technical Professionals New Career Pathways

Microcredentials offer learners an accessible and affordable way to gain and market industry-recognized technical skills that provide pathways into new opportunities. 

Emerging technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence, and robotics are creating a global demand for skilled technicians to fill critical roles. While many of these positions require specific skills, they don’t always demand a two or four-year degree. This is where skills-based microcredentials come in.

Microcredentials are a relatively new type of credential that represent the mastery of specific skills in a learning program. In order to earn them, learners must demonstrate the skill through a skills validation assessment. They can be “stacked” to show a growing skillset in a defined area, allowing learners to earn several microcredentials in one program. Microcredentials are also verifiable and digitally shareable, highlighting the skills learners have acquired for potential employers. 

Providing new pathways into technical careers 

It’s important to understand where skills-based microcredentials fall in the wider scope of credentials earned through learning programs. Microcredentials remove barriers to entry in technical fields by offering a more accessible path for learners compared to traditional degrees, as they require less time and financial investment. They allow aspiring technical professionals to quickly gain and demonstrate the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to secure entry-level opportunities. Additionally, microcredentials provide paths for advancement by enabling working professionals to upskill their current abilities or reskill into new areas.

Skills-based microcredentials provide new pathways into technical careers in three ways: 

  1. Skilling: Pathways to entry-level opportunities  

Microcredentials can help new workers build and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for technical entry-level positions. Unlike broader two- or four-year degrees, microcredentials focus on the specific competencies of the role, significantly reducing the time and cost for a learner to become job-ready. 

  1. Upskilling: Pathways to advanced opportunities 

For current technical professionals, microcredentials enable continuous professional development by allowing learners to quickly upskill, or acquire new, specialized skills to meet an organization’s needs or new career opportunities. 

  1. Reskilling: Pathways to Emerging Industry Careers  

As technology evolves, certain jobs may change or even become obsolete while new ones emerge. Microcredentials offer a swift and agile pathway for career transition, enabling professionals to proactively reskill for evolving business needs or opportunities in emerging technical fields.

Getting Started 

More universities and training organizations are starting to offer microcredentials because of the value they provide for learners and industry, but their quality and definitions can vary. This makes it challenging for students to understand the true value of the microcredential. 

With over 30 years of experience, IEEE has the credibility and infrastructure to offer trusted verification of skills-based microcredentials. We partner with industry leaders, training providers, and conference organizers to validate training programs and issue verified professional credentials that meet rigorous industry standards.

Newest eLearning offering Credentials

In addition to skills-based microcredentials, IEEE Educational Activities is offering a variety of new online courses. When you successfully complete courses offered by IEEE Educational Activities, you’ll earn continuing education credits that can be used towards maintaining your Professional Engineer license. Plus, you can also earn digital badges from course programs to display on your LinkedIn profile, highlighting your commitment for professional growth to potential employers.

AI and Chip Technology

  • AI Applications in Semiconductor Packaging:
    Explore how AI is transforming semiconductor packaging reliability, contrasting traditional methods with advanced techniques for performance prediction, failure analysis, and lifecycle optimization.
  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Chip Design:
    In this program, learners will gain comprehensive knowledge of AI and machine learning applications in chip design and EDA tools, exploring high-value use cases, relevant technologies, and implementation strategies to improve product quality and design efficiency. Learners will also understand how these advances are fundamentally transforming chip design methodologies and prepare for future developments in the field.
  • Integrating Edge AI and Advanced Nanotechnology in Semiconductor Applications:
    This course series explores the intersection of AI, edge computing, and nanotechnology through five connected courses. Learners will cover foundational concepts, nanomagnetic logic, semiconductor innovations, real-world applications, and future system architecture, gaining comprehensive skills in Edge AI Nanoinformatics for modern computing environments.
  • Mastering AI Integration in Semiconductor Manufacturing:
    In this course, learners will explore how AI is revolutionizing semiconductor manufacturing by examining fundamental AI integration concepts, data collection techniques, process optimization methods, and supply chain applications. Participants will gain practical skills to implement AI strategies that enhance production efficiency, improve product quality, and make data-driven decisions within their organizations.

Technology and Infrastructure

  • Battery Energy Storage Technologies and Applications:
    This comprehensive program offers an in-depth exploration of battery storage technologies, covering fundamental concepts, applications across various sectors, technical design, safety regulations, and advanced developments in transportation applications.
  • IEEE 802.11ax: An Overview of High-Efficiency Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 6):
    This course explores IEEE 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) technology, covering PHY layer innovations (day one) and MAC layer advancements (day two). Learners will examine how 802.11ax achieves higher efficiency and improved performance in dense wireless environments through better spectrum utilization, flexible multi-access schemes, and enhanced interference management.

Data and Digital Strategy

  • Machine Learning: Predictive Analysis for Business Decisions:
    In this course, learners will gain an overview of machine learning types and applications for enterprise data analysis, while mastering the technical vocabulary and high-level concepts needed to effectively deploy machine learning solutions in business operations.
  • Protecting Privacy in the Digital Age:
    In this course, learners will gain a comprehensive understanding of digital privacy, including how to operationalize privacy in organizations, engineer privacy into systems, make privacy usable for end users, and address emerging technological challenges to privacy. This program addresses the critical need for privacy protection in our increasingly digitized world where technological innovations pose growing risks to personal information security.

Check out more eLearning Courses that offer digital credentials on the IEEE Learning Network. 

Read more about different types of credentials and how they can advance your career here.

Wednesday, 29th October 2025