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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Author and leadership expert John Maxwell once famously said that “the single biggest way to impact an organization is to focus on leadership development. There is almost no limit to the potential of an organization that recruits good people, raises them up as leaders, and continually develops them.” A culture of leadership development and innovation boosts profits and engages workers.
Experts confirm that there are clear benefits to fostering leadership by encouraging your employees’ professional growth and nurturing and developing leaders in your company. Studies show that promoting a culture of leadership, innovation, and continuous learning offer value for organizations, or can present significant impediments to success in their absence.
By the Numbers
- 10%: The number of true “natural leaders” there are in the population, according to leadership research conducted in 2023 by career website Zippia. However, Zippia’s research also shows that another 20% of individuals have the requisite talents and could be cultivated into high-quality leaders with the right training and development.
- 7%: The amount of annual sales companies give up (or don’t capitalize on) for every year that they delay or deny the professional growth and development of those who show leadership potential, according to Zippia research.
- 22%: How much more profitable companies are that engage their employees by building a culture of leadership, innovation, and recognition versus those that don’t, also according to Zippia research.
- 82%: Percent of leaders who agreed that an organization that can’t innovate will fail within five years, according to a 2023 survey of nearly 10,000 leaders and employees in the tech industry by Miro, an innovative platform for distributed teams.
- 4 out of 5: The number of tech/information workers surveyed who agreed that a culture of innovation boosts employee engagement and keeps employees “more invested in and excited about the company’s future,” according to the aforementioned Miro research.
- US$8.8 Trillion, or 9% of the world’s GDP: The cost of low employee engagement to the global economy, according to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace: 2023 Report.
- 20-25%: Percentage increase in overall job performance, productivity, and leadership behaviors demonstrated by those who underwent leadership training, according to a 2017 study on Leadership Training Design, Delivery, and Implementation published in the Journal of Applied Psychology.
- 10X: How much faster top innovation companies are at developing new products than their weaker counterparts, according to a McKinsey study. The study also found that top innovators are three times more likely to meet their customers’ needs than weaker competitors.
Invest in Your Team’s Growth and Success Through the IEEE Professional Development Suite
Experts agree that developing leaders and promoting a culture of innovation and learning will increase employee engagement and retention, boost sales and profitability, and move your organization forward. Within the fast-moving, rapidly-evolving, and competitive tech arena, the IEEE Professional Development Suite is uniquely adapted to support this culture of innovation and learning.
The IEEE Professional Development Suite is specially-designed for current and aspiring technology leaders who want to develop their essential business and management skills. The programs help sharpen the unique skills needed to advance their teams, create engaged and inspired workplace environments, and support their organizations in advancing technology and innovation.
Programs included in the IEEE Professional Development Suite are:
IEEE Leading Technical Teams
This live learning program recognizes the unique challenges that come with leading technical groups. It’s designed for team leaders, managers, and directors of engineering and technology teams.
In addition to the live, 6-hour training, attendees will also participate in the “360° Leadership Practices Inventory.” This leadership development tool solicits confidential feedback on the participant’s areas of strength and opportunities for improvement from their team members, peers, and managers/supervisors. The program also encompasses instructor-led exercises and case studies demonstrating the application of best practices to various workplace challenges. Participants will also learn the “Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership” and receive valuable peer coaching. Learn more about IEEE Leading Technical Teams training sessions featuring both in-person and virtual options.
IEEE | Rutgers Online Mini-MBA for Engineers and Technology Professionals
This flexible mini-MBA, offered by IEEE in partnership with Rutgers Business School, is specifically designed to help engineers and technology professionals obtain the critical business skills needed for long-term career success. The 15-week curriculum covers topics such as Business Strategy, New Product Development Management, Financial Analysis, Sales and Marketing, Leadership, and more. Learners will benefit from a combination of expert instruction, peer interaction, self-paced video lessons, interactive assessments, live office hours, and hands-on capstone project experience.
Overall, this unique program, which is the only online mini-MBA curriculum specifically designed for engineers and technical professionals, trains participants to make more informed business decisions and better align their technical capabilities with proven business strategy. The program offers flexible learning opportunities for individual learners as well as customized company cohort options. Learn more about the IEEE | Rutgers Online Mini-MBA for Engineers and Technology Professionals.
Intensive Wireless Communications Course Series
Exclusively presented by the IEEE Communications Society, this highly interactive live course series provides the training necessary to stay ahead of key topics and developments in the dynamic and rapidly-evolving wireless communications industry.
Designed for people with an engineering background who want to enhance their knowledge of wireless communication technologies, this course is an ideal way to train individual employees or your entire team at once! Learn more about the Intensive Wireless Communications Course Series.
Advanced Topics in Wireless Course Series
Presented exclusively by the IEEE Communications Society and designed for engineers and technical professionals with an existing working knowledge of wireless who are looking to enhance their skill set, this course dives into the latest advancements, applications, and use cases in emerging connectivity. By completing this course, your team will have the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in the fast-paced world of wireless communications.
Participants in this live, online course series will develop a comprehensive view of 5G/NR technology, a profound understanding of the implementation of all of the ITU-specified use case categories (e.g., enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), mIoT, and URLLC), and a robust foundation on the network architecture evolution technology enablers towards fully-open radio access networks. Learn more about the Advanced Topics in Wireless Course Series.
IEEE eLearning Library
IEEE offers hundreds of hours of high-quality online courses in core and emerging technologies. Tailored for professionals, faculty, and students, the IEEE eLearning Library taps into a wealth of expertise from our global network of over 450,000 industry and academia members. IEEE eLearning Library courses cover a wide array of disciplines and standards—whether you or your learners want to enhance knowledge in their own technical field or expand to other technical specialties. Tap into courses in areas of aerospace and defense, artificial intelligence, communications and telecommunications, cyber and data privacy, power and energy, standards and more! Learn more about the IEEE eLearning Library.
Don’t wait to tap into the IEEE Professional Development Suite! Help foster the growth and leadership skills that will propel your organization to higher levels of innovation and success.
Resources
Kizer, Kristin. (29 June 2023). 35+ Powerful Leadership Statistics [2023]: Things All Aspiring Leaders Should Know. Zippia.
Morgan, Felix. (6 September 2023). Navigating the Innovation Paradox: Insights from Miro’s New Survey. Miro.
State of the Global Workplace: 2023 Report. Gallup.
Bouchrika, Imed. (18 January 2024). 24 Leadership Training Statistics for 2024: Data, Insights & Predictions. Research.com.
Lacerenza, C., Reyes, D., Marlow, S., Joseph, D., Salas, E. (2017). Leadership Training Design, Delivery, and Implementation: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 102 (12), 1686-1707.
Banholzer, Matt, LaBerge, Laura, West, Andy, and Williams, Evan. (14 December 2023). How Innovative Companies Leverage Tech to Outperform. McKinsey & Company.
With careers in engineering and technology evolving so rapidly, a commitment to upskilling is imperative to employee growth and the ability to stay competitive in today’s marketplace. Maintaining the appropriate credentials— such as a certificate or digital badge that attests to successful completion of a specific set of learning objectives – can further differentiate you and your company from those who don’t hold the same qualifications.
According to Careertech, “credentials provide proof of knowledge, verify a student’s capability to perform a particular trade, skill, or occupation, and give students incentive for further achievement.” As such, credentialing programs are key tools that both validate learning and motivate learners.
Not only do individuals benefit from capitalizing on credentials that they can “stack,” but so do companies. Here are some key benefits that companies and employees reap from credentialing.
Lower Turnover
Opportunities for continuing education and credentialing have long been strongly linked to employee job satisfaction. Many companies, including Microsoft, have found that offering training and credentialing opportunities help motivate and retain employees by ensuring that employees feel seen, heard, and valued. Ultimately, these programs encourage promotion from within. They also help reduce turnover and costly recruiting expenses for organizations.
Empowered Leadership
According to a study by the Center for Association Leadership, members with a variety of credentials were more compliant with standard industry practices, more engaged in industry-related initiatives, and more likely to take on leadership roles than their non-credentialed counterparts.
Greater Ability to Attract Talent
Research done by Lorman Education found that nearly 60% of the 72.2 million-strong millennial demographic— the largest workforce generation in the U.S.— identify “development opportunities” as extremely important when deciding whether to apply for a position. As a result, a company’s ability to offer high-quality training and the corresponding credentials that demonstrate skill mastery can make it a more attractive employer to qualified candidates.
Enhanced Productivity
Digital credentials can help boost workforce productivity, a benefit that both companies and their employees will enjoy. Within the IT sector, for instance, a joint study conducted by Microsoft and the International Data Corporation (IDC) found that credentialed technical professionals were nearly 90% more productive than their non-credentialed counterparts— a benefit which skills trainer Global Knowledge said often translated to companies in the form of enhanced efficiency and skills-driven return on investment. At the same time, the Microsoft/IDC survey also found that technical professionals who had undergone additional training were more likely to be promoted based on management confidence in their skills and maturity— a clear benefit for professionals as well.
Higher Salaries
Employees with additional credentials can reap financial rewards from their extra effort. According to Ryan Miller, Director of Client Success at career consulting company Employment BOOST, the addition of relevant credentials to a resume can potentially lead to salary increases of anywhere from 5%-20% depending on the industry and credential.
Improved Job Security
Simply put, the acquisition of skill-based credentials helps professionals keep up with and stay ahead of an ever-evolving workforce. For companies and professionals in today’s rapidly-changing technical landscape, confirmed Danny King, CEO and Co-Founder of Accredible, “digital credentialing can now be an invaluable tool for the corporate world and educational system to reskill, upskill, and facilitate career change—it’s a crucial tool for success.”
The message is clear: credentialing programs help empower employees and strengthen companies.
Among their many benefits to companies, credentialing programs elevate employee skill sets, boost productivity and engagement, and reduce employee turnover and recruiting costs. At the same time, job training programs and continued education can help employees develop individual skills, increase their marketability, and advance their careers. They also foster an employee’s sense of achievement while promoting greater leadership in and ownership of their roles.
The IEEE Credentialing Program: A Top Source of Continuing Education Credits
Technical training programs give employees opportunities to enhance their career skills and demonstrate to current and potential employers a willingness to learn new skills. And for many engineers, completion of a certain number of professional development hours (PDHs) and continuing education units (CEUs) each year is also required in order to maintain their professional engineering license.
One way for companies to strengthen and elevate their in-house technical training is through alignment with the IEEE Credentialing Program. As the world’s largest technical professional home, IEEE represents the best and brightest minds in engineering today and offers credentialing in the relevant content that engineers need to stay ahead. In addition to supporting engineering professionals in achieving their career goals, the certificates and digital badges available through the IEEE Credentialing Program help companies enhance the credibility of their training events, conferences, and courses in an effort to increase employee attendance and engagement.
While professional development hours (PDHs) and continuing education units (CEUs) are often required in North America, other countries often accept IEEE certificates towards their own domestic requirements.
Overall, an IEEE credential is an assurance of quality education for employers and a source of pride for learners since they can share that their credentials have been verified by the world’s largest technical professional organization. By aligning with the IEEE Credentialing Program, you can easily add PDHs and CEUs to your continuing professional education offerings. Learn more about the IEEE Credentialing Program and discover how you and your company can benefit.
Resources
(26 March 2015). Why is Credentialing Important? Advance CTE.
Day, Ryan. (5 October 2017). 5 Reasons Why Certifications Are Helping Your Career (And Your Company’s Bottom Line). Skillsoft Global Knowledge.
Engholm, Ginny. (14 February 2022). How Certifications Can Help Grow Your Career. HRCI Learning Center.
(24 August 2016). Credentialing’s Two-Way Benefits. The Center for Association Leadership.
(24 October 2017). What Are Micro-Credentials and How Can They Benefit Both Business and Employees? DeakinCo.
(1 September 2021). 39 Statistics That Prove the Value of Employee Training. Lorman Education Services.
Duplin, Sophia. 10 Tips to Offer Continuing Education Credits to Your Workforce. BeaconLive.
Perna, Mark C. (25 July 2022). Workforce Credentials Are Going Digital. Here’s Why This Helps Everyone. Forbes.
Pino, Ivana. (24 May 2023). Experts Say That Earning Relevant Certifications Can Boost Your Salary by as Much as 20%. Here’s How You Can Boost Your Own Pay. Fortune.