Evaluating Micro-credentials for Quality: What to Look For

Most micro-credentials recognize learning, skills, and achievements, but they are not all created equal. Some offer evidence of the skills and experiences valued by learners and employers alike, while others may be little more than a signal that the earner attended an event. How do we assess the quality of a badge? This article describes various types of digital credentials and offers guidance for assessing their quality.

Understand the types of experiences that digital credentials recognize.

Before you can assess quality, it helps to understand the landscape. A micro-credential can refer to a range of digital recognitions, including the following classifications from 1Ed Tech:

• Event participation micro-credentials confirm attendance at a webinar, workshop, or conference. While these can be useful for tracking professional development, they usually don’t verify specific skills or competencies.
• Knowledge check micro-credentials are earned after passing a quiz or other short assessment. They measure recall and understanding but may not capture the ability to apply that knowledge in real-world settings.
• Competency-based micro-credentials ask learners to demonstrate applied skills by submitting evidence, such as a work product, project, or performance task. These micro-credential submissions are typically assessed by subject matter experts using a rubric.

Additionally, industry-aligned credentials tend to align with skills-based exams focused on in-demand technical or professional skills or knowledge. They’re often designed in collaboration with employers and are very specific to an industry. They may be issued for a variety of metrics that may include one or more of the following: course completion, knowledge exams, performance-based assessments, or other tasks specific to a field. No matter the type, a credential’s value also depends on how well it matches the learner’s goals and the expectations of employers or institutions.

Start with relevance to learner and industry needs.

For learners, relevance means the digital credential addresses a current or emerging skill gap in their field or career path, and that they can use it as a resource to help others understand their skills and experience. For organizations, it means the credential supports workforce development goals and aligns with industry standards or regulatory requirements.
Ask questions such as:

• Does the credential clearly state its purpose and intended audience?
• Are the learning outcomes specific, measurable, and tied to a recognized, research-backed framework?
• For an industry-aligned credential, was it developed in collaboration with industry experts or employers?
• Does it reflect current best practices and technologies?
• Is the credential recognized and accepted by educational institutions or employers?
• Does the credential expire?

If a credential can’t demonstrate its connection to real-world needs, its value to learners and employers will be limited.

Look for verifiability, transferability, and evidence of applied knowledge.

Even if a digital credential is relevant, its quality also depends on how it verifies and communicates achievement. The most meaningful credentials share these traits:

• Verifiable: The credential should be verifiable by others and include metadata that confirms what was learned, how it was assessed, and who issued it. Portable, standards-based formats like Open Badges make this possible. This list from 1Ed Tech details organizations issuing badges that comply with the Open Badges standards.
• Transferable: Strong credentials are recognized by industry bodies, accepted for credit by educational institutions, or valued across multiple employers. Transferability ensures learners can carry their achievements with them.
• Evidence of applied knowledge: According to Digilearn and our research, the most meaningful micro-credentials are competency-based. They require learners to demonstrate what they can do, not just what they know. This might include submitting work samples, completing performance tasks, or solving authentic problems. These assessments are typically reviewed against clear rubrics by subject matter experts to ensure consistent, fair evaluation. The Credential Value Indicator created by The Burning Glass Institute helps users navigate the value and real-world outcomes of thousands of digital credentials.

Micro-credentials have the potential to make more and varied types of learning and lived experiences more visible, accessible, and relevant. For many, their value depends on clear alignment with learner and industry needs. By understanding the different types of credentials, starting with relevance, and prioritizing verifiability, transferability, and applied knowledge, you can identify those that rise above the rest. Focusing on quality ensures micro-credentials are not simply signals of your participation but trusted markers of real skills and accomplishments.

The Digital Promise Micro-credential Platform has over 600 research-backed, competency-based micro-credentials from more than 100 issuers waiting to be discovered. Reach out to microcredentials@digitalpromise.org if your organization is interested in developing a micro-credential for your community.

Digital Promise has been a pioneer in competency-based micro-credentials and has more than 10 years of experience in supporting organizations with their micro-credentialing needs. Check out this eBook, The Role of Micro-Credentials in Lifelong Learning and Development: Empowering Learners, Empowering Organizations, a comprehensive resource accessible to all interested in understanding micro-credentials.