91��Ƭ��Pro

updated July 29, 2025

Microcredentials are recognized credentials that verify, validate, and attest that learners have gained specific skills and competencies. They differ from traditional degrees and certificates in that they are generally offered in shorter or more flexible timespans and tend to be more narrowly focused, with a clear connection to workforce needs, and can be implemented through local campus approval procedures. 

91��Ƭ��Pro microcredentials

91��Ƭ��Pro microcredentials are approved through a faculty review process that adheres to guidance approved by the SUNY Board of Trustees and 1) provide a stackable pathway towards an initial or advanced degree and 2) provide the skills, knowledge, and experience to allow the learner to obtain a job or advance in their current position. 

All microcredentials (credit-bearing and non-credit bearing) should encompass the following key attributes: 

• designed to meet industry and business needs and has been developed in accordance with local, regional, and state partners. 
• Upon completion, will validate and attest that specific skills and/or competencies have been achieved. 
• is of such quality that academic credit in a registered and accredited degree program could be issued.
• offered in a shorter, or more flexible, time span than the traditional academic schedule and in varying formats such as online, in-person, or a hybrid.
• is open to a broad audience including traditional students, adult learners, professionals, and/or life long learners. 

Types of Microcredentials

There are two types of microcredentials at 91��Ƭ��Pro:

• Credit-Bearing

  Credit-bearing microcredentials must be a minimum of two courses and must contain a minimum of six/eight credits and no more than 16 credits. A credit bearing microcredential stacks into an existing academic certificate and/or degree and can also stack together with other microcredentials in a series that all stack to a certificate or degree. A credit-bearing microcredential that takes three semesters to complete is likely not a microcredential.

  Credit-bearing microcredentials have learning outcomes, assessments and result in learner work product. As part of the development process, specific skills and competencies to be mastered should be identified and aligned to business and industry need, regional and state priorities.

  Learners who earn credit-bearing microcredentials receive a notation on their transcript upon completion and receive a digital badge.

  Credit-bearing microcredential naming conventions may not resemble certificate or degree program names that have been approved by NYSED. 

• Non-credit Bearing

  While recognition of participation, community building or soft-skill development alone can be essential components of the student experience, those things are not, by definition, microcredentials. “Quick” training that can be delivered in a few hours or a few days is generally considered continuing education or executive education.

  A non-credit microcredential is a substantial learning experience (at minimum 127.5 total hours), that consist of specific learning experience(s), assessments and produce learner work, which lead to attainment of multiple discrete, assessable skills and/or competencies.

  Non-credit microcredentials may provide specialized skills to those who already have degrees (Note: Microcredentials can stack to graduate degrees so consider stackability if possible. Stackable pathways to the master’s can be dynamic tools to meet adult learner needs). 

  Non-credit microcredential naming conventions may not resemble certificate or degree program names that have been approved by NYSED. 

Approval Process

Both types of microcredentials go through approval process that involves faculty and departments prior to submission to the Office of Workforce Development (OWD). 

• Credit-Bearing Approval Flow

  For credit-bearing microcredentials, the approval process length depends on many committees and therefore the time for approval varies. 

  The average time from initial submission to final approval is 170 days. 

• Non-credit Bearing Approval Flow

  Department Chair/Director > Dean/Unit Head > Office of Workforce Development (inital review) > Microcredential Committee > Office of Workforce Development (final review)

  Once the Microcredential Committee (MC) receives the proposal, the MC will have an initial response back to the submitter within 2 weeks. However, there may be one or more requests for resubmission, which may lengethen the overall approval process. 

  The average time from initial submission to final approval is 45 days.

Proposal Submission

There is a three step process to offer a new microcredential and digital badge. 

1. The Proposal Form to offer the microcredential.
2. The badge information and metadata is populated for display on the Credly platform. 
3. Information on learners who will be issued a badge. 

• Step 1: Proposal Form  
  
  

  Submitting the Proposal From

  To submit a microcredential proposal please contact the Office of Workforce Development at workforce@binghamton.edu.

• Step 2: Badge Information

  Once the microcredential has been approved, we will build the Credly profile and send proposer's a sample badge to review before publishing. 

• Step 3: Recipient Information

  Once you are ready to issue badges to recipients, you will be sent a spreadsheet to complete with the recipient information, called a bulk issue template. 

  The bulk issue template has five required fields:

  • Badge Template ID - the unique ID that represents the badge a candidate will be issued. The OWD will provide this number to you after step 2 (above) is completed.
  • Recipient Email
  • First Name
  • Last Name
  • Issued at date

  Download a sample file here. 

  There are many optional fields. Feel free to use these or not, but do not remove the column headers.