Build Skills. Gain Recognition. Move Forward.
Concord University's microcredentials give students the opportunity to gain, demonstrate, and share verified skills that employers value while earning credit toward their degree. Each microcredential represents a focused area of learning that is validated by faculty, aligned with industry standards, and awarded as a digital badge you can share on LinkedIn, Handshake, and your résumé.
What Are Microcredentials?
A microcredential is a short, focused academic award designed to provide in-demand skills, knowledge, and experience that can enhance a student's employability. Microcredentials may be earned through a short series of courses, a combination of courses and work-based learning, or through verified proof of competency and documentation of specific skills gained, which is assessed against transparent and clearly defined criteria. All microcredentials, whether offered for-credit or non-credit, must be aligned with the statewide Quality Framework for Microcredentials, including guidance on credit-hour equivalency where applicable. At Concord, each microcredential:
- Is credit-bearing and stacks toward a degree program
- Has clearly defined learning outcomes and assessment methods
- Aligns with statewide quality standards established by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC)
- Is issued as a digital badge through the Accredible platform, displaying verified details about what you learned and how you demonstrated it
Why Microcredentials Matter
Microcredentials bridge the gap between education and employment. They help you:
- Showcase your skills to employers in a verifiable, digital format
- Gain career-ready competencies before graduation
- Stand out in the job market by highlighting specialized training
- Stack your achievements toward additional credentials or degrees
- Focus on skills that matter in West Virginia's fastest-growing industries, such as business, healthcare, IT, education, and communication
How Microcredentials Fit Into Your Degree
All Concord microcredentials are embedded in existing academic programs. That means the work you're already doing in your courses can also help you earn an employer-recognized credential.
Each microcredential:
- Counts for academic credit (and is eligible for financial aid if part of a degree)
- May serve as a stackable credential toward your bachelor's degree
- Can stand alone as a career-building credential demonstrating verified skills
Concord's Commitment to Quality
Concord University's microcredentials are designed using the WVHEPC Quality Framework for Microcredentials, which ensures that every credential is:
- Academically rigorous – built on measurable learning outcomes and assessed by faculty
- Employer validated – reviewed by advisory councils and industry experts
- Stackable and portable – applicable toward degrees and recognized across institutions
- Accessible and affordable – offered online or in-person at standard tuition rates
- Transparent – each badge includes verifiable metadata (skills, outcomes, evidence, assessments)
Concord's microcredentials are also part of the Credential WV Connect initiative, linking higher education, workforce development, and business across the state.
Sharing Your Achievement
When you earn a Concord microcredential, you'll receive a digital badge from Accredible via email. You can:
- Add it to your LinkedIn profile
- Include it on your résumé or ePortfolio
- Share it directly with employers or graduate schools
Each badge includes detailed metadata describing:
- The specific skills you mastered
- The evidence and assessments used
- The issuing institution and verification date
This ensures your achievement is trusted, transparent, and portable—anywhere you go.
Microcredential Directory
Foundational Accounting Proficiency Microcredential
Special Education Microcredential
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