What’s All the Fuss About Microcredentials?

 Going “back to school” used to mean quitting and starting over in a new field that required all-new training and a lot of time—often four years, or more—and plenty of tuition money. These days, the all-or-nothing back-to-school model has disappeared and in its place is a spectrum of more realistic and accessible options. Among them are microcredentials: rapid learning courses, usually available online and focused on specific skills, offered by post-secondary institutions to train workers at record speed.

Though beta versions of microcredentials (sometimes called micro courses) have been floating around for a decade, like so many things, the sudden rise of the microcredential coincided with the pandemic. Jobs changed overnight and those who lacked necessary skills—say, to run a Zoom meeting—needed to learn them fast. At the same time, endless lockdowns and sudden free time meant anyone curious about changing careers could start dabbling in new fields through online learning. In late 2020, the Ontario government, noting the increased interest in microcredentials alongside the necessity of training workers in in-demand fields, announced almost $60 million in funding to develop microcredential programs at colleges and universities and to create digital portals to make finding them easier. B.C., Alberta, and other provinces have also dedicated funds for development. 

What is a microcredential

A microcredential is a short course—generally 12 weeks or less of class time, or 12 to 25 hours total. A “nanocredential” is shorter again; sometimes just an hour a week, like the eight-week-long e-sports social media management course at Humber College. Both nanocredentials and microcredentials can be what schools call “stackable,” where accumulated classes and courses can be combined to form a heftier credential. At Fanshawe College, for example, students who complete courses are awarded with digital badges that can be displayed on a resume or LinkedIn profile; enough badges earn the learner a “series badge.” 

Benefits of microcredentials

Microcredentials are by their very nature flexible and convenient. They’re offered online or in person, or as a combination of both, typically through the continuing education department of a college or university. Many, like Edmonton’s NorQuest College’s data analyst program, have no set class times. Instead, they use a self-paced model where students move as quickly or slowly as they like (within reason; many microcredentials must be completed within a year, and some have an even shorter window). In-person programs tend to be only a handful of days and are sometimes scheduled on weekends. All are designed with the assumption that students have day jobs, and are meant to fit into, atop or outside full-time work hours. 

Microcredentials target more specific skill sets than a typical certificate or degree. Instead of general business management, for example, a microcredential will hone in on one area to give students practical skills they can apply directly to the job, like Red River College Polytechnic’s “Basics of Project Management” or Fanshaw’s “YouTube for Business.” Some schools specialize in particular (often local) industries: Nova Scotia Community College, for example, offers ample microcredentials related to clean energy and the environment. 

Cost considerations

The cost of a microcredential varies greatly, depending on the topic, the teacher and the institution. University offerings, like those at the University of Toronto, can hover somewhere around $600—admittedly expensive, but far less than other courses at one of Canada’s top universities. (Fun fact: Harvard’s “microcertificates” cost upwards of US$6,000). 

On the other end of the spectrum, some microcredentials are very inexpensive or even free: in early 2023, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, which has four campuses throughout the province, partnered with the Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery and the Quick Train Canada Program to offer free tuition for 10,000 students to take microcredentials relating to clean, low-carbon energy. 

Whatever the price tag, there are financial supports in place to help pay for them. Tuition for some may be funded by provincial financial aid, is definitely a write-off come tax time, and may be covered by the Canada Training Credit: a $250 refundable tax credit, offered annually, and which can be accumulated in a lifetime up to $5,000. 

The only drawback to the sudden surge of microcredentials is the difficulty of finding and choosing a microcredential that’s useful to both employee and employer. Even though a digital badge has been earned from a respected and legitimate institution, not all employers recognize microcredentials. More likely than not, they’ll care more about the learned skill in action than the badge itself. Would-be microcredential students are wise to check with their employers before they enrol; not only because bosses can help select a program that works for both parties, but they might even be inclined to foot the bill.

Five Microcredentials to Consider Today:  

American Sign Language, Lakeland College, Vermillion
and Lloydminster, Alberta, $362

Four 12-week stackable ASL microcredentials are on offer, which can be bundled to count as course credit toward a certificate. Newbies start with sign-language fundamentals: introducing yourself, finger-spelling words, counting, describing shapes, giving commands and getting another person’s attention, while also learning about deaf culture. The course is a great way to incorporate inclusivity into real life and onto a resumé all at once. 

 Social Media Marketing, Red River College, Winnipeg, Manitoba, $109 

Anyone lost or overwhelmed when it comes to posting on Instagram or TikTok would do well with this four-hour foundation course, which focuses on principles, strategies and best practices. Even better: students learn about metrics for tracking results to make sure their strategy’s working. 

French Language Skills, Mohawk College, Hamilton, Ontario, $563 

Parlez-vous français?

For anyone who hasn’t studied French since high school, this stackable microcredential—consisting of two courses, each three hours a
week for thirteen weeks—focuses specifically on basic French for texts and emails to boost confidence in a variety of business settings.  

 Effective Communication for Managers, Holland College, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, $249 

For new and aspiring managers alike, this course teaches managers clear, concise communication skills to effectively lead any team. Completable in eight to 10 self-guided hours, grads finish with a better grasp of successful correspondence, to help build productive working relationships that last. 

 Creativity for Everyone, Langara College, Vancouver, $551

Budding artists from all fields can learn how to foster creativity at work and in life. All with problem-solving and innovation in mind, these hands-on classes in design, photography and craftsmanship are offered in three rounds of Friday and Saturday classes (six hours each). Beginning with the
fundamentals of design, students move into fine-tuning one’s creative process and wrap up with a deep-dive into storytelling and visual literacy.

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