Micro-credentials and digital badges

 Micro-credentials and Digital Badges


We offer a variety of micro-credential programs which range from online, seminar-style, or in an instructor-led classroom. Watson Continuing Professional Education is dedicated to safeguarding SUNY standards of micro-credentialing and commitment to academic quality. 

We use Credly's Acclaim platform which is designed to allow you to easily and efficiently manage and share your professional achievements. We issue a digital badge to all participants who complete one of our professional continuing education courses. Once your badge has been issued you can create your Acclaim account, accept and share your badge for the world to see (https://youtu.be/PbiTfyVALec)  

Benefits of Digital badges 

  • A way to distinguish your adeptness in a competitive marketplace and an easy and effective way to showcase your skills to prospective employers.
  • A digital badge can be shared on your LinkedIn profile, social media, email signature, or in your resume.

This is an example of one of our course participants sharing her badge on LinkedIn.

  • LinkedIn
  • The digital badge includes meta-data on the evidence of learning and links back to sponsoring institution and evaluation criteria.
  • A course completion certificate can also be printed if the badge earner wishes to do so. The course certificate is an official Binghamton University document that confirms that you completed the course.

Why are Micro-Credentials important?

A micro-credential is a program designed to give access to a particular skill set in a shorter or more adaptable time frame than a traditional university course or degree program. They are more narrowly focused and reflect a specific competency, which is displayed through the badge. Micro-credentials offer the opportunity to continue building on your education, as well as adding to your portfolio and improving your standing within the academic world. For students, micro-credentials offer another avenue to enhance their education. However, they are not just beneficial for students, but extend to anyone looking to upskill, for example, employers and employees from various fields of industry. In other words, micro-credentials allow someone to distinguish their adeptness in a competitive marketplace.