So, what is a credential?
A credential is a document that proves qualifications.
For our purposes, a credential can be a certificate, diploma, or degree.
Now, what does it mean for that credential to be “stackable?”
A stackable credential is part of a sequence of credentials that can be accumulated over
time to build up an individual’s qualifications and help them to move forward in their education
or up a career ladder to different and potentially higher-paying jobs.
The journey to receiving an advanced degree can seem daunting.
For example, the two years that it takes to earn an associate degree can appear like an
eternity on the first day of class.
It requires an amount of intrinsic motivation and persistence in order to get from the beginning
to the end.
Often times, this attrition proves to be too much and results in the student not completing
the program as they intended.
However, stackable credentials allow students to build momentum over the course of their
degree program by earning lesser credentials along the way.
Their achievements are made evident as the student earns certificates and diplomas while
still progressing toward their degree.
This gives the student tangible motivation and makes the time it takes to complete the
advanced degree much less intimidating by reinforcing their hard work and effort.
Building credentials also builds confidence.
It is that type of confidence that students need to progress through their education.
When students reach the end of their program, they face difficult decisions about what they
should do next, whether it be going further with their education or entering the job market.
Through the experience gained from the program with stacked credentials, students have an
easier time making these necessary decisions and move in to their new roles with more fluidity.
Stacked credentials build resumes.
As stated earlier, a credential is a document that proves qualifications.
The more credentials that a student has, the better they are able to prove that they are
qualified for jobs as they enter the workforce.
Supervisors and hiring managers want to know that they are employing the best possible
person.
Stacked credentials improves an individual’s employability and guarantees their new company
that they are properly qualified for the job.