Non-Degree Credentials Lift Career, Earnings Potential.

• Author: Smalley, Andrew

As many as 65% of all the jobs in the United States will soon require education beyond a high school diploma, according to the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce. But only 47.6% of working-age Americans are educated beyond that level, according to the Lumina Foundation.

To help close this gap, one option is to offer short-term postsecondary credentials. They can cover a range of skills--from health care to manufacturing--and are offered by community and technical colleges, both on campus and online.

Stackable credentials, which are bite-sized courses that build toward a higher level certificate or degree, are popular, especially among busy adult learners who have limited time to complete a full-time degree program. A one-year credential program in computer science, tor example, can qualify students for entry-level programming positions and can give them credits they can use to complete a formal degree program later. In 2018, nine states passed bills that referred to stackable credentials.

Schools are also offering microcredentials, brief programs on narrow topics for workers or students in specific professions. They are typically offered online...