How can microcredentials accelerate your career?
Microcredentials prepare you for new professional roles. Learn how they work and choose one that aligns with your goals on edX.
By: Janice Mejías Avilés, Edited by: Gabriela Pérez Jordán
Published: August 1, 2025
Microcredentials are short, flexible, skills-focused programs that validate expertise in specific areas. They're university-designed programs for learners who want to upskill for career advancement or earn credit without committing to a full degree.
Read on to find out how they work and explore your options on edX.
What are microcredentials?
Earning a traditional degree isn't the only path forward in today's career landscape. Microcredentials are reshaping how professionals learn, gain new skills, and specialize their knowledge.
Microcredentials are short, flexible programs that validate expertise in specific, career-relevant areas. They are ideal for learners looking to upskill or earn credit without committing to a full degree program. Microcredentials include a series of university-led classes with projects and assessments, and may include capstone or proctored exams.
Designed to be flexible and aligned with workforce needs, microcredentials can help you reach your goals faster, more affordably, and stay competitive as industries evolve.
They're especially valuable for those working toward a promotion, changing careers, or hoping to grow their skills in a specific area.
Popular MicroBachelors® Programs
Popular MicroMasters® Programs
How do microcredentials work?
At edX, microcredentials come in two formats: MicroBachelors® and MicroMasters® programs. These programs are:
- Offered fully online.
- Designed to be self-paced.
- More affordable than a traditional degree.
- Open for enrollment with no admissions process.
- Available to preview for free through the audit track.
- Eligible for credit that can be applied toward a bachelor's or master's degree at select edX partner universities.
MicroBachelors® vs. MicroMasters®: Which is right for you?
Both MicroBachelors and MicroMasters programs are designed for learners who want flexibility, recognition, and career-oriented outcomes. But they serve different purposes depending on your goals.
| Factor | MicroBachelors® | MicroMasters® |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Undergraduate-level education | Graduate-level education |
| Suited for | Beginners and career changers | Mid-career professionals with a prior educational background who need to upskill |
| Objective | Fill the skills gap with foundational knowledge for quick entry into the workforce | Build advanced, specialized knowledge in a focused area |
| Program length | 4-17 months | 2-12 months |
| Cost | $166 per credit; $500-$1,500 total | $1,500+ total |
| Credits | Credits may reduce the time or cost of a bachelor's degree. Credits can be transferred to some institutions. | Credits can shorten a full master's degree if they are accepted by the institution. Credits only apply after admission to a master's or doctoral program from select partner institutions. |
| Learning structure | Online, self-paced, flexible scheduling | Online, self-paced; assignments, capstones, or proctored exams may have fixed dates |
| Admissions requirements | Open enrollment, no application required | No application required; some programs may have specific start dates or suggest prerequisites |
How can microcredentials enhance your career?
In some occupations, career growth doesn't always depend on earning a full degree. But it does call for in-demand skills from institutions your industry recognizes. That's where microcredentials can make a difference.
- Stand out professionally: A credential from a top university signals adaptability and expertise, especially in technical or in-demand fields.
- Bridge the skills gap faster: Microcredentials can fill in skill gaps, especially if your formal education is in a different field than the one you're moving into.
- Stay competitive in the workforce: As industries evolve, so do the skills they require. Microcredentials help you keep pace without overcommitting.
- Try before you commit: A microcredential is a low-risk way to explore a field before committing to a full degree, with credit that could carry forward.
- Pathway to a degree: Many learners use microcredentials as stepping stones toward a full degree, often at a lower cost and shorter timeline.
MicroMasters® learner spotlight: Meet Nael Aqel
When Nael Aqel, a data analytics engineer based in Amman, Jordan, enrolled in the MITx MicroMasters Program in Statistics and Data Science in 2023, he wasn't looking for a shortcut. He sought structure in a rigorous, university-backed way to deepen his skills and boost his transition from engineering into the data field, while continuing to work.
"I'm confident that I've mastered the basics of data science because I learned it in an academic way, with one of the biggest institutions, MIT. That credential means I can apply for anything, anywhere, and say: 'I know this, and I can prove it.'"
Ready to advance your career? Here's how to get started
Microcredential programs are an accessible way to gain in-demand skills, earn academic credit, and take steps toward a new role or a full degree. Choose what fits your goals and start learning at your own pace.
Your next steps on edX:
- Browse MicroBachelors® programs to gain job-ready foundational skills or earn college credit.
- Explore MicroMasters® programs to develop graduate-level expertise, earn a recognized credential, and open a pathway toward a more affordable and shorter graduate degree in the future.
- Create a free edX account to get started today.