What Are Stackable Credentials and How Do They Fit in Your Career Plan?

Key takeaways

Stackable credential programs allow you to gain various credentials as you develop your skills for entry-level jobs and beyond.

• In vertical stacking programs, each credential you earn is higher than the last, whereas in horizontal stacking programs, you may earn comparable credentials. 

• Stackable credential programs are more flexible than four-year degree programs because you earn credentials throughout the course of the program, not just at the end.

• You can use stackable credentials as an alternative to a traditional bachelor’s degree program or in conjunction with one to gain new skills.

Learn more about what a stackable credential is, how it differs from a degree, the pros and cons of stackable credentials, and how you can use stackable credentials in your career path to maximize the flexibility of these programs.

What are stackable credentials?

Stackable credentials refer specifically to programs that structure themselves like a ladder you can climb. At one rung is a certificate, another a technical certification, another an associate degree, and the top is a master’s degree. As you climb each rung, you gain another credential that helps you get an entry-level job or furthers your career. At any time, you can step off the ladder and enter the workforce with your credentials and then come back when it’s best for you and continue your education where you left off, advancing to the next step in your career [1]. 

Community colleges use stackable credential programs to help you gain in-demand skills for entry-level jobs and beyond. Popular industries include information technology (IT), engineering tech, and consumer sciences. 

It’s important to note that a credential is only “stackable” when it is a part of one of these programs. Credentials you earn on your own after obtaining a degree are value-added credentials. 

Programs offer two kinds of stacking:

• Vertical stacking is the traditional ladder-climbing style of stacking, where each certificate earned is higher than the last, eventually leading to an associate and bachelor’s degree.

• Horizontal stacking is a certificate at the same level as your current one but in a different subject with the same number of credits [2].

If you’re in a stackable credential program and can eventually earn a bachelor’s degree, how does it differ from a traditional degree program?

What is an example of a stackable credential?

A stackable credential often requires just a few courses in a focused topic area, such as cybersecurity, management, or data visualization. Upon completion of all required courses, you’ll earn a certificate, which you may be able to apply toward a degree program.

What is a stackable credential program vs. a traditional degree?

Stackable credential programs differ from traditional four-year degrees in that, at each step along the process, based on the number of credits earned, you receive a credential certifying your expertise in one aspect of a field. On the other hand, in a four-year bachelor’s degree program at a university, you either complete the degree and receive your diploma or you do not. 

In this sense, stackable credential programs offer much more flexibility and the ability to leave at a certain stage with credentials to leverage in your field [1]. 

Types of stackable credentials

What types of credentials are available in a stackable credential program? While this varies from program to program, here is a list of some typical kinds of credentials offered:

• Certificates: The lowest level of credential that represents the completion of a specific class or knowledge and understanding of a specific set of skills

• Certification: An award given by a governing institution over a specific industry that demonstrates your knowledge and capability to perform certain tasks within that industry

• Professional license: A state or government institution awards professional licenses through examination when you demonstrate the predetermined amount of knowledge needed for that license.

• Apprenticeships: Some trade careers offer hands-on, paid learning experiences through apprenticeships in which learners learn how to perform the trade and follow industry standards [1].

At the end of a stackable credential program is the accumulation of an associate or bachelor’s degree [3].

Benefits of stackable credentials in higher education

One of the most significant benefits of stackable credentials is that at certain stages in your career path, you can exit it with certificates or other credentials to get an entry-level or higher job with your knowledge [1]. Some other benefits of stackable credentials include:

• They provide flexibility for learners with limited time or money to spend furthering their education or still discovering what they want to learn. 

• Stackable credentials help employers find workers with specific skills and certifications and train their current workforces. 

• They increase access to education after high school for historically underserved populations.

• Stackable credential programs allow you to work toward a degree over time while gaining in-demand skills for entry-level jobs.

• Additionally, stackable credentials are available for those with bachelor’s degrees to achieve certification or gain new skills in adjacent fields [4].

Read more: 18 High-Income Skills to Learn

How to stack credentials

In a well-designed stackable credentials program, each credential you earn has market value for you in finding a career while you earn credits to work toward the next credential. Let’s examine a hypothetical stackable credential example, what you work toward in each tier, and what you can exit with at each step. Here is an example breakdown of a stackable credential program:

1. Earn a high school diploma or GED with any college credits earned in high school.

2. Earn a certificate that qualifies you for an entry-level job in your field.

3. Additional certifications or credentials that allow you to progress beyond an entry-level position doing more substantial work in the field typically earn up to 30 credits.

4. Credits stack to an associate degree, which qualifies you for technical jobs and earning additional certifications in your field. It typically involves completing around 60 credits. 

5. Move into your career field and gain experience, or further your education to gain a bachelor’s degree, making your skills even more marketable and in demand [3]. 

It’s important to understand the pathway as a flow chart, where at any point during the flow, you can move out of your educational path and into the workforce. Additionally, you can earn more credentials after receiving a bachelor’s degree to gain further knowledge in your field or vertical knowledge to give you a wider, more marketable range of skills. 

Discover free career-planning resources

Join us on Career Chat on LinkedIn, where you can explore industry insights and access career tips. Then check out these free resources as you build your credentials and prepare for your career:

• Consider your path: Career Chat: Picking job skills that help you stand out 

• Watch on YouTube: Start Your Career: What is an entry-level job? 

• Take a quiz: Career Test: What Career is Right for Me Quiz? 

Discover flexible learning options available through Cousera’s esteemed college and university partners.