Certificates, certifications, badges, and licenses: What are they worth to the workforce? The last decade has seen huge growth in the number and variety of credentials, and this explosion has fueled a great deal of confusion among students, workers, job seekers, employers, and others.

Job seekers can’t tell which credentials will help them earn and demonstrate their competencies, and obtain employment. Employers can’t identify the credentials that will ensure that employees know what a piece of paper says they know.

As more jobs require applicants to have training, education, or experience beyond a high school diploma, industry-based credentials have become a growing part of a competent workforce, providing new opportunities for job seekers and employers. But with less than 10 percent of the more than 4,000 personnel certification bodies active in the United States accredited by a third party, there is no common definition of quality or market value, varying levels of confidence, and little consistency across industry sectors.

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