Part II – Stackable Credentials

A term we are becoming familiar with, but what is it?

Given the increased interest and buzz in stackable credentials as mentioned in my previous blog, we have not very much defined it. Let’s define it here.

What is a Stackable Credential?

AERE believes a stackable credential (sometimes referred to as certification paths), is positioning. If we think about marketing; in many ways it is about the way products are positioned. Let’s take a look at Toyota as an example – Toyota had three vehicle lines for various audiences that each match a different set of needs. The lines were: Scion, Toyota, and Lexus. Now looking at this with respect to certification – the products found within this industry are similarly positioned to match needs across the various segments.

What are the Stackable Credentialing Models?

Vertical
- A vertical stack almost always is stacked by competency level (e.g., novice, intermediate, expert level credentials)
Horizontal
- A horizontal stack adds another topic onto the primary credentialing organization credentials (for instance IT — IT-Project Manager, IT – Healthcare, IT-Law)
Hybrid
- A hybrid stack simply combines vertical and horizontal offerings.
AERE’s Micro-Stack
- AERE has a unique stack that integrates into the macro stack models of vertical, horizontal, and hybrid. Given that this is more complicated to explain in a blog, our webinar will explain it further.

If you are now curious about stackable credentials and want to see if it can be applied in your organization including the pros and cons, I’ll be hosting a webinar entitled “Stackable Credentials”. Join us on Thursday 16 January 16 at 12:00pm – 1:00pm (EST) / 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (GMT) and I’ll walk you through with a further explanation on the above models with a graphical representation for each.

Interested in Learning More?

We’ve got a number of AERE authored resources listed on our website – here are some related to stackable credentials:

Can’t Wait?

If you can’t wait then why not speak directly to Dr. Manny Straehle about Stackable Credentials by setting up a free private consultation here.