A certificate, for starters, denotes that a student has completed an education program or course, while a badge doesn’t necessarily refer to a course and appears in a more visually appealing form, geared to help you stand out when employers are skimming your credentials.
A micro-credential is similar to a mini certification, suggests Guroo. “They are usually digital, short, and relatively low-cost courses that have a specific focus on demonstrating proficiency in a particular skill.” The site notes that students can earn these types of credentials through online courses, self-directed video modules, or by taking a straightforward skills test without prep or further training.
After students complete a course or achieve a certain, pre-established degree of proficiency in that specific skill, the institute will email, text, or otherwise deliver the official digital badge to their account.
Unlike paper certificates or other materials, “badges can be shared on social media, added to email signatures, displayed on resumes, and added to digital badge wallets like Credly and OpenBadges,” Guroo explains. Plus, they look good on LinkedIn profiles and other digital resumé pages!