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Digital credentialing glossary
Clear, up-to-date definitions of the terms behind digital badges, certificates, and verifiable credentials.
Digital credentialing has its own vocabulary, badges, verifiable credentials, micro-credentials, CLRs, and more. This glossary defines each term in plain language, with how it works and why it matters for issuers and learners.
Credential types
Digital credential
A digital credential is a verifiable electronic record of a person’s achievement, skill, or qualification, with metadata anyone can check online.
Read definitionDigital badge
A digital badge is a verifiable visual symbol of an achievement or skill, with embedded metadata showing who earned it, who issued it, and the criteria.
Read definitionDigital certificate
A digital certificate is an electronic version of a certificate that verifies a person completed a course, program, or requirement, beyond a static PDF.
Read definitionMicro-credential
A micro-credential is a short, focused certification that verifies a specific skill or competency, faster to earn than a degree and stackable.
Read definitionStackable credentials
Stackable credentials are individual credentials designed to build on one another, combining smaller achievements into larger qualifications.
Read definitionStandards & technology
Open Badges
Open Badges is the worldwide technical standard for digital badges, maintained by 1EdTech. It defines how achievement data travels with a badge.
Read definitionVerifiable credential
A verifiable credential is a tamper-evident digital credential whose authenticity can be confirmed cryptographically under the W3C standard.
Read definitionOpen Badges 3.0
Open Badges 3.0 is the latest version of the Open Badges standard, maintained by 1EdTech and aligned with the W3C Verifiable Credentials data model.
Read definitionBlockchain credential
A blockchain credential anchors its proof of authenticity to a blockchain, making the record tamper-evident and independently verifiable.
Read definitionDigital credential wallet
A digital credential wallet is an app or hosted space where a person collects, stores, and shares verifiable digital credentials from many issuers.
Read definitionRecords & frameworks
Comprehensive Learner Record (CLR)
A Comprehensive Learner Record (CLR) is a verifiable digital record capturing a learner’s full achievements: courses, competencies, and skills.
Read definitionLearning and Employment Record (LER)
A Learning and Employment Record (LER) is a verifiable record of a person’s skills, education, training, and work experience, portable across systems.
Read definitionSkills-based credentialing
Skills-based credentialing issues credentials that certify specific, demonstrable skills rather than broad qualifications, supporting skills-based hiring.
Read definitionEducation & compliance
Continuing Education Unit (CEU)
A Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is a standardized measure of participation in approved continuing education. One CEU equals 10 contact hours (IACET).
Read definitionContinuing Professional Development (CPD)
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the ongoing learning professionals undertake to maintain and grow their skills, tracked in hours or points.
Read definitionCredential verification
Credential verification confirms a credential is authentic, unaltered, and genuinely issued, instantly via its verification link or QR code.
Read definition