What’s the Purpose of Nondegree Credentials? It Depends.

Nondegree credentials serve many different purposes—from preparing learners for entry into an occupation to helping incumbent workers build targeted skills or meet continuing education requirements—so they should not be treated as a single category. According to author Michelle Van Noy, because programs are designed with different goals in mind, policymakers and educators should evaluate them using expectations and outcome measures that align with each credential’s intended purpose rather than applying one standard to all.