Skills you need. Proof you have them.
Earning & Using Micro-Credentials
Find your perfect program and enroll.
Review our offerings page or work with your advisor to find the perfect micro-credential program (or programs) to complement your field of study or professional goals.
Enrollment processes vary by program. To enroll visit the program's page to find full enrollment directions. You will also find the contact information for the program lead for any questions or concerns about the program or enrollment. If academic courses are part of the program, you will need to register for* and successfully complete each course (grade of B or better).
*Enroll in classes via the HUB Student Center, which is available in MyUB. Visit the HUB website for more information about HUB, including how-to videos. Non-UB students wishing to enroll in an open credit-bearing program will need to apply as a non-degree seeking student in order to be able to register.
Complete your program.
Once enrolled, work with the program lead(s) to complete your requirements in a timely fashion. If your requirements involve course work, be sure to work with your advisor for proper course planning, especially if you have financial aid. Upon completion of the micro-credential, the program lead will notify the Office of Micro-credentials and your badge(s) will be awarded through Credly. If your micro-credential is credit-bearing, it will be noted on your academic transcript.
Please note that courses must be successfully completed with a grade of B or better in order to count toward a micro-credential. All coursework and requirements must be completed prior to conferral. If you are registered in a micro-credential but unable to complete the program, please contact the program lead to unenroll.
Accept your digital badges.
Credly is the platform used by UB for issuing and earning digital badges. Once you complete all the requirements for your micro-credential, you will receive an email from Credly. Follow the link in the email to log in and accept your badge.
Digital Badges Defined
A digital badge is a new type of credential that allows you to show specific skills that you have gained through learning experiences. A digital badge is clickable and houses information such as the issuing institution, the date earned, the criteria required to earn the badge and the evidence that shows that you have met the required criteria. Digital badges are dynamic credentials that you own, so you can decide how you want to use them. Digital badges can be shared on LinkedIn, added as a link on your digital resume, embedded in your e-portfolio and more.
Congratulations! You have earned a digital badge from the University at Buffalo! Digital badges are credentials that you own, so you can decide how you want to share them.
Sharing Options
There are several ways you can share your digital badge. Once you are logged into your account and have navigated to the Share Badge screen you will see the following sharing options:
- Social media (Facebook, X, LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter). Select one of these social media platforms and click to connect. You will be prompted to log in to your account.
- Email. Select the email tab and you will be prompted to create a message with the subject line “View my verified achievement from the University at Buffalo!”
- Link. Select the link tab to copy the badge URL. This URL can be shared on a resume, e-portfolio, website, etc.
- Embed code. Select the embed tab, then, copy and paste the code to display your digital badge directly on your webpage, blog or anywhere else that accepts HTML.
- Download. Select the download tab to download your badge to your computer or other device.
- Print. Select the print tab to download a printable certificate that showcases your badge. Please note that this option is not available for all badges.
For more information on ways to share your digital badges, please visit the Credly Help Center or check out the how-to videos and articles below.
You can choose to make your Credly profile—and your individual badges—viewable to the public or viewable only to you. To manage your privacy settings, log in to your Credly account.
To manage profile privacy:
- Click the profile icon in the top right corner of the page.
- Select "settings".
- Select "profile" from the menu on the left.
- Check or uncheck the "make profile private" box, toward the bottom of the screen.
To manage badge privacy:
- From your dashboard, select the badge you'd like to manage.
- From the top of the screen select the "more" icon.
- Select "make badge private".
Please note that if you'd like to share either your profile or a badge, they must be marked public.
To add an alternative email to your profile:
- Click the profile icon in the top right corner of the page.
- Select "settings".
- Click the "account" tab from the left-hand menu.
- In the "add email address" box, type an alternate email address. Click "add".
- Credly will send a verification email to the new address.
- Click the link in the email to complete the verification process.
We do not recommend deleting email addresses as this may impact badges already awarded.
Student FAQs
UB Students: Once you have determined which micro-credential(s) are right for you, visit the department webpage linked through the Offerings page. Each micro-credential website will have an application or further information on how to register. Contact information for the program leads is also listed if you have additional questions. If the micro-credential involves credits, consult your academic advisor regarding course planning and/or financial aid compliance.
Non-UB Students: If you are not a University at Buffalo student but wish to enroll in a credit-bearing program, you must apply as a non-degree seeking student. Once you are admitted to UB as a non-degree seeking student, you can visit the webpage of the micro-credential program to apply and then register for classes through MyUB. Please contact the program lead directly for non-credit programs open to outside participants. If a micro-credential is fee-based you do not need to apply as a non-degree student.
Course availability for the current semester and upcoming semesters can be found on the HUB Student Center, which is available in MyUB. If a course is not listed or you are planning ahead, you should contact the micro-credential program lead using the information found on the Offerings page for that program.
Most credit-bearing micro-credentials are listed on your academic transcript as a notation during the semester the program was completed. All successfully completed micro-credentials result in a digital badge, unique digital credentials you possess. You can share digital badges for credit and non-credit micro-credentials on digital resumes, social media, in email signatures and more.
Each digital badge is unique. All badges incorporate metadata containing the program name, the micro-credential description, a website link to the program, and criteria for successful completion and skills mastered. The metadata also uniquely contains the date of completion, your name, and the final evidence or project of completion, highlighting your specific achievements and skills. This personalization allows you to showcase your expertise effectively. Additionally, you can pursue multiple micro-credentials to further strengthen your skill set or complement your degree.
Credly is the platform that the University at Buffalo uses for creating, issuing, and managing digital badges. Upon issuance, earners are notified via email from Credly.