Micro-credentials

Micro-credentials are short, focused courses that teach skills needed for jobs or community needs. They are recognized by employers and schools and can help you get a job or continue your education.

Benefits of micro-credentials

Micro-credentials provide opportunities for individuals to quickly obtain new skills and access high-demand employment.  Key to micro-credential development is partnership and collaboration with employers and industry, to ensure the competencies learners gain are relevant and recognized for employment.  As they are often offered at a shorter length, lower cost and with flexible delivery options, micro-credentials can increase access to post-secondary education for a range of learners who may not be able to or do not wish to enrol in longer post-secondary programs.

Micro-credentials are an additional option for learners at any stage of their education and career journey to gain competencies that meet educational and employment goals.  They complement current offerings and pathways at British Columbia’s public post-secondary institutions and support increased access to post-secondary education and life-long learning.

Micro-credential Framework

A Micro-credential Framework for B.C. was developed to support a coordinated and consistent approach to micro-credentials across the public post-secondary system and to help ensure clarity and transparency for learners and employers.

The Framework was released in September 2021.  Ongoing work will continue to inform the Framework and micro-credentials in British Columbia.  

Micro-credential Toolkit for B.C.

The Micro-credential Toolkit for B.C. has been designed to provide post-secondary institutions in the province with a comprehensive resource to support the development and delivery of micro-credentials. Specific to B.C., this document is aligned with several aspects of the guiding principles outlined in the Framework to help build capacity for post-secondary institutions to prepare learners for high-opportunity occupations and address labour market demands.

The Toolkit was developed in collaboration with post-secondary partners and with support from BCcampus. The Toolkit, released in June 2023, will continue to be informed by ongoing work.

Funding opportunities

Since 2020, the Ministry has funded the development of more than 130 micro-credentials across the public post-secondary system. Under the StrongerBC: Future Ready Action Plan announced in May 2023, the Ministry is working to further develop and enhance micro-credentials across B.C. in order to ensure the availability of short-duration training that responds quickly to labour market needs and the evolving economy.

Details on current funding opportunities for B.C. public post-secondary institutions and First Nations and First Nations-mandated institutions can be found under the Funding section of this webpage. Specific initiative application forms are located within the respective guides.