What Are Micro-Credentials? Guide for Nurses
Micro-credentials, also called digital badges, alternative credentials, or micro-certifications, are one of the fastest ways to uplevel your nursing resume and boost your specialized skills. Whether you’re looking to step into a new specialty, qualify for leadership roles, or simply stay ahead of industry trends, these short, targeted certifications can help you build valuable skills fast — and show employers your dedication to ongoing professional growth.
Want to learn more about how micro-credentialing can boost your nursing career? This guide will walk you through what these courses are, where to find them, and how they can work for you.
What Are Micro-Credentials?
These credentials are short, focused certifications awarded after completing brief courses or training modules that demonstrate mastery of a specific skill or topic. Unlike traditional degrees, they’re designed to be earned quickly — often through online courses or workshops — and can be added to your resume, LinkedIn profile, or professional portfolio, demonstrating your commitment to continuous learning and adaptability in a fast-changing healthcare environment.
Because alternative credentials are often stackable, you can accumulate multiple badges over time to build a comprehensive skill set in specialized areas. This flexibility allows you to tailor your professional development to your career goals and the needs of your workplace.
What Is an Example of a Micro-Credential?
Alternative credentials come in many forms and cover a wide range of topics. Here are some examples from reputable organizations to familiarize you with what’s out there.
1. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) offers specialty short courses that promote patient safety and support professional growth. Each ACCN micro-credential provides targeted knowledge to help nurses stay current with best practices in critical care.
Here are some examples of short courses you can take to boost your resume and cover letter:
2. American Health Information Management Association
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) offers credentials focused on health information management and data skills critical to modern healthcare. Their courses are designed to equip nurses with essential skills in managing patient information and ensuring data security.
Here are a few micro-credentials examples offered by AHIMA:
3. Competency and Credentialing Institute
The Competency and Credentialing Institute (CCI) offers specialty micro-credential programs aimed at perioperative and surgical nursing professionals. These targeted courses help nurses strengthen core competencies and stay aligned with current practice standards in the operating room and related settings.
Here are some examples of digital badges offered by CCI:
- Foundational orthopedic surgery
- Sterile processing: Cross-contamination
- Pressure injury prevention in intraoperative care
4. Coursera
Coursera partners with leading universities and healthcare organizations to offer a wide variety of online courses, many available for free or at low cost. These flexible programs let nurses develop new skills at their own pace, covering everything from public health to specialized clinical practices.
Here are a few courses that may interest nurses:
- Vital signs, vital skills: Essential patient assessments
- Introduction to healthcare management
- Trauma emergencies and care
5. edX
Partnering with leading universities and institutions, edX provides high-quality online courses, many of which offer credentials and certificates of accomplishment. These courses are designed to be flexible and accessible, helping nurses build skills in everything from healthcare management to clinical practice.
- COVID-19 training for healthcare workers
- Essential competencies for nurse preceptors
- Communicating with presence
6. Emergency Nurses Association
The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) offers specialized microlearning opportunities designed for nurses working in fast-paced emergency rooms. These courses focus on critical skills needed to deliver effective care during emergencies, disasters, and trauma situations.
Here are some examples to jumpstart your search:
- Best practices in blood culture collection
- Introduction to BrainScope technology
- Identifying and caring for mild TBI patients in the ED
7. IntelyEdu
As the nation’s largest nurse job-matching platform, IntelyCare also supports career growth through IntelyEdu — its healthcare-focused online learning hub. These online courses are tailored for nursing professionals, emphasizing practical, clinically relevant skills to help you stay current and confident in your role.
Here are some examples of courses offered by IntelyEdu to consider:
- Care of patients with acute medical-surgical health conditions
- Care of patients with behavioral health concerns and mental health conditions
- Essentials for caring for individuals with heart failure
8. National Association for Healthcare Quality
The National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) provides learning opportunities focused on quality improvement, patient safety, and healthcare leadership. These courses are designed to equip nurses with practical tools and frameworks to improve care delivery and system performance in various clinical environments.
Here are some examples of valuable quick credentials offered by NAHQ:
9. Sigma Theta Tau International
Sigma Theta Tau International, the Honor Society of Nursing, offers numerous nursing continuing professional development courses (NCPDs) aimed at advancing nursing leadership and evidence-based practice. Their courses focus on developing skills that enhance nursing research, clinical decision-making, and quality improvement.
Here are a few examples of NCPDs to explore:
10. Udemy
Udemy offers a vast selection of affordable, self-paced online courses across many healthcare topics, making it a popular choice for nurses seeking to expand their knowledge and skills. With user reviews and ratings, nurses can easily find courses tailored to their specific interests and professional needs.
Here are some examples of courses available on Udemy that might be useful for nurses:
11. World Health Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) offers a range of online courses that focus on global health priorities and essential clinical skills. These credentials are designed to provide healthcare professionals, including nurses, with up-to-date knowledge and practical tools to improve patient outcomes worldwide.
Examples of courses offered by WHO include the following:
- Mental health and psychosocial support for humanitarian workers
- Preventing rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in the community
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) training
Frequently Asked Questions: Alternative Credentials
Micro-credentials vs. certifications: What’s the difference?
Mini-credentials are short, focused credentials that validate specific clinical skills or competencies — like sepsis care or ventilator management. In contrast, certifications cover broader bodies of knowledge within a nursing specialty and require more extensive eligibility criteria and testing. Examples of certifications are the Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (CWOCN) and Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR).
They’re also displayed differently. Certifications are usually listed after your name, following your degrees and licenses, while alternative credentials are added to your nursing and online professional profiles — but not placed after your name in signature lines.
Are micro-credentials worth it?
They can be valuable for gaining specific skills quickly, showing ongoing learning, and staying current with best practices — especially when they’re aligned with your career goals.
According to research, these credentials are becoming increasingly common. The majority of executives (90%), supervisors (81%), and HR professionals (77%) say they regularly see applicants with alternative credentials. Additionally, 68% of employees who hold such a credential believe earning it has helped them to advance their career.
Is a microcredential a degree?
No. A microcredential is not a degree; it’s a shorter learning experience that complements (but doesn’t replace) formal nursing degrees such as an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
What are examples of universities offering micro-credentials?
Many well-known universities now offer targeted learning opportunities that complement traditional degree programs. These programs are designed to help healthcare professionals, including nurses, develop specialized knowledge and skills quickly and conveniently.
Here are some examples of universities that offer micro-credentials in education and other subjects:
Alternative credentials vs. continuing education courses: What’s the difference?
The term continuing education often refers to learning activities that professionals take to maintain their licenses and stay current with industry standards. These activities are frequently required by state nursing boards to ensure ongoing competence. In contrast, digital badges are targeted courses that nurses can take to enhance their skills or knowledge in a specific area.
Some alternative credentials may be accepted as continuing education credits, depending on the certifying organization and the state.
Looking for a Nursing Career Upgrade?
You’ve upgraded your skills with micro-credentials. Are you ready to apply for nursing jobs that best match your needs? IntelyCare can help you connect with quality nursing jobs tailored to your preferred specialty, location, and facility type.