What is a Microcredential?
Microcredentials are one of the fastest-growing post-secondary course types in the market. They are tailored short courses that are outcome-based, often driven by industry needs and readily accessible to learners.
The National Microcredentials Framework defines a microcredential as "a certification of assessed learning or competency, with a minimum volume of learning of one hour and less than an Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) award qualification, that is additional, alternate, complementary to or a component part of an AQF award qualification."
What constitutes a microcredential?
- Vocational Education Training (VET) skill sets or units of competency.
- Modularised, assessed components of existing higher education curriculum or subjects.
- Assessed industry learning (vendor certifications and short courses).
- Other forms of assessed learning or competencies (e.g. vocational education, higher education and industry courses not currently accredited by a regulatory authority).
How can a Microcredential be used for other Award Courses?
Microcredentials may be delivered as a stand-alone qualification or they can complement study being undertaken at the VET or higher education level.
Credit
Credit points indicate the study load of a course and are awarded once a subject has been completed. Some microcredentials can be counted towards other courses either at the same institution where it was originally offered or at another institution which has agreed to offer credit. This may mean a student doesn’t have to complete similar units and repeat course content that has already been mastered.
Stackable Courses
Certain microcredentials can be combined (or stacked) together to build up to a higher-level (or alternative) qualification.
What are the Different Course Levels?
The course levels used on this website are based on the Dreyfus Model. They include:
Novice
The material for this course has been designed for students who are at the first stage of skill acquisition and have little or no experience with the subject.
Advanced Beginner
The material for this course has been designed for students who are at the first stage of skill acquisition and have some prior basic knowledge or experience with the subject.
Competent
The material for this course has been designed for students who have mastered the basics but have not yet become proficient. Students must have studied the course material before (at advanced beginner level) or have relevant industry experience.
Proficient
The material for this course has been designed for students who have already demonstrated a high level of skill in the subject matter. Students must have relevant experience and/or have studied the course material before (at competent level).
Expert
The material for this course has been designed for students who are already highly skilled at the topic being taught. This is likely to have been achieved through extensive industry experience and previous study at an advanced level.
What are the Different Types of Delivery Mode?
A microcredential course may be delivered in one of the following ways. They include:
Online
The course is conducted online. Students are not required to attend classes in person.
On campus
The course is conducted at a physical location (usually a student campus). Students are required to attend in person.
Multi-modal
The course may be delivered online and/or attending in person.
How are the industries defined?
The industries listed on this website are based on the industry profiles listed on the National Skills Commission’s website - Labour Market Insights.