In the past, a bachelor’s degree was the main route into the world of work, but that’s no longer the case. The country has entered a “prove it” economy in which formal education is taking a back seat to demonstrable skills. This shift in prioritization is driving a revolution in how education is thought about, delivered, and credentialed. Shorter, nondegree programs are starting to become more resume-worthy than the traditional four-year degree. “We are watching the job market become more and more competitive, and working professionals need additional knowledge and skills,” says Susan Aldridge, the president of Drexel University Online. Yet, “they have child-care issues, traffic issues; they have busy, challenging lives.” Aldridge believes that “certificates and stackable credentials are the wave of the future.” Credentialing is becoming the new storage unit for skills, many experts say, and many educational institutions are adding online educational certificate programs. In the near future, Aldridge says, “working professionals may never come for a full degree.”