HLC Endorsement Helps in Navigating Complex Credential Marketplace

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The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), long recognized as an independent leader in institutional accreditation and quality assurance, has developed a new standard.

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), long recognized as an independent leader in institutional accreditation and quality assurance, has developed a new standard.

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HLC’s new process to evaluate and endorse organizations that provide short-term credential programs, such as certificates, microcredentials, badges, or other alternative credentials, is built on our extensive experience in the education space and deep discipline in vetting quality and credibility for learners.

HLC’s new process to evaluate and endorse organizations that provide short-term credential programs, such as certificates, microcredentials, badges, or other alternative credentials, is built on our extensive experience in the education space and deep discipline in vetting quality and credibility for learners.

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For decades, we have been guided by the belief that higher ed needs to be two things: trusted and evolving. As we look beyond our focus on institutional accreditation, we’re bringing rigor and recognition to short-term credential providers. We created this endorsement for a growing area of professional education where an objective measure of credibility would be vital: the world of short-term credentials. With the current accountability gap, it is becoming more difficult for providers or companies to assure potential partner institutions, employers, and learners of the reliability of their offerings. How did we get here?

For decades, we have been guided by the belief that higher ed needs to be two things: trusted and evolving. As we look beyond our focus on institutional accreditation, we’re bringing rigor and recognition to short-term credential providers. We created this endorsement for a growing area of professional education where an objective measure of credibility would be vital: the world of short-term credentials. With the current accountability gap, it is becoming more difficult for providers or companies to assure potential partner institutions, employers, and learners of the reliability of their offerings. How did we get here?

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In 2020, HLC convened a group of higher ed leaders to examine gaps between workforce needs and higher education. This work led to the publication of Evolving: Accreditation and the Credential Landscape in April 2022, in which the Stakeholders’ Roundtable offered specific recommendations to address the changing landscape of higher ed, and expectations of institutional transparency related to credentials and learner competencies. HLC conducted a feasibility study to evaluate the growing short-term credential market and determined the need for a quality-assurance initiative.

In 2020, HLC convened a group of higher ed leaders to examine gaps between workforce needs and higher education. This work led to the publication of Evolving: Accreditation and the Credential Landscape in April 2022, in which the Stakeholders’ Roundtable offered specific recommendations to address the changing landscape of higher ed, and expectations of institutional transparency related to credentials and learner competencies. HLC conducted a feasibility study to evaluate the growing short-term credential market and determined the need for a quality-assurance initiative.

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What Is an Endorsement?

What Is an Endorsement?

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A quality assurance review, based on a set of requirements, to help identify education and training providers whose offerings prepare learners for the skills needed for the workforce. The endorsement applies to the provider, not to individual short-term credentials.

A quality assurance review, based on a set of requirements, to help identify education and training providers whose offerings prepare learners for the skills needed for the workforce. The endorsement applies to the provider, not to individual short-term credentials.

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Who Is a Provider?

Who Is a Provider?

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A training/education provider that is not a degree-granting institution, which creates, delivers, or awards short-term credentials that demonstrate they are aligned with modern workforce needs; they are advancing learning for today’s job market, and through their short-term credentials, they are accelerating career opportunities for learners. HLC accepts applications for the endorsement of providers on a rolling basis, with the next deadline on July 24, 2026. Endorsed providers demonstrate:

A training/education provider that is not a degree-granting institution, which creates, delivers, or awards short-term credentials that demonstrate they are aligned with modern workforce needs; they are advancing learning for today’s job market, and through their short-term credentials, they are accelerating career opportunities for learners. HLC accepts applications for the endorsement of providers on a rolling basis, with the next deadline on July 24, 2026. Endorsed providers demonstrate:

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  Their organization is stable, both financially and legally.

  Their organization is stable, both financially and legally.

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  Educational offerings are aligned with workforce learning needs.

  Educational offerings are aligned with workforce learning needs.

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  Protections for learners have been established and are a priority.

  Protections for learners have been established and are a priority.

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HLC launched the endorsement in October 2025 and endorsed its first cohort of providers in March 2026. The first cohort of endorsed providers includes:

HLC launched the endorsement in October 2025 and endorsed its first cohort of providers in March 2026. The first cohort of endorsed providers includes:

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  Corporate Finance Institute

  Corporate Finance Institute

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  Kaplan North America

  Kaplan North America

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  Sophia Learning

  Sophia Learning

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  Voltage Control

  Voltage Control

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At the end of the day, we see the endorsement as a benefit for short-term credential providers because it demonstrates their quality as trustworthy credential partners in addressing workforce learning initiatives and developing learners’ skills to meet workforce needs. It is also a benefit for students seeking credible providers in the short-term credential landscape who want to secure a certificate or alternative credential. And finally, it benefits employers facing rapid transformation across multiple fronts. They can rely on HLC looking at relevant standards vital to meeting the skills needed from the workforce today and in the future. Visit www.hlcommission.org/credential-lab for more information.

At the end of the day, we see the endorsement as a benefit for short-term credential providers because it demonstrates their quality as trustworthy credential partners in addressing workforce learning initiatives and developing learners’ skills to meet workforce needs. It is also a benefit for students seeking credible providers in the short-term credential landscape who want to secure a certificate or alternative credential. And finally, it benefits employers facing rapid transformation across multiple fronts. They can rely on HLC looking at relevant standards vital to meeting the skills needed from the workforce today and in the future. Visit www.hlcommission.org/credential-lab for more information.

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