It was announced this week that Acclaim will begin issuing badges for Professionals in Humanitarian Assistance and Protection (PHAP). The association's mission is to empower capable and informed professionals to transform humanitarian action. To that end, PHAP offers digital badges for several certifications and in recognition of association membership. 

Learn more about PHAP's badging program on Acclaim, or visit the association's website for more details on the roll-out of PHAP's badge program. 

BLOOMINGTON, MN, October 19, 2016 – Pearson VUE today announced it is teaming with Microsoft to issue badges to Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCPs) via its digital badging platform, Acclaim. Industry-recognized Microsoft Certifications are highly regarded by IT hiring managers to measure a candidate’s skill level using Microsoft technologies. Pearson VUE is Microsoft’s exam delivery provider for all of its technical certification exams.

Digital badges are quickly becoming the new standard for displaying achievements online. Metadata attached to Acclaim badges display the certification holder’s name, the MCP credential achieved and validates that Microsoft issued the badge. This ensures that individuals and organizations that view an Acclaim badge can trust the information presented, while making it easy for MCPs to post their Microsoft achievements to social media via a digital icon easily accessible to employers and industry peers.

In addition to issuing millions of badges for leading organizations that include IT, healthcare and higher education, Acclaim provides industry and employment data to badge holders. “Acclaim’s Labor Market Insights give Microsoft badge earners access to job opportunities directly related to the skills they’ve demonstrated through certification,” added Clarke Porter, general manager for Acclaim.

“Our goal is to give Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCPs) the tools they need to get hired, get recognized, and get ahead,” said Alison Cunard, general manager of Microsoft Learning Experiences. “Our certification program is focused on skill building and validation, and digital badging gives IT professionals the ability to broadly share their technical credentials with peers and employers as they advance their careers.”

Beginning October 21, 2016, Microsoft will issue the first wave of digital badges to individuals who earn new Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Developer (MCSD), or Expert (MCSE) certifications or pass certain individual exams. Retroactive badges will be issued in early 2017.

Media Contact:
Damien Fletcher
+44 (0)20 7010 2582
damien.fletcher@pearson.com

Several Acclaim team members recently attended the Europe-ATP conference in Lisbon, Portugal, and came back to Acclaim HQ full of new ideas. E-ATP is the regional division of the Association of Test Publishers and brought together over 290 professionals and representatives from global organizations that drive innovation in testing, such as content development, security and technology.

Global leaders from Pearson, City & Guilds, Cisco, and Facebook led a workshop to discuss badging best practices. During the workshop Clarke Porter (Acclaim's general manager) and Jarin Schmidt (Acclaim's director of services)  led discussions around:  

• Current trends within credentialing
• ​How badging technology has become increasingly important
• Best practices in leveraging badging technology

In addition to these discussions, participants in the workshop went through a series of exercises to better understand how credentials can be mapped into the Open Badges standard. 

And finally, Acclaim's participation in the event's Product Demonstrations was well received. By showcasing the connection between credentials and employer demand, Acclaim was selected by attendees as the most innovative product demonstration. 

We look forward to heading back to E-ATP in 2017!

In a new piece on digital badging, PBS NewsHour shares the impact that badges are having on recent college graduates entering the workforce. 

We here at Acclaim are all about creating new professional opportunities. It's why we've made labor market insights available to badge earners. And it's why we want to share insights gathered by UPCEA and our parent company, Pearson, that explore the role alternative credentials play in higher education.  

A recently published article at University Business dives into the increasing interest of colleges in digital badges. Many of the points outlined reflect what we're seeing from colleges  issuing badges to students through Acclaim. You can read the full article here. 

Digital badges are changing the way professional achievements are recognized, managed, shared and verified - and IBM is leading the way within their industry for maximizing the potential of badging.  Read this case study to learn how IBM approached its badge program and how Acclaim has helped the company achieve its goals.  

Ready to learn how Acclaim badges could create connections between
​career opportunities and your certification program?

Digital badges are changing the way professional achievements are recognized, managed, shared and verified - andIBM is leading the way within their industry for maximizing the potential of badging.  

With four badge types across a variety of learning activities offered by the company and their Global Training Providers, IBM has recognized increased course completion, engagement rates and other tangible benefits thanks to its badging program. Watch this video from IBM to learn more.