Explore Credentials That Help Build Your Career

The Careers Building Communities Credentials Hub connects you to trusted credential opportunities from leading industry organizations — helping you discover what’s possible and when you may be ready to take the next step.

Explore

Explore Credentials That Help Build Your Career

The Careers Building Communities Credentials Hub connects you to trusted credential opportunities from leading industry organizations — helping you discover what’s possible and when you may be ready to take the next step.

Explore

What Are Credentials?

Credentialing is an umbrella term for concepts such as professional certification, certificate programs, licensure, accreditation, and regulation. There are three main types of credentials:

In contrast to certification and licensure, a certificate program is an educational or training program that is used to teach learning objectives and assess whether those objectives were achieved by the student.  Certificates may not include a credential.

Industry Examples:

  • Facility Management Professional
  • Construction Manager-in-Training

A certification is designed to test the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform a particular job and, upon successfully passing a certification exam, to represent a declaration of a particular individual’s professional competence.  In some professions, certification is a requirement for employment or practice.  Certifications requirements do not vary based on location.

Industry Examples:

  • Leadership on Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
  • Project Management Professional (PMP)

Licensure tests an individual’s competence but is a mandatory process by which the government grants time-limited permission for that licensed individual to practice a profession.  License requirements vary based on location.

Industry Examples:

  • Professional Engineer (PE)
  • Professional Surveyor (PS)

Why Credentials Matter

Grow Your Career

Credentials can help open doors to promotions, specialized roles, and leadership opportunities.

Build Industry Knowledge

Many credentials provide advanced technical, operational, financial, or management training.

Stand Out to Employers

Credentials show initiative, professionalism, and commitment to your career.

Expand Your Network

Many credential programs connect professionals with industry communities, mentors, and continuing education.

Stay Current

Credentials often include ongoing education requirements that help professionals keep pace with changing technology, regulations, and best practices.

Trust & Confidence

Credentials instill trust and confidence in not only you as an individual, but also as a business.

Grow Your Career

Credentials can help open doors to promotions, specialized roles, and leadership opportunities.

Build Industry Knowledge

Many credentials provide advanced technical, operational, financial, or management training.

Stand Out to Employers

Credentials show initiative, professionalism, and commitment to your career.

Expand Your Network

Many credential programs connect professionals with industry communities, mentors, and continuing education.

Stay Current

Credentials often include ongoing education requirements that help professionals keep pace with changing technology, regulations, and best practices.

Trust & Confidence

Credentials instill trust and confidence in not only you as an individual, but also as a business.

Grow Your Career

Credentials can help open doors to promotions, specialized roles, and leadership opportunities.

Build Industry Knowledge

Many credentials provide advanced technical, operational, financial, or management training.

Stand Out to Employers

Credentials show initiative, professionalism, and commitment to your career.

Expand Your Network

Many credential programs connect professionals with industry communities, mentors, and continuing education.

Stay Current

Credentials often include ongoing education requirements that help professionals keep pace with changing technology, regulations, and best practices.

Trust & Confidence

Credentials instill trust and confidence in not only you as an individual, but also as a business.

When Might You Be Ready?

Entry-Level Professionals

You may be ready if you want to:

  • Build foundational industry knowledge

  • Explore a career pathway
  • Demonstrate commitment to employers

Mid-Career Professionals

You may be ready if you want to:

  • Specialize in a focus area
  • Advance into management or leadership
  • Expand technical expertise

Experienced Professionals

You may be ready if you want to:

  • Demonstrate advanced expertise
  • Lead teams or projects
  • Strengthen credibility with clients and employers

Explore Credentials

  • CREFC Certificate

    The certificate curriculum is designed to provide critical skills and industry insights into the CRE finance markets. Courses will incorporate cutting-edge market data that drive decisions and investments and provide thought leadership on recent developments and long-standing CRE finance principles to students.

    Requirements

    Education:

    Bachelor's Degree

    Experience:

    N/A

    Accreditation:

    N/A

    Delivery Format:

    Hybrid

  • CCIM Designation

    CCIM Designees represent the top tier of commercial real estate investment specialists, including investors, asset managers, brokers, developers, lenders, appraisers, and other industry leaders.

    Requirements

    Education:

    N/A

    Experience:

    N/A

    Accreditation:

    N/A

    Delivery Format:

    Online

  • Accredited Residential Manager (ARM)

    To become an effective residential property manager, you need to know it all: budgeting, leasing, maintenance, risk management, resident relations and retention all while being accessible to your residents 24/7. And that’s exactly what the ARM (Accredited Residential Manager®) certification will help you do. It’s the residential property management certification that teaches early-career real estate managers the core competencies to manage residential properties successfully.

    Requirements

    Education:

    None

    Experience:

    Entry Level

    Accreditation:

    Industry-Recognized (Widely sought after by employers)

    Delivery Format:

    Hybrid

  • Professional Certificate in Institutional Real Estate

    The NCREIF Certificate Program offers a unique and exciting opportunity for professionals pursuing a career in institutional real estate investment.

    Requirements

    Education:

    None

    Experience:

    N/A

    Accreditation:

    N/A

    Delivery Format:

    Hybrid

Latest News

America Is Shifting Toward Skills-Based Workforce Training

The Financial Times reported on the growing national movement toward skills-based hiring, apprenticeships, certifications, and industry training as employers increasingly prioritize practical competencies over traditional degree pathways alone.

Connecticut Launches Expanded Industry Credential Pathways for Students

Connecticut introduced more than 300 industry-recognized credentials available to high school students across fields including manufacturing, technology, healthcare, and professional services.

Maryland Expands Industry-Led Workforce Credential Programs

Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced an additional $2.6 million in workforce development grants to help employers connect workers to occupational training and industry-recognized credentials.