CSI’s Digital Badges

I received email notifications last week from the Construction Specifications Institute that I earned two “badges,” digital credentials available to all recipients of the CDT, CCCA, CCS, and CCPR certifications. CSI announced the advent of the badges with considerable fanfare, so of course I accepted the invitation and learned as much as I could about the new digital credentials program.

A primary purpose of the credentialing is to enhance the visibility of CSI’s certification programs within and beyond the design and construction industry. A secondary purpose is to provide certificants with an effective means to share their web-enabled credentials using a simple, trusted, and verifiable platform—a useful tool for an ever-expanding online marketplace. The badges provide concrete evidence to employers and peers of what was required to earn a particular CSI certification. Additionally, the badges help employers quickly and easily identify qualified job applicants. By accessing the badge information, an employer can confirm the skills it represents, when it was issued, who issued it, and when it expires.

CSI partnered with the company Credly to use its Acclaim platform—a leading digital credentialing solution for recognizing skills, capabilities, and achievements—to manage the badging program. Beyond the verification of certification it provides badge-holders, the program offers labor market insights, based on the certificant’s specific skillset, a substantial benefit to job-seekers. After setting up an Acclaim account, badge holders have access to a wealth of information, including listings of current professional opportunities exclusively available to individuals with the desired certification.

"Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges!" (unless it's a CSI digital badge!) 

Ultimately, the benefits of the digital badging program to CSI should include increased engagement and improved member satisfaction. Industry associations like CSI have experienced widespread declines in their membership in recent years. Emerging professionals simply do not interact directly and network as much as older generations once preferred to do, choosing instead to virtually network and access educational content online. To stay relevant, CSI is rethinking its role and positioning itself to occupy an essential niche within tomorrow’s construction industry. Certainly, aggressively promoting the value CSI’s certification programs is one avenue toward building and sustaining relevance.

As the chair of the Willamette Valley Chapter’s Certification Committee, I’m a big cheerleader for the CSI certification programs. I’m happy anytime the Institute chooses to underscore their value and importance. I truly believe the programs are a fundamental part of the bedrock for CSI’s position of authority on construction communication and documentation.

If you’ve already earned any of the credentials offered by CSI, check your email account’s inbox. You should have received a message as I did for each of your certifications. Take the time to claim your badge(s), promote your accomplishment(s), and expand your personal brand. Unlock the benefits available to you by taking full advantage of the digital badging program.

For more information, check out CSI’s digital badges web page: https://www.csiresources.org/certification/certification-digital-badges