Get credentialed — by industry
A plain map of how to actually earn the credential you need: certifications, accreditors, credit-by-exam, and the free or low-cost paths that lead to them. We link out to the official issuer — we never sell credentials.
We rank by recognition and value to YOU — never by who pays. Free and credit-bearing paths are listed first, costs are shown plainly, and every credential links out to its official issuer. We do not sell credentials or your data.
Start here — free paths worth knowing
Modern States Education Alliance
Free online courses that prep you for CLEP exams — and Modern States pays your exam voucher. Pass the CLEP and most U.S. colleges grant credit. The cheapest real route to a year of college.
✓ Free CLEP prep + a voucher that covers the CLEP exam & proctor fee; CLEP credit accepted by 2,900+ colleges
Go to the official issuer →
Saylor Academy (nonprofit)
Free, self-paced college-level courses. Pass the final exam and many carry ACE- or NCCRS-recommended college credit you can transfer to partner schools — at no cost.
✓ Free; many courses are ACE/NCCRS credit-recommended (Saylor Direct Credit)
Go to the official issuer →
ISC2
An entry-level cybersecurity certification with FREE official training and a FREE exam through ISC2's One Million Certified in Cybersecurity pledge. The best free foot in the door.
✓ Free training + free exam (ISC2 "One Million Certified" program)
Go to the official issuer →
freeCodeCamp (nonprofit)
Completely free, project-based web-development and data certifications. Not accredited, but the projects build a real portfolio that employers respect.
✓ Free portfolio-building certs; respected for self-taught devs
Go to the official issuer →
Browse by industry
Accreditation & recognition (who to trust)
The bodies that vouch for everyone else — CHEA & the U.S. regional accreditors for colleges, ANAB & NCCA for certifications (ISO/IEC 17024), ACE & NCCRS for credit. Check a credential here before you pay for it.
8 credentials · 8 free
College credit (credit-by-exam & free)
Earn real, transferable college credit cheaply or free — CLEP/DSST by exam, ACE/NCCRS-reviewed courses. Start with ModernStates (free CLEP) and Saylor.
10 credentials · 5 free
Continuing education & CEUs
Professional continuing-education units (CEUs) under the ANSI/IACET Standard — the recognized way to keep a license or certification current. (MELEK's own IACET path lives here.)
3 credentials
Teaching English (TEFL/TESOL)
Certifications to teach English abroad or online — TEFL, TESOL, CELTA, TKT and the advanced DELTA. What counts, what's accredited, and what's a paper mill.
6 credentials
Information technology
IT support, cloud, and networking — CompTIA, AWS/Azure/Google Cloud, Cisco, and the free Google Career Certificates and freeCodeCamp paths into them.
10 credentials · 1 free
Cybersecurity
Security credentials from entry to expert — ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (free exam), CompTIA Security+, CEH, CISSP — and the free training that feeds them.
7 credentials · 2 free
Data & AI
Data analytics, data science and machine learning — Google Data Analytics, IBM, DeepLearning.AI, and free university courses with credit-recommended options.
3 credentials
Business, finance & PM
Project management (CAPM/PMP, Scrum, Google PM), quality (ASQ Six Sigma), IT service (ITIL), and the finance ladders — CFA, CFP, CPA, FINRA SIE — with the free on-ramps.
11 credentials
Human resources
The two recognized HR credential families — SHRM (SHRM-CP/SCP) and HRCI (aPHR/PHR/SPHR) — and the free study paths into them.
2 credentials
Languages (proficiency)
Recognized language-proficiency credentials — ACTFL (US), and the national standards: Goethe (German), DELE (Spanish), DELF/DALF (French), JLPT (Japanese), HSK (Chinese).
6 credentials
Healthcare & safety
Patient-care and safety credentials — CPR/BLS (AHA, Red Cross), CNA, phlebotomy, Medical Assistant, and ServSafe for food handling.
8 credentials
Childcare & early education
The full path: the CDA credential (and how to get it paid for with T.E.A.C.H.), licensing to RUN a daycare, NAEYC accreditation — and the real state & federal money: CCDF subsidies, Head Start, CACFP food reimbursement, and grants.
9 credentials · 5 free
Skilled trades & compliance
Trade and workplace-compliance credentials — OSHA 10/30, EPA 608 (HVAC refrigerant), CDL, and apprenticeship on-ramps.
7 credentials
Teaching & instructional design
K-12 and adult teaching — Praxis prep, alternative certification, and instructional-design / online-teaching credentials.
2 credentials