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Micro-credentials
Building bridges between learning and industry
Micro-credentials are short, focused courses designed to help learners quickly gain in-demand skills and knowledge. These courses are ideal for working professionals, recent graduates, and individuals seeking career advancement or transition. They are offered in a flexible format (online, hybrid, or in-person) and typically range from a few weeks to a few months in duration.
Key Features of USask Micro-credentials
- Practical learning and feedback: You will practice skills in a real-world context and receive and implement feedback from experts to achieve competence.
- Made for professionals: focused on skills that will help you advance or pivot in your career path.
- Short and focused: dynamic and flexible programs that typically last 4-6 weeks for the average learner and are designed to fit into your schedule.
- Stand-alone value: Learners receive an official USask credential demonstrating their achievement.
Benefits for faculty
Micro-credentials offer faculty a meaningful opportunity to innovate in teaching and learning. By designing focused, skill-based learning experiences, educators can enhance student engagement, respond to evolving industry needs, and showcase their expertise in emerging fields. Micro-credentials also foster collaboration across disciplines and sectors, positioning faculty as leaders in shaping flexible, future-ready education.
Benefits for industry
Micro-credentials make it easier for employers to spot the right talent and build the skills they need—fast. Whether you're hiring or upskilling, these bite-sized credentials show exactly what someone can do.
By working together, educators, industry partners, and community organizations can design learning experiences that match real-world needs. It’s a smarter, more flexible way to connect learning with the workplace.
Contact us to explore opportunities for collaboration at micro.credentials@usask.ca
Explore our micro-credentials
What did learners find most valuable about our micro‑credentials?
“The knowledge obtained is extremely applicable to practice.” – Micro-credential Learner, February 2025
“Practicing skills related to work.” – Micro-credential Learner, August 2025
“Accountability to actually build out my program proposal, budget, etc. on paper.” – Micro-credential Learner, July 2025
Both of our Sustainable Irrigation Micro-credentials are available as continuing education courses followed by an optional, highly practical assessment that leads to the micro-credential.
To learn more visit Sustainable Irrigation.
Sustainable Irrigation – Water Management
This micro-credential provides opportunity for the learner to develop the practical design skills required for calculating water conveyance requirements in supply and drainage projects, system analysis to identify opportunities to improve water use efficiency and supply management, and wholistic water management for sustainable integrated irrigation and drainage.
Sustainable Irrigation – Irrigation Agronomy
This micro-credential provides opportunity for the learner to develop the practical skills required for farm level management to adjust agronomic packages and practices to optimize benefits of irrigated cropping systems and data-driven application of irrigation to ensure water is applied at the right time, in the right place and at the right amount for maximum sustainable yields.
Leadership in Arts Management
This micro-credential will equip learners with the introductory skills to learn about the financial, artistic, and relational leadership required of successful arts organizations. Specifically, the information in this course will provide the skills to people who are involved in arts organizations to improve their understanding of the operational function of the Artistic staff. It will also be beneficial to anyone interested in a staff position in an artistic organization, Executive Directors of arts organizations, administrators in arts organizations, business students, fine arts students, board members in not-for-profit arts organizations.
Family Justice 1: Conflict Engagement, Conflict Resolution, and Communication
This micro-credential will support learners in acquiring and refining conflict engagement, conflict resolution, and communication skills to support family law and justice. Participants will learn to identify family dynamics and relationships that impact legal proceedings. They will learn to recognize their own conflict engagement styles and be able to identify these styles in others. Learners will practice communication strategies with each other, taking part in simulated challenging conversations and receiving constructive feedback from peers.
Next offering: Contact the College of Law for future dates via law.jdstudies@usask.ca
CPD Information
This course qualifies for 12 CPD hours with the Law Society of Saskatchewan, including 12 Ethics hours. Please note that the Law Society of Saskatchewan does not pre-approve CPD activities but asks providers to determine and share applicable hours. We’ve reviewed the CPD Policy and confirm that this course meets the criteria.
Family Justice 2: Dispute Resolution, Mediation, and Evaluation of Additional Family Law Contexts
This micro-credential will build upon the skills attained in Family Justice 1 and provide learners with skills in dispute resolution, mediation, and evaluation of additional family contexts. Participants will participate in mediation simulations and collaborative law simulations, enabling them to develop skills in these process modules. Learners will also use and evaluate different screening tools for family violence.
Management of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in Adults: Clinical Update
Informed by the 2023 Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) guidelines, this micro-credential equips learners to assess/diagnose, collaborate with the client and other members of the healthcare team to develop an individualized evidence informed treatment plan, and monitor treatment response/outcomes for individuals living with uncomplicated and complex MDD. Topics include a review of MDD pathophysiology; trauma-informed assessment/diagnosis; measurement-based care; safety; optimizing nonpharmacologic and pharmacotherapy treatment; and the importance of both symptomatic and functional remission. Pre- and post-tests, case studies, and feedback from facilitators and peers provide opportunities for practice and authentic assessment in real-world contexts.
Municipal Leadership in Addressing Substance Use Harms
This micro-credential is offered asynchronously online and fosters understanding of the policy options and mechanisms available to municipal leadership for addressing substance use harms. Completing this micro-credential will provide increased skills in municipal leaders' current role and introduce opportunities for municipal leadership to address substance use aside from municipal policing practices.
Start your learning journey
Explore targeted programs built for working professionals who want to stay competitive and expand their capabilities. Gain real world skills you can apply immediately in your career. Your next step starts here.
Frequently asked questions
Micro-credential fees vary based on the lenght of the course and the type of assessment a learner will need to complete to demonstrate skill. Click the links below to visit the registration page for each micro-credential to learn more.
Most courses will be delivered online asynchronously. Some programs may have an on-campus component or scheduled online synchronous sessions.
Micro-credentials provide stand-alone value (like currency) as USask credentials in the same way as a certificate or a degree are “credentials,” but micro-credentials are short and narrowly focused.
Our federal government acknowledges that the nature of work is evolving, and many Canadians will require new skills to keep up with our changing economy. The Canada Training Credit, a refundable tax credit, is available to help you with the cost of eligible training fees.
For full details on the benefit, refer to the Canada Revenue Agency website.
Highlights of the credit include:
- Targets certain individuals aged 26-65 years of age
- For Canadian residents who file an income tax and benefit return
- Tuition or other fees were paid to an eligible educational institution for courses taken in the year when the credit is claimed
Additional questions?
For additional questions contact micro-credentials@usask.ca
Professional development and accreditation
Agricultural
In partnership with industry groups and government agencies, the College of Agriculture and Bioresources offers a number of certificates, programs, and individual classes to those who want to grow their career.
Business
Offered by the Edwards School of Business, we offer training in key business areas including leadership, governance, business acumen, and process & project management.
Health sciences
Each of our Health Sciences colleges offer programs and workshops for professionals to obtain continuing education credits and keep abreast of developments in their field.
Law and public policy
Engage in the debates and policy discussions that will shape our public institutions. Our colleges bring together experts from across Canada and around the world.
Opportunities for all ages and abilities to keep learning.
Personal interests
Art
Explore your creativity and develop skills in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, glass, jewelry making, fiber art, graphic design, and more. Gain confidence as you develop your portfolio. Classes are taught by acclaimed professional artists.
Gardening
Make your yard beautiful and your garden healthy. Programs are offered throughout the year for gardening enthusiasts of all levels. Take classes for personal interest or work toward certification.
Fitness
Fitness classes, adult swimming lessons, CPR and First-aid classes, personal trainers, or take out a membership to use our fit centre.
Seniors
Saskatoon Seniors for Continued Learning (SSCL), in collaboration with the College of Arts & Science, offers non-degree courses to people aged 55 and better.
Activities that that provide children a learning, creative and fun environment.
Children's opportunities
Kids camps
Make new friends and get plenty of exercise in our hands-on, creative learning environments. Camps are offered during summers with some camps also being available during February and Easter school breaks.
Teachers and their K–12 students
In-school workshops, on and off-campus guided field trips, and educational events are offered by many colleges and organizations on campus.
Kids activities
From art, swimming and climbing walls, USask provides hands-on learning and fun activities for children of all ages.
Coming to our campus
If the class you're attending is on our Saskatoon campus, you may be interested in: