AICPA Digital Badges

A digital badge is a validated, standardized graphical representation of knowledge and skills that can be earned by undertaking various learning activities. Each digital badge has a unique URL that badge holders can share electronically via social media and email and embed on an individual's profile page on a firm website.

A digital badge helps individuals gain recognition for significant professional development by allowing them to easily and share their achievements. Prospective clients and employers are able to quickly verify a digital badge holder's competencies and skills. The digital badge also provides greater credibility and visually declares an individuals commitment to professional development. According to a recent LinkedIn study, LinkedIn profiles with certifications and badges are viewed six times more often. 

Within 10 business days, you will receive an email from  aicpa@credly.com with instructions and a link to accept your badge.

The instructions you receive from  aicpa@credly.com make it easy to log in to the AICPA Credly site and accept the digital badges you've earned. You have the option to use your email address, Facebook or LinkedIn to create your free Credly.com account. Instructions are also available at support.credly.com:  support.credly.com/knowledgebase/articles/150860-how-do-i-accept-credit-i-earn  

You can view all of the AICPA's current digital badges, here:  aicpa.credly.com/#!/enterprise

You do not have to claim the digital badge, however digital badges are becoming the standard for recognizing and publicizing professional development.

There is no time limit to accept the digital badge; however, please refer to the below question, "Will my certificate badge ever expire?" 

From the "Earned" tab on the AICPA Credly site, you can elect to share badges anywhere on the web—a personal blog, a social network such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or Mozilla Open Badges, company website or an online résumé.   

You can also access these instructions with screenshots at support.credly.com:  support.credly.com/knowledgebase/articles/150861-how-do-i-share-earned-credit-on-social-networks

Employee Benefit Plans Audit Certificate and Single Audit Certificate badges automatically are set to expire on an annual basis. They are set to expire Dec. 31, 2019. If there have been no significant updates related to the information covered in the certificate program, your badge automatically will renew for another year. If significant changes to the information covered in the certificate program occur, you will be notified about any additional education or testing that must be completed to maintain the certificate. If you complete the additional education or pass the additional testing, you will remain a certificate holder and your digital badge description will be updated to reflect new competencies. If you do not complete the additional education or pass the additional testing, your certificate will expire electronically. 

Your inactive digital badge will still be listed on your Credly.com account with the expiration date displayed. You have a year to renew your certificate. The AICPA removes the digital badge from your profile and it will disappear from your account after it has been expired for a year.

Your digital badge is linked to your profile on the AICPA Credly site. Each certificate and profile has a unique URL that will display your badge information if you choose to share it on a social network profile or website or in your email signature.

Employee Benefit Plans Audit Certificate and Single Audit Certificate badges automatically are set to expire on an annual basis. They are set to expire Dec. 31, 2017. If there have been no significant updates related to the information covered in the certificate program, your badge automatically will renew for another year.  

If significant changes to the information covered in the certificate program occur, you will be notified about any additional education or testing that must be completed to maintain the certificate. If you complete the additional education or pass the additional testing, you will remain a certificate holder and your digital badge description will be updated to reflect new competencies. If you do not complete the additional education or ass the additional testing, your certificate will expire electronically.

Credly empowers the recognition of lifelong achievement by offering on of the leading platforms for verifying, sharing and managing digital badges and credentials. 

Thousands of organizations including the New York Department of Education, Adobe, SUNY, University of Central Florida, EDUCAUSE, Yale University, Harvard and the Smithsonian, use Credly to make achievements visible.

In order to accept your badge, you are required to share your name and email address with Credly, however you are in control of everything you share and make visible to other users. You can read more about Credly's privacy policy at  credly.com.privacy. 

Yes, digital badges issued and received on Credly.com are fully compliant with the  Mozilla Open Badges standard. All Credly account holders can send their badges to the  Mozilla Open Badge Backpack and import badges earned elsewhere into their Credly profile.  

No, your digital badge is awarded to the name and email address you used to complete your certificate rogram. If someone were to copy the badge, it would be unverified and invalid. If you encounter any individual who appears to be misusing an AICPA digital badge image or unique URL, please contact us at  digitalbadge@aicpa.org. 

This varies by certificate program. All paper and PDF certificates will be phased out. But, at this time, only the Single Audit Certificate programs and the Employee Benefit Plans Audit Certificate programs exclusively offer digital badges.