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Frequently Asked Questions

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DAU Credentials

Earning a Credential

What is a DAU Credential

A credential documents an individual's ability or skills to perform a role or function. DAU's credentials will help you acquire skills specific to the DoD acquisition workplace. Credentials can help you build skills when you start a job, or add skills as a job evolves or when you move to another position. DAU credentials will complement, not duplicate other credentialing programs. Although subject to change, credentials will supplement, not replace, the current Level 1 - Level 3 certification requirements.

The DAU Credential Job-Aid provides detailed guidance on how to get started.

Who can earn a credential?

NOTE: The Data Analytics and Digital Engineering: DoD Consumer credentials are restricted to Defense Acquisition Workforce (DAW) Employees because they include training completed through Coursera. The license fee for is paid by DAU, which is why the restriction is in place.
Exceptions:
- DAW users without access to request these credentials must do the follow:
  Contact your DACM/Quota Manager and have them send the information below to the DAU Help Desk on your behalf.
  ******************
  1. Name:
  2. Date the user entered their present position:
  3. User's career field:
  4. User's career level requirements:
  ******************
- DoD employees who are not a part of the DAW, Non-DoD employees, and Contractor/Industry employees who complete the required Coursera training at their own expense can provide their certificate(s) to the DAU Help Desk and request to be manually enrolled in the Data Analytics and/or Digital Engineering: DoD Consumer credential(s). Once the completion(s) has been validated, the student will be enrolled in the credential(s). Please be advised that process could take 7 – 10 business days.

How does a student receive credit for taking a course through Coursera that’s required for a DAU Credential?

If the student passes a Coursera course obtained through DAU's Learning Management System/Virtual Campus, course credit is applied by the "Next Business Day". If the student passed a Coursera course that was not taken via DAU's Learning Management System/Virtual Campus they may send a copy of the Coursera graduation certificate to the Help Desk to receive credit. Please contact the DAU Help Desk

Will credentials have an experience requirement?

The initial DAU credentials focus on entry-level performance and will generally build practical experience using exercises or simulations. We anticipate more advanced credentials that we develop will require a more significant experiential requirement in order to hone performance, and to allow us to assess how well the candidate can apply the learning.

Who issues the credentials?

For the initial credentials we are offering, DAU will be the issuing authority, based on an assessment to verify ability to perform.

How are the credential assessments graded?

Students will need to complete the learning assets and pass an assessment, which in some cases may be a multiple choice exam, to demonstrate their ability to apply what they have learned. Students will have multiple attempts to achieve at least an 80% or better score. The questions are application-focused vs memorization or recall of facts. If students do not pass in the first two attempts, we recommend they reach out to one of the assigned DAU professors to work through the areas in which they are having difficulty, and review the on-line material, before attempting the assessment a third time. If students fail the third attempt, they may take the assessment again; however, we strongly encourage them to do more self-study of the materials provided in the DAU courseware and again, consult a DAU faculty member. Faculty members are found by contacting the DAU Help Desk.

Credential Details

Will DAU continue to add credentials to its list of offerings?

Yes, we kicked off the program in October 2019 with our first 4 credentials. In the third quarter of FY20, we will release a credential to help DoD acquisition professionals manage cybersecurity aspects of their program. Moreover, we will be monitoring the workforce’s interest in earning credentials and plan to develop ones that will help cultivate key job performance skills. You can send feedback and suggestions to Perform@dau.edu.

Will there be a fulfillment or equivalency option for credentials?

We are planning to evaluate other public or private sector training sources as alternative providers for portions of DAU credentials. It is important to keep in mind that DAU is developing credentials to complement, not compete with, commercial or other public credentials. We want to offer tailored learning that provides you DoD domain knowledge and builds skills and performance in areas unique to the DoD acquisition environment. So while a commercial credential would not be equivalent to a DAU credential in its entirety, it is very likely that subsets of commercial credentials, such as relevant courses, will be accepted for portions of a DAU credential. In fact, some of the DAU credential designs include learning content from non-DoD sources, based on best fit.

Can a student get credit for taking a course from another vendor?

Yes, the DAU equivalency process applies to a credential just as it applies to certification in a career field. You can find information on equivalent providers and the equivalency process at https://icatalog.dau.edu/appg.aspx.

How does a student get credit for taking a course through Coursera?

If the student passes a Coursera course obtained through DAU's Learning Management System/Virtual Campus, course credit is automatically applied. If the student passed a Coursera course that was not taken via DAU's Learning Management System/Virtual Campus they may send a copy of the Coursera graduation certificate to the Help Desk to receive credit. Please contact the DAU Help Desk.

How many CLPs will I earn for completing Coursera CRD 001?

CLPs are awarded course by course and issued by the training institution. DAU cannot award CLPs for outside institutions such as the University of New York at Buffalo which hosts CRD 001, Model Based Systems Engineering Course. This course is advertised as 12 hours of training, so it is reasonable to expect your supervisor to award 12 CLPs for completing the Coursera portion of the Digital Engineering Credential.

How many CLPs are earned for taking each credential?

CLPs are not earned per credential, they are awarded course by course. For example, if a credential is made up of 3 distinct learning assets, you will be awarded CLPs for each completed learning asset. This happens automatically if you are an acquisition workforce member and completed a DAU resident, virtual or online course. Some credentials can be earned by taking courses offered by a 3rd party provider, such a Coursera. In that case, you can request approval of CLPs hours from your supervisor after reviewing the course hours. Defense Acquisition workforce members should consult with their Component on any specific Continuous Learning (CL) guidance and procedures for awarding CLPs.

Will credentials expire?

Yes, most if not all credentials will have an expiration date (most commonly 3-5 years after award) and will require refresher learning to renew the credential date. The credential description and the credential start notification will include the expiration date. You will also be notified by DAU 90 days before your credential expires.

How will you know if training has helped someone perform better?

During and upon completion of the training portion of a credential, we will use assessments to help you gauge your ability to perform. Your successful completion of a final/capstone assessment will support DAU's award of a credential.

Will credentials only be online training?

No. They will be a mix of self-paced online training, instructor-led learning (resident and virtual delivery), simulations, and other content such as videos, reading, and some non-DAU resources.

Will credentials only involve DAU assets?

No. Many will be a mix of DAU and external sources. For example, we are using a Coursera course in one credential. Over time, we anticipate collaboration with the Services and 4th Estate to also access their learning assets, as well as other commercial sources.

Can a student earn a credential by taking only the final credential assessment, without completing the required courses?

No, not at this time. Students must take required courses to earn the credential. We are currently working on giving student credit for courses taken with equivalent providers or earned (via DACM approval) through the fulfillment process. (Please note that the fulfillment process is not available for any course that is less than 10 CLPs.) We can give you credit for Coursera courses taken on your own. You may contact the DAU Help Desk to get Coursera credit to support a credential. In the future we may institute test–out or adaptive learning capability in our online courses.

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