Ivy Tech has organized many of its academic programs into a series of smaller units—such as industry certifications or certificates. You can earn each one by one while pursuing your degree. It’s like collecting a series of building blocks that lead to something bigger. Think about earning a black belt in karate. You can’t achieve your ultimate goal of becoming a black belt without earning your yellow, orange, green, and others along the way. The credentials build on each other as you go, which is why we call them “stackable credentials.” You can enter the workforce immediately upon earning your first credential or pursue additional credentials to stack on what you’ve already learned.
Every Program is Unique
The combination of stackable credentials you can earn is different for each academic program; however, each provides specialized skills that are aligned with employer needs and hold serious value in the labor market. Contact your advisor to develop a customized stacking plan for your academic program.
Earn certificate in 3-9 months depending on program
Congrats on your first certificate!
Start work in your new field if desired
Stack your certificate credits into a technical certificate
Long-Term Certificate
Known as Technical Certificate
Short-Term Certificate
At 1 year mark
Congrats, you’ve earned your technical certificate!
Upskill to a higher paying job or work in your new field while continuing your education
Stack your technical certificate credits into an associate degree
Associate Degree
Long-Term Certificate
Short-Term Certificate
2 years in!
Congrats, you’ve earned the most affordable associate degree in Indiana!
Ready to start a new career or earn a promotion
Transfer to a 4-year school and stack your associate degree credits into a bachelor’s degree
Optional Transfer to 4-Year College
Bachelor’s Degree
Associate Degree
Long-Term Certificate
Short-Term Certificate
2 more years after Ivy Tech
Congrats on your bachelor’s degree!
The Benefits Stack Up
Build Your Qualifications Quickly
Stackable credentials are beneficial for students who want to start working in their new field as quickly as possible, even while they’re finishing their degree. Developing an Academic Completion Plan (with your advisor) that includes stackable credentials boosts your resume with marketable skills almost instantly.
Celebrate Your Wins!
This approach breaks up getting a degree into attainable milestones that also serve as standalone credentials. Each credential allows you to advance to the next-higher-skill job in the sector for which you trained and it feels good to earn multiple credentials as you go!
A Real-Life Example of Stacking Credentials
Let’s say you’re interested in a career in technology. Ivy Tech’s Cloud Technologies program is designed so that within the first six months you will learn skills to earn your AWS Cloud Practitioner, AWS Solutions Architect, and Network+ certifications. Plus, you’ll earn the Cloud Systems Administration Certificate. Yes—all that in just six months as a full-time student!
At that point you could:
Enter the workforce as a Cloud Associate
Continue stacking your credentials to earn a technical certificate and/or an associate degree in Cloud Technologies (better jobs, higher pay)
Or both—work as a Cloud Associate while you continue your studies
Stack your certificate credits into a technical certificate
Practical Nursing
Technical Certificate (TC)
Pre-Nursing Studies
At 1½ year mark
Congrats, you’ve earned your technical certificate!
Start your career as an LPN if desired
Stack your technical certificate credits into an associate degree
Associate of Sciencein Nursing
(ASN)
Practical Nursing
Pre-Nursing Studies
2 to 2½ years in!
Congrats, you’ve earned the most affordable Nursing associate degree in Indiana!
Start your career as an RN if desired or earn a promotion
Stack your associate degree credits into a bachelor’s degree
Optional Transfer to 4-Year College
Bachelor’s of Sciencein Nursing
(BSN)
Associate of Science in Nursing
Practical Nursing
Pre-Nursing Studies
2 more years after Ivy Tech
Congrats on your bachelor’s degree!
At Ivy Tech Community College
Cloud Systems Administration
Certificate (CT)
Includes These Certifications:AWS Cloud PractitionerNework+IAWS Solution Architect
6 months full time
Congrats on your first certificate!
Start work in your new field if desired
Stack your certificate credits into a technical certificate
Cloud Technologies
Technical Certificate (TC)
Cloud Systems Administration
At 1 year mark
Congrats, you’ve earned your technical certificate!
Start your career as a Cloud Administrator
Stack your technical certificate credits into an associate degree
Associate of Applied Sciencein Cloud Technologies
Cloud Technologies
Cloud Systems Administration
2 years in!
Congrats, you’ve earned the most affordable associate degree in Indiana!
Start your career as a Cloud Associate or earn a promotion
Transfer to a 4-year school and stack your associate degree credits into a bachelor’s degree
Optional Transfer to 4-Year College
Bachelor’s of Science in Cloud Technologies
(BSN)
Associate of Applied Science in Cloud Technologies
Cloud Technologies
Cloud Systems Administration
2 more years after Ivy Tech
Congrats on your bachelor’s degree!
Start in High School
Career Ready in a Year
If you’re still in high school looking for a stacking option that will save you time and money, this pathway is for you. You can earn the Indiana College Core Technical Certificate through dual credit or dual enrollment while in high school. The Core equals 30 college credits—which is equal to your first year of college. You can then enroll at Ivy Tech and stack those credits to earn your associate degree in just one more year! Completing the Indiana College Core in high school saves you $5,000 on your associate degree and an entire year of post-secondary education.
At Ivy Tech Community College
Indiana College Core
Technical Certificate (TC)
Graduate from high school with the Indiana College Core Technical Certificate (30 credit hours)
Enroll at Ivy Tech to stack your 30 credits into an associate degree
Associate Degree
Indiana College Core
At 1 year mark
Congrats, you’ve earned the most affordable associate degree in Indiana!
Ready to start a new career
Or, transfer to a 4-year school as a junior and stack your ~60 credits into your bachelor’s degree
Optional Transfer to 4-Year College
Bachelor’s Degree
Associate Degree
Indiana College Core
2 more years after Ivy Tech
Congrats on your bachelor’s degree!
Earn Credits in High School through Ivy Tech
Indiana College Core
Technical Certificate (TC)
Graduate from high school with the Indiana College Core Technical Certificate (30 credit hours)
Enroll in a 4-year school as a sophomore
Stack your 30 credits into your bachelor’s degree
Transfer to 4-Year School
Bachelor’s Degree
Indiana College Core
Earn approx. 90 more credits (~120 total). Congrats, you’ve earned your bachelor’s degree!
Spend 1 Year at Ivy Tech
A Smarter Start on Your Degree
If you’re looking to save time and money, this option is for you. The Start as a Sophomore pathway—Ivy Tech’s name for the Indiana College Core—consists of a block of 30 credit hours that are guaranteed to transfer to another Indiana public college or university. Ivy Tech’s tuition is the lowest in the state. Students on the Start as a Sophomore pathway who complete their first year of college at Ivy Tech can save more than $5,000 on their bachelor’s degree.
At Ivy Tech Community College
Indiana College Core
Technical Certificate (TC)
Earn the Indiana College Core Technical Certificate (30 credit hours)
Transfer to a 4-year school as a sophomore
Stack your 30 credits into your bachelor’s degree
Transfer to 4-Year School
Bachelor’s Degree
Indiana College Core
Take approx. 90 more credits (~120 total). Congrats, you’ve earned your bachelor’s degree!
Questions?
New Students
Our admissions representatives are ready to help you learn more about how you can stack your credentials as you pursue your degree.
Find your local admissions rep
Current Students
Contact your academic advisor to develop a plan that includes stackable credentials so you can meet your goals.
Advising Team Ginny Leonard, Director of Academic Advising Advisor for: Exploratory/Undecided students vleonard5@ivytech.edu
Jenny Atkisson, Academic Advisor Advisor for: School of Business, Logistics and Supply Chain programs, School of Public and Social Services programs, and Psychology jatkisson3@ivytech.edu
Chris Waltz, Academic Advisor Advisor for: General Studies, Liberal Arts and Education cwaltz8@ivytech.edu
Nicole DeSalle, Academic Advisor Advisor for: School of Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering and Applied Science and School of IT jatkisson3@ivytech.edu
Madison Advising Center
590 Ivy Tech Drive
Madison, IN 47250
Fax 812-265-4028
Zoom Video Calls Available by appointment only. Call 812-256-2580, ext. 4502 to make an appointment.
Advising Team Tricia Miracle 812-265-2580 ext. 4137 tmiracle2@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 812-510-3844 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Wednesdays 9:00-1:00pm & Thursdays 2:00-5:30pm Zoom Link
Lisa Kelley 812-265-2580 ext. 4163 lkelley3@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 502-414-1597 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Tuesdays 1:30pm-5pm & Thursdays 8:30am-12pm Zoom Link
