The growth in the number of types and providers of credentials has much to do with new conceptions of the "currency" of higher education. Students and employers are placing more value on the skills, competencies and knowledge a learner obtains, rather than on credit hours, seat-time or degrees. Alternative credentials and credential providers are adapting to this trend in order to capture new students, be the provider-of-choice to employers, advance lifelong learning and keep pace with quickly changing industries and skill requirements. A growing credentials marketplace may mean greater access to flexible, stackable and affordable programs, but it also has implications for the quality of learning and the employment outcomes of students. For individuals, the ability to interpret differences between types of credentials, education providers and professional benefits that come with credential attainment can have life-altering consequences. This brief is designed to share insights, gleaned through the implementation of High Value Credentials for New England (HVCNE) and its advisory committee, on defining, identifying and supporting high value credentials.