Embedding certifications in degrees is gaining ground, but will the practice go mainstream?

When Oscar Eliecer Diaz Cordovez immigrated to the U.S. from Cuba five years ago, he had a few college credits and no clear career path.He found work on the floor of a manufacturing plant, but the job was physically demanding, and the pay was low. To make ends meet, he worked at a restaurant on the weekends.Then he heard about computer networking, a well-paying career with a low barrier to entry and opportunities for advancement. By "stacking" one industry certification on top of another, he could climb the career ladder quickly — and inexpensively. So in 2017, he enrolled in a network support services program at Florida's Atlantic Technical College. It took him just six months to earn the first four certifications and a technical degree. Last spring, he transferred to Broward College, where he is working toward an associate degree in network technology systems and preparing to take the tests for four more certifications. In November, he got a job as a junior network engineer at an information technology firm. In five years, he hopes to have a bachelor's degree from Broward College and a job as a senior network engineer making more than $100,000 a year. He will have paid nothing beyond community college tuition and fees because Broward covers its students' exam costs.