What is the difference between edX honor code certificates and edX verified certificates?
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As of late 2015, edX no longer offers Honor Code certificates, which I think is worth noting since no one has written an answer to this question since their discontinuation.
Instead, in lieu of Honor Code certificates, you now get… no certificate!
The greatest downside to this (and arguably the only downside) is that you have no concrete evidence to show that you learned from a course you took. That’s right. Zero evidence. Zilch.
Well…
No concrete proof in the form of a piece of paper, anyway.
However, if you’ve studied an online course in earnest and have completed most of its coursework, presumably you’ll come away having learned something. And if you can apply what you learned to something tangible, to a project or to your work, for example, then you likely don’t need any certification!
So why bother with Verified Certificates at all?
There are two distinct cases in which I’d advocate for purchasing a Verified Certificate. The first is when you’re intent on completing a course. It turns out we have certain psychological shortcuts our mind takes in which paying actually gives us more incentives to finish a course.
For example, we value something that’s free ($0) as being less valuable than something that has a price tag assigned to it. We also feel something close to physical pain when we know we’re about to lose something of value. That means we’re less likely to ditch a course midway. Opening up your wallet, then, seems like a neat way to trick yourself into completing an online course!
The second is that although you might know that you’ve learned something, others don’t. If you’re keen on sharing your accomplishments with prospective employers, college admissions staff, or others who are in a role to judge you based on your qualifications and merits, linking to or printing out a certificate might be the easiest way to do so.
There are a few other reasons you might want to consider snagging a Verified Certificate, which you can find in an article I wrote here on the same subject.
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While completing a course gives no guarantee that you actually learned anything, it will at least show that:
- You're interested, not one of those guys who just stays comfortable
- You can manage your time (in case you're studying/working at the same time)
This is the worst case scenario. Hopefully the interviewer will ask you questions related to what you learned, which will be your chance to prove your value. If you're lucky, maybe there will have been successful past applicants which have completed MOOCs you also did, and that may play in your favor (or, if you are REALLY lucky, the interviewer may have undertaken the course himself).
What I am trying to say is, my opinion is that won't make any difference whether it is verified or not. The real value is not the same as a degree certificate, it is not about what you may or may not know but it is more related to a desired mindset (continuous learner, etc).
Bottom line: if they really care if you completed the course of not, probably you will be asked questions related to the subject in order to validate your knowledge, so prior verification won't matter: they will make their own.
An edX Verified Certificate shows that you have successfully completed your edX course and verifies your identity through your photo and ID. Verified certificates are available for a fee that varies by course. Check your individual course details for more information. Currently, only a small number of courses offer a Verified Certificate of Achievement.
(In job applications, on the other hand, many employers will be able to control your claims during the interview process, by asking you questions or giving you test tasks that are relevant to the job. So a honor code certificate is a way to make them take notice and consider you for a job. In contrast, college applications are more automated, involving a large number of student and strict rules. The people who process your application have limited room for personal consideration.)
Your particular college may or may not take into consideration a verified certificate. Obviously universities that are part of a MOOC program are the most likely to count verified certificates from their own studies, but most of the world's universities and colleges are rather conservative when it comes to these matters, so you should check with them directly before you pay a great sum of money for verifying all your courses!
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