Credentials Solutions
Credentials Solutions (Parchment by Instructure) operates a cloud-based credential exchange platform serving K-12 districts, higher education institutions, government agencies, and workforce organizations across 6 countries, enabling digital issuance, verification, and exchange of transcripts, diplomas, and digital credentials.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersIllinois City, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Credentials Solutions does
Credentials Solutions, operating as Parchment by Instructure, is a credential management platform that enables the digital issuance, exchange, and verification of academic and professional credentials. The platform serves K-12 school districts, higher education institutions, government agencies, workforce organizations, and international institutions across 6 countries. Its core technology is a cloud-based credential exchange network connecting 5,800+ K-12 districts, 6,100+ higher education institutions, and 7,300+ receivers, with 165M+ cumulative credentials and 2M+ GED/HiSET records processed. Product modules span records management, transcript services, digital diplomas, digital badges, certificates, Comprehensive Learner Records (CLRs), verification, admissions and enrollment automation, student mobility (dual enrollment, course sharing, transfer articulation), and records digitization, delivered through sub-brands including Parchment Digitary for international markets and SENDedu for K-12.
The company makes money through a hybrid revenue model: quote-based institutional platform subscriptions (annual billing, tiered by institution size, credential volume, and feature set) targeting K-12 districts, universities, and government agencies, combined with per-transaction fees paid by students and learners when ordering official transcripts, diplomas, and credentials. Go-to-market combines enterprise field sales for institutional buyers with a self-serve direct-to-consumer portal for individual learners. Distribution includes enterprise direct sales in the US, state government contracts (10 statewide initiatives), international expansion through Parchment Digitary, and strategic partnerships with GED Testing Service and HiSET (ETS) covering 23 high school equivalency jurisdictions. Parchment operates as a division of Instructure, the education technology company behind Canvas LMS.
Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Illinois City, the company was acquired by Instructure and has since scaled through organic network growth and inorganic expansion, including the 2024 acquisition of Scribbles Software for K-12 records and enrollment capabilities. Notable operational metrics reported by customers include a 99% decrease in transcript response time, a reduction from 20 days to same-day document processing, and a $0-cost-to-institution model achieved at some universities by cross-subsidizing diplomas with transcript fees.
Credentials Solutions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Credentials Solutions
- Legal name
- Parchment by Instructure
- Website
- https://credentialssolutions.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Credentials Solutions (Parchment by Instructure) operates a cloud-based credential exchange platform serving K-12 districts, higher education institutions, government agencies, and workforce organizations across 6 countries, enabling digital issuance, verification, and exchange of transcripts, diplomas, and digital credentials.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Credentials Solutions industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education Credential Management
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Transcript, Score Reporting & Verification/Credential Wallet Platforms (EDAFADAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Credentialing, Digital Badges & Micro-Credential Platforms (EDAFADAF), Transcript, Verification & Credential Services (EDALAAAK), Credential, Education & Professional License Verification (BPAKAEAI), Decentralized Identity (DID) & Verifiable Credentials (BPAMAEAJ)
Keywords
Where Credentials Solutions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Illinois City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Credentials Solutions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Institutional Platform Subscriptions: K-12 districts, higher education institutions, and government agencies pay for platform access enabling credential issuance, management, and exchange. Revenue model based on institutional subscriptions with varying tiers based on size and feature requirements.
- Credential Ordering Transaction Fees: Students and learners pay fees when ordering official transcripts, diplomas, and credentials. The platform processes millions of credential transactions annually across the network.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Institutional plans (quote-based) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Credentials Solutions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Credentials Solutions operates a cloud-based, all-in-one credential management platform enabling K-12 districts, higher education institutions, government agencies, workforce organizations, and international institutions to issue, verify, receive, and exchange academic credentials—including transcripts, diplomas, digital badges, certificates, and Comprehensive Learner Records—across the largest interconnected credential exchange network.
Product overview
Parchment is a comprehensive, all-in-one credential management platform operating across K-12 education, higher education, government, workforce, and international markets. The platform provides a unified system for issuing, receiving, and verifying credentials including transcripts, diplomas, digital badges, certificates, and CLRs (Comprehensive Learner Records). K-12 offerings include Records Management, Parchment Award K-12, District Transfer, Cumulative Folders, Document Management, Records Digitization, and Diploma Services. Higher Education modules cover Issuing (Transcript Services, Diploma Services, Digital Badges, Certificate Services, CLR Services, Verification Services), Admissions & Enrollment (Recruit, Receive, Data Automation), and Student Mobility (Dual Enrollment, Course Sharing, Transfer Articulation). Government solutions include Statewide Initiatives, High School Equivalency (GED and HiSET credentialing), and Licensure services. Workforce offerings provide Solutions and Industry-specific credential management for professional certification providers, associations, and corporate training. International operations are delivered through Parchment Digitary, enabling global credential exchange across 6 countries. The platform connects 5,800+ K-12 districts, 6,100+ higher education institutions, and 7,300+ receivers, processing over 165 million credentials.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Parchment Digitary: International credential exchange platform for global academic organizations
- Parchment Award K-12
- District Transfer
- SENDedu
Products and services
- K-12 Records Management
- Higher Education Issuing
- Admissions & Enrollment
- Statewide Initiatives
- High School Equivalency
- Government Licensure
- Workforce Solutions
- Parchment Digitary International
- Parchment Award K-12
Quantifiable outcome
- 99% decrease in transcript response time
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Credentials Solutions
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Credentials Solutions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Credentials Solutions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- GED Testing ServicecoreStrategic partnership with GED Testing Service enabling Parchment to process and exchange GED high school equivalency credentials. Parchment serves as credentialing platform for GED credentials with 2M+ records processed and support across 23 jurisdictions.
- HiSET (ETS)corePartnership with HiSET (Educational Testing Service) for high school equivalency credential exchange. Parchment processes and manages HiSET credentials alongside GED, enabling alternative pathway credential distribution across jurisdictions.
- InstructurecoreParchment operates as a division of Instructure, the educational technology company also known for Canvas LMS. This parent company relationship provides strategic alignment in the education technology ecosystem.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Credentials Solutions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Parchment (by Instructure): Direct competitor offering the same core transcript, diploma, digital badge, and credential exchange services to K-12, higher education, and government customers. The most direct comparable given overlapping product suite and customer base.
- Credly (by Pearson): Digital credentialing platform issuing and verifying digital badges and micro-credentials. Overlaps directly with Credentials Solutions' Digital Badges, Certificate Services, and workforce credential offerings.
- Scribbles Software: K-12 records management and enrollment solutions provider that was acquired by Parchment in 2024. Direct competitor in K-12 records management that has now been absorbed into the Parchment platform.
- Diploma Sender: Specialized transcript and diploma delivery service for educational institutions. Direct comparable in the core transcript exchange workflow.
Broad incumbents
- National Student Clearinghouse: Non-profit incumbent that provides degree verification, enrollment reporting, and transcript services to most U.S. colleges and universities. The dominant higher education verification provider and a structural competitor.
- Wiley Education Services: Provides higher education services including credential verification and student records management. Broader portfolio but overlapping offerings in transcript and enrollment services.
- National Student Clearinghouse - Transcript Services: Specific transcript ordering and electronic exchange services from the Clearinghouse compete directly with Parchment Transcript Services in higher education.
Emerging players
- Avow Systems: Provides digital credentialing and badging solutions to educational institutions and employers, overlapping with Credentials Solutions' digital badges and workforce verticals.
- Accredible: Digital credential platform issuing certificates, badges, and blockchain-verified credentials for education and workforce customers. Direct overlap in the digital badge and certificate category.
Others
- Coalition for Networked Information (CNI): Higher education consortium promoting interoperability standards for credentials and learner records. Adjacent ecosystem actor whose standards work influences the credential platform landscape.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Credentials Solutions social profiles
Digital presenceCredentials Solutions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Credentials Solutions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Credentials Solutions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Credentials Solutions M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Credentials Solutions
What does Credentials Solutions do?
Credentials Solutions operates a cloud-based, all-in-one credential management platform enabling K-12 districts, higher education institutions, government agencies, workforce organizations, and international institutions to issue, verify, receive, and exchange academic credentials—including transcripts, diplomas, digital badges, certificates, and Comprehensive Learner Records—across the largest interconnected credential exchange network.
Is Credentials Solutions a public or private company?
Credentials Solutions is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Credentials Solutions founded?
Credentials Solutions was founded in 1997. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Credentials Solutions based?
Credentials Solutions is headquartered in Illinois City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Credentials Solutions make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Institutional Platform Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are credential Ordering Transaction Fees.
Who are Credentials Solutions's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Parchment (by Instructure), Credly (by Pearson), Scribbles Software and Diploma Sender. Broad incumbents are National Student Clearinghouse, Wiley Education Services and National Student Clearinghouse - Transcript Services. Emerging players are Avow Systems and Accredible. Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) is listed as an others.
Does Credentials Solutions have an API?
No public API is recorded for Credentials Solutions.
What industry is Credentials Solutions in?
Credentials Solutions's product category is Education Credential Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFADAO, Transcript, Score Reporting & Verification/Credential Wallet Platforms, with a secondary code of EDAFADAF, Credentialing, Digital Badges & Micro-Credential Platforms. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.