If you’re eager to build your business skills, you’ve likely encountered a range of educational options.
Harvard Business School Online offers certificate courses across eight subject areas, Learning Tracks that combine three courses to earn a Certificate of Specialization, and three multi-course credential programs designed for different career stages and goals.
These credential programs—the Credential of Readiness (CORe), the Credential of Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business (CLIMB), and the Credential of Digital Innovation and Strategy—serve professionals at distinct points in their careers, from building foundational knowledge to leading in a digital-first world.
Understanding their differences can help you choose the program that best fits your professional trajectory. To guide your decision, here’s how CORe, CLIMB, and the Credential of Digital Innovation and Strategy compare.
What Is the Credential of Readiness (CORe)?
CORe is HBS Online’s foundational business program, designed to build fluency in the language of business. It comprises three courses and concludes with a final exam:
- Business Analytics: Taught by HBS Professor Jan Hammond, this course demystifies data and provides hands-on practice applying analytics to business problems. You not only gain the technical skills to analyze data but the perspective to use it to make better decisions.
- Economics for Managers: Taught by HBS Professor Bharat Anand, this course equips you with knowledge of demand creation, pricing strategy, and relative cost analysis to drive strategic business decisions.
- Financial Accounting: Taught by HBS Professor and Senior Associate Dean of HBS Online and Executive Education V.G. Narayanan, this course enables you to prepare and analyze financial statements and use your insights to understand your business’s financial health and make informed financial decisions.
CORe is offered on standard (10 or 12 weeks) and extended (17 weeks) schedules.
“While I originally enrolled in CORe to determine if I wanted to pursue an MBA, I ended up using the knowledge I gained to interview for and land my current job,” said Kali Pfaff, an operations strategist at the University Hospitals of Cleveland.
Originally created for incoming HBS MBA students, CORe can help you prepare for business school, bolster your fundamental business skills, or jumpstart your career advancement.
Credential Summary:
- Length: Standard (10 or 12 weeks) or extended (17 weeks) schedules
- Cost: $2,650
- Review the syllabus
What Is the Credential of Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business (CLIMB)?
CLIMB is HBS Online’s most comprehensive offering, created to help leaders at all stages develop the perspective and skills to excel in today’s dynamic business environment. This yearlong program includes seven courses and culminates in a capstone project applying your learning in a real-world context.
To meet learners where they are, CLIMB offers two paths: New Leaders and Experienced Leaders.
Required courses for all participants include:
Learning Path Specific Courses:
New Leaders:
- Leadership Principles: Led by HBS Professors Joshua Margolis and Tony Mayo, this course provides you with the foundations to apply and adapt your leadership style.
- Business Strategy: Taught by HBS Professor Felix Oberholzer-Gee, this course equips you with proven frameworks to formulate strategies that create value for customers, employees, and suppliers.
Experienced Leaders:
- Organizational Leadership: Taught by HBS professors Joshua Margolis and Tony Mayo, this course elevates your leadership skills to drive organizational success and lead transformative change.
- Strategy Execution: Led by HBS Professor Robert Simons, this course provides you with the tools and frameworks to effectively implement strategy within your organization and achieve impactful results.
“I could take notes in CLIMB and apply concepts in real-time,” said Francisco Gallegos, a financial resources management senior associate at Morgan Stanley. “I’m managing a staffer, and it’s so great to sit down with him and teach him the concepts I’ve learned.”
If you want to deepen your leadership, strategy, and management expertise while advancing your career, CLIMB is the right program for you.
Credential Summary:
What Is the Credential of Digital Innovation and Strategy?
The Credential of Digital Innovation and Strategy is a six-month program designed to help you develop a digital mindset and lead effectively in a rapidly evolving digital world. It includes four courses and concludes with a capstone project:
“This online, multi-course program equips learners from diverse industries and functions with the skill set and strategic acumen to compete in the digital world,” said V.G. Narayanan, senior associate dean for HBS Online.
This program is ideal for leaders spearheading digital transformation, professionals enhancing their digital expertise, and entrepreneurs building and scaling digital ventures.
Credential Summary:
Key Differentiators: CORe vs. CLIMB vs. the Credential of Digital Innovation and Strategy
The programs differ in length, cost, and subject matter.
Length
- CORe: Three courses over 10 to 17 weeks
- CLIMB: Seven courses over one year
- Credential of Digital Innovation and Strategy: Four courses over six months
Cost
Weigh each program’s cost against its potential return on investment and relevance to your career goals. Consider your budget, financial aid options, and whether your employer can help fund your education.
- CORe: $2,650
- CLIMB: $15,000 (Four installments of $3,750)
- Credential of Digital Innovation and Strategy: $6,500
Subject Matter
- CORe: Teaches fundamental financial accounting, economics, and analytics concepts
- CLIMB: Centers on foundational and cutting-edge leadership skills to elevate your career
- Credential of Digital Innovation and Strategy: Equips you to lead in a digital-first world and capture value through technology and platforms
The HBS Online Learning Experience
Whether you enroll in CORe, CLIMB, the Credential of Digital Innovation and Strategy, or a certificate course, you can experience what makes HBS Online unique, including:
In a recent survey conducted by market research firm City Square Associates, HBS Online learners reported transformative outcomes after completing a course:
- 24 percent received an average salary increase of $20,466—an 11-times return on investment
- 91 percent gained immediately applicable skills
- 71 percent improved their job performance
- 85 percent reported increased confidence in decision-making
Choosing the Right Credential Program for You
To decide which HBS Online credential program is right for you, take stock of your logistical needs, professional goals, and experience level.
- Choose CORe if you’re looking for a shorter program that builds fluency in business fundamentals.
- Choose the Credential of Digital Innovation and Strategy if you want a six-month experience that helps you think creatively, adopt platform business models, and guide strategic growth in digital-first industries.
- Choose CLIMB if you can dedicate a full year to your studies and want to gain the skills to advance your leadership, strategy, and management skills as a new or experienced leader.
Whichever path you take, remember that you’re investing in yourself, your organization, and your career.
Ready to explore your options? Whether you’re interested in CLIMB, CORe, or the Credential of Digital Innovation and Strategy, HBS Online provides the resources to guide your decision. Download our CLIMB brochure to learn more about the program’s curriculum, admissions requirements, and benefits. Explore our free CORe flowchart to decide which version fits your needs, or review the Credential of Digital Innovation and Strategy syllabus to see if it aligns with your career goals.
This post was updated on October 16, 2025. It was originally published on January 25, 2024.
