What is the difference between taking a DEDP course for free as an Audit learner and upgrading to become a Verified/Certificate (Paid) learner?

The experience of taking a DEDP course on the Audit (free) or the Verified/Certificate (Paid) enrollment track is very similar. The primary difference between enrollment tracks is that only learners on the Paid track can sit for the Proctored Exam at the end of each DEDP MicroMasters course session. Consequently, only Paid learners can pass the course and earn the MicroMasters Course Certificate, and progress towards completing the DEDP MicroMasters Program.

All learners are welcome to enroll in and take any DEDP MicroMasters course for free, on the Audit track. Audit learners experience the same Course Material, Coursework Assignments, and Assessments as Paid learners—except for the Proctored Final Exam at the end of the session. This means that Audit learners cannot earn the MicroMasters Course Certificate. The DEDP MicroMasters Program Credential cannot be completed by taking courses only on the Audit track. Learners must upgrade their course enrollment to the Verified/Certificate (Paid) track to earn the required Course Certificates towards earning the DEDP MicroMasters Program Credential.

However, the design of the DEDP MicroMasters Program allows learners to complete a course on the Audit track first, and then in a future term re-enroll in the course, submit payment to upgrade their enrollment, and take the course's Proctored Final Exam to earn the MicroMasters Course Certificate. For more information about taking a course as an Audit learner first and paying to upgrade later, see this FAQ article.

For a full explanation of the eligibility criteria for:

• Earning a DEDP Course Certificate: see the FAQ article How do I earn the Course Certificate for a DEDP MicroMasters course?
• Earning the DEDP MicroMasters Program Credential: see the FAQ article What are the requirements to complete the DEDP MicroMasters Program and earn the Program Credential?

For more information about DEDP Proctored Exams, see the About Proctored Exams section of the Help Center.

	Audit Track	Verified Track
Price	Free	Variable Pricing
Unlimited access to Course Materials	✔️	✔️
Access to Coursework Assignments	✔️	✔️
MITx Online support	✔️	✔️
Access to the Proctored Final Exam	-	✔️
Shareable Course Certificate upon passing	-	✔️