The rapid evolution of STEM industries necessitates educational and workforce systems that are flexible and responsive. Microcredentials have emerged as a promising solution, yet these credentials often lack the trust needed to serve as credible hiring signals. This chapter argues that skills validation—the process of verifying that an individual possesses specific, demonstrable competencies—is the missing link in unlocking the full potential of STEM microcredentials, enabling equitable, effective, and accessible pathways into STEM careers. Drawing on Education Design Lab’s Skills Validation Market Scan and extensive stakeholder research, the chapter proposes a framework of diverse validation methods that extends beyond traditional assessments and better reflects the myriad of ways skills are developed in the real world: through formal education, work, and life experience. We emphasize the importance of co-designing validation solutions with stakeholders, particularly employers, learners, and workers, whose insights ensure relevance and inclusivity. Through interviews, surveys, and pilots, this chapter presents data and insights that underscore the impact of this collaborative approach. Ultimately, the chapter shows how skills validation can increase equity and strengthen hiring confidence, transforming microcredentials from potentially superficial signals into trusted indicators of workforce readiness, reshaping how STEM talent is recognized, developed, and hired.