credentialism

[ kri-den-shuh-liz-uhm ]

noun

1. excessive reliance on credentials, especially academic degrees, in determining hiring or promotion policies.

Word History and Origins

Origin of credentialism¹

First recorded in 1965–70; credential + -ism

Example Sentences

Those are levels of accomplishment and credentialism that are intense.

From Freakonomics

And I strenuously disagree that credentialism can be anything more than zero sum.

From The Daily Beast