While Open Access (OA) and Open Educational Resources (OER) are related, they are not interchangeable. Understanding the nuances between them is essential—especially for educators, students, and content creators seeking to share, adapt, and redistribute learning materials.
At the heart of the difference between Open Access (OA) and Open Educational Resources (OER) lies a critical factor: licensing.
OA materials are free to access and share, but they don’t always allow modifications.
OERs, on the other hand, are always open access and licensed to support what are called the 5Rs.
Therefore, all OERs are Open Access, but not all Open Access materials are OERs.
Differentiating Between Open Access and Open Educational Resources
Below is a diagram from the public domain that helps visualize these differences:
(Retrieved from Clarification of Free Cultural Works, Open Educational Resources and Open Access, by Paul G. West, Version 4 May 2021, CC-BY 4.0)
One key difference lies in the use of licensing—specifically the "No Derivatives (ND)" restriction.
Materials licensed with ND may be freely accessed and shared (making them Open Access), but they cannot be adapted, remixed, or modified.
This disqualifies them from being classified as OER, as they do not support all of the 5Rs.
Likewise, works with a Non-Commercial (NC) restriction can be considered OER, but they do not qualify as Free Cultural Works (FCW), which require even more openness.
If a resource is freely accessible but doesn’t meet the criteria for either FCW or OER, it falls under the broader umbrella of Open Access (West).
To further clarify, this helpful diagram illustrates how various Creative Commons licenses fit within the frameworks of OA, OER, and FCW:
(Adapted by Paul G. West from: Creative Commons, Open Licensing & Open Education, by Cable Green, CC BY 4.0)
It’s crucial to pay close attention to licensing when using or creating educational content—especially if your intent is to adapt or remix materials.
Creators should choose their licenses thoughtfully, as these are irrevocable once applied (West).
West, Paul G. “Clarification of Free Cultural Works, Open Educational Resources and Open Access.” Medium, https://medium.com/creative-commons-we-like-to-share/clarification-of-free-cultural-works-open-educational-resources-and-open-access-ff03e3b594af. Accessed 10 April 2025.
Content from this section has been adapted from “OER, Open Textbooks, and Open Courses” https://certificates.creativecommons.org/cccertedu/chapter/6-2-oer-open-textbooks-open-courses/ by Creative Commons. CC BY 4.0.