The Path to Industry Credentialing initiative encourages students to work toward a earning an industry certification, achieving a state licensure, or passing an occupational competency assessment while pursuing a high school diploma. Students who earn a credential and complete a Career and Technical program may earn up to two student-selected verified credits to meet graduation requirements.

A credential is defined as:

• a complete industry certification program, e.g., Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
• a pathway examination that leads to a completed industry certification, e.g., automotive technician examinations from ASE.
• a state-issued professional license, e.g., Cosmetology.
• an occupational competency assessment, e.g., technical skill assessments from the National Occupational Competency Institute (NOCTI).

The Virginia State Board of Education approves for student-selected verified credit only those credentials that meet the following criteria:

• They must prepare students for an occupation or occupational area.
• They must be knowledge-based, as opposed to performance-based. Credentials may contain a performance-based component, but it is not required.
• They must be in a career and technical education field that confers a credential from a recognized industry, trade, or professional association or entity.
• They must be administered on a multi-state or international basis.
• They must be standardized and graded independent of the school in which the test is given.

As of October 1, 2009, the State Board of Education in Virginia has approved 265 credentials for career and technical education (CTE) courses or course sequences. Go to http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/CTE/certification/Board_Approved_Credentials.doc for a chart of the credentials approved by the Virginia Board of Education for student-selected verified credit as well as the Virginia Perkins IV credentialing initiative.

In addition to providing student-selected verified credit(s) and adding value to a student’s résumé for obtaining entry-level positions in today’s technical job market, credentials provide the following benefits to students:

• Evidence that the student has completed advanced educational preparation by verifying competency in career and technical education skill-set areas in demand by business and industry.
• Increased job opportunities and advancement in a chosen career path.
• Enhanced self-esteem for students through achieving national occupational competency standards recognized by business and industry.

When the Virginia Department of Education began identifying industry credentials in 2002, only a small percent of Virginia students were enrolled in courses with the potential for achieving an industry credential. In 2009, all career and technical education course(s) offer training for one or more industry credential. During the 2008 – 2009 school year, 19,737 Virginia students passed either industry certification exams, occupational competency test, or achieved state licensure in areas eligible for student-selected verified credit.

In order for students to use approved credentials for student-selected verified credit, their career and technical education teachers must achieve at least one credential that is “targeted for instruction” in the courses they teach. The Virginia Department of Education provides training for career and technical education instructors interested in earning certification or licensure in selected areas. From 2004 through 2009, 2,500 credentials have been achieved by Virginia career and technical education teachers through state sponsored industry certification training/testing sessions.

Students who complete a career and technical education program sequence and pass an examination or occupational competency assessment in a career and technical education field that confers certification; or earn an occupational competency credential from a recognized industry, trade, or professional organization; or acquire a professional license in a career and technical education field from the Commonwealth of Virginia may substitute the certification, competency credential, or license for (i) the student-selected verified credit and (ii) either a science or history and social science verified credit when the certification, license, or credential confers more than one verified credit. The examination or occupational competency assessment must be approved by the Board of Education as an additional test to verify student achievement.

Virginia continues to be a national leader in aligning career and technical education programs with business and industry expectations. Students who earn one or more external credentials have a distinct advantage in entering their chosen field of employment and/or in continuing their career preparation through higher education.

Talk with your school counselor or career and technical education instructor for more information.

• Questions and Answers Discussed on May 29 Webinar Related To Data Collection System for Credentialing

• Superintendent's Memo No. #111-09 - Data Collection for Teacher/Student Industry Credentialing, Occupational Competency Assessments and Related External Examinations for Career and Technical Education, School Year 2008-2009
  • Master List of Credential for Data Collection System (revised 05/26/09)

  • Spreadsheet for Reporting Prior Years (2005, 2006 and 2007)

  • Explanation of Data Records A/B/C

  • Narrative Explaining Items is a Sample Data Batch

  • Sample Data Batch Ready for Submission

  • Master Planning Template

  • Data Collection Process Narrative

• State Board of Education Approved Industry Certifications, Occupational Competency Assessments, and Licensures

• How Credentials Work for Student-Selected Verified Credit

• Information Related to National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) Assessments

• Information Narratives and “White Papers” Pertaining to the Virginia Credentialing Initiative

• Implementation Data on Specific Credentials Utilized by School Divisions

• Technical Skills Assessment

• WebEx Recorded Sessions Related to the Virginia Credentialing Initiative