The Path to Industry Certification: High School Industry Credentialing

Overview

Industry Credentialing

To encourage more students to work toward a selected industry credential or state license while pursuing a high school diploma, the Path to Industry Certification: High School Industry Credentialing program was developed.

A credential is defined as:

State-Issued Professional License, required for entry into a specific occupation as determined by a Virginia state licensing agency (Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Cosmetology);
Full Industry Certification, from a recognized industry, trade, or professional association validating essential skills of a particular occupation (A+ CompTIA, Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP);
Pathway Industry Certification, which may consist of entry-level exams as a component of a suite of exams in an industry certification program leading toward full certification (Automotive Service Excellence, (ASE), Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS); or
Occupational competency assessment, a national standardized assessment of skills/knowledge in a specific career and/or technical area, (NOCTI).

Board of Education-Approved Industry Credentials

Industry Credentialing Interest Request Form

The Virginia Department of Education evaluates on an on-going basis industry credentials against prescribed criteria for graduation requirements for the Standard Diploma (8VAC20-131-50.B) and student –selected verified credit (8VAC20-131-110.C) . Credentials that meet the criteria are presented to the Virginia Board of Education annually for approval.

Industry Credentialing Interest Request Form

Student Industry Credentials

The 2012 General Assembly passed, and the Governor signed into law, HB 1061 and SB 489, to strengthen postsecondary education and workplace readiness opportunities for all students. The legislation says, in part:

“Beginning with first-time ninth grade students in the 2013-2014 school year, requirements for the standard diploma shall include a requirement to earn a career and technical education credential that has been approved by the Board, that could include, but not be limited to, the successful completion of an industry certification, a state licensure examination, a national occupational competency assessment, or the Virginia workplace readiness skills assessment.”

The 2016 General Assembly approved, and the governor signed, House Bill 895 and Senate Bill 336 pertaining to high school graduation requirements. The legislation says, in part that:

“Beginning with first-time ninth grade students in 2018-2019, graduation requirements shall include a requirement that students either (i) complete an Advanced Placement, honors, or International Baccalaureate course or (ii) earn a career and technical education credential that has been approved by the Board, except when a career and technical education credential in a particular subject area is not readily available or appropriate or does not adequately measure student competency, in which case the student shall receive satisfactory competency-based instruction in the subject area to earn credit. The career and technical education credential, when required, could include the successful completion of an industry certification, a state licensure examination, a national occupational competency assessment, or the Virginia workplace readiness skills assessment.”

Board-Approved Industry Credentials for Students – May 7, 2020 Approved List (Revised August 2020) -This is a Word document.

CTE Catalogue of Industry Credentials with Testing Accommodations for English Language Learners

The 2018 Virginia General Assembly House Bill 442, directed the Department of Education to develop, maintain, and make available to each local school board a catalogue of the testing accommodations available to English language learners for each certification, examination, assessment, and battery that satisfies the career and technical education credential graduation requirement. The bill requires each local school board to develop and implement policies to require each high school principal or his designee to notify each English language learner of the availability of such testing accommodations prior to the student's participation in any such certification, examination, assessment, or battery. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2019.

The Career and Technical Education Catalogue of Industry Credentials with Testing Accommodations for English Language Learners (Revised August 2020) -This is a Word document. provides a list of industry credentialing providers that indicated their examinations address one or more of the direct linguistic or indirect linguistic modes of English Language Learner accommodations. Additional information about accommodations can be obtained in the English Learners: Guidelines for Participation in the Virginia Assessment Program-This is a Word document..

Teacher Industry Credentials

Section § 22.1-298.1 of the Code of Virginia requires that every teacher seeking an initial license in the Commonwealth with an endorsement in the area of career and technical education shall have an industry certification credential in the area in which the teacher seeks endorsement. If a teacher seeking an initial license in the Commonwealth has not attained an industry certification credential in the area in which the teacher seeks endorsement, the Board may, upon request of the employing school division or educational agency, issue the teacher a provisional license to allow time for the teacher to attain such credential.

Guidance Document-This is a Word document. – Industry Credentials for Teachers Seeking an Initial Virginia License with Endorsement(s) in an Area of Career and Technical Education (Revised August 2020)

How Credentials Work for Graduation Requirements, Student-Selected Verified Credit, and Awards for Exemplary Student Performance

The board annually reviews and approves industry, professional or trade association certification examinations and occupational competency assessments that will meet the student-selected verified credit requirements as well as to earn the board’s Career and Technical Education seal and Advanced Mathematics and Technology seal. Students who earn a credential by passing a certification or licensure examination may earn up to two student-selected verified credits to meet graduation requirements. Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia (8VAC20-131-50 and 8VAC20-131-110)

Career and Technical Education Credential - graduation requirement for students pursuing the Standard Diploma (Requirements for a Standard Diploma 8VAC20-131-50.B. Note 8)

Students shall earn a career and technical education credential approved by the Board of Education, except when a career and technical education credential in a particular subject area is not readily available or appropriate or does not adequately measure student competency, in which case the student shall receive satisfactory competency-based instruction in the subject area to satisfy the standard diploma requirements. The career and technical education credential, when required, could include the successful completion of an industry certification, a state licensure examination, a national occupational competency assessment, or the Virginia workplace readiness assessment.

Criteria for Awarding Student-Selected Verified Credit: Student-selected verified credit will be awarded for certification or licensure examinations that meet all of the following criteria:

Industry certification or licensure examinations that are approved to satisfy the requirements for the Board of Education’s Career and Technical Education Seal or the Board of Education’s Seal of Advanced Mathematics and Technology will satisfy requirements for student-selected verified credits.
The teacher and/or the career and technical education program must be certified by the issuing organization relative to the industry certification or license.
A standard credit may not be verified more than once.

Earning Student-Selected Verified Credit: One student-selected verified credit will be awarded for passing each certification or licensure examination that meets all of the above criteria and the student earns one standard unit of credit only in the career and technical education concentration or specialization.

Two student-selected verified credits will be awarded for passing each certification or licensure examination that meets all of the above criteria; and

The student meets the career and technical education concentration or specialization course requirements for program completer.
The student earns at least two standard units of credit in the career and technical education concentration or specialization.
The student may substitute one of these verified credits for a verified credit in either science or history/social science.

Awards for exemplary student performance

Governor's Seal (8VAC20-131-50. H. 1.)
Board of Education Seal (8VAC20-131-50. H. 2.)
Board of Education's CTE Seal (8VAC20-131-50. H. 3.)
Board of Education's Seal of Advanced Mathematics and Technology
(8VAC20-131-50. H. 4.)

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:

added value to a transcript for higher education purposes or obtaining an entry-level position in the technical job market
evidence that the student has completed advanced educational preparation by verifying competency in career and technical education skill areas in demand by business and industry;
increased job opportunities for advancement in a chosen career path; and
enhanced self-esteem for students through achieving national occupational competency standards recognized by business and industry

Data on Industry Credentialing in Virginia

Data presented is based on the performance of CTE program completers. A CTE completer is a student who has met the requirements for a CTE concentration (course sequence) and all requirements for high school graduation, or an approved alternative.

CTE Performance Trends – Summarizes statewide demographics and student performance.

Secondary schools report the number of credentials earned by students for passing Board-approved credentialing exams. Prior to 2010-2011, workplace readiness skills assessments were included in Industry Certification category, but now are reported separately. Source: Virginia’s School Report Card

Pass Percentage by Credential

Pass Percentage by Credential, by CTE Course

School Report Card Data

Explanations and Examples for the Data Collection Process for Student Credentialing (SWSS)

Explanation of Data for SSWS Records (XLS)
Record Format for Credentialing Application (XLS)
Example of Data Records for SSWS Process (XLS)
Narrative of the SSWS Process (Word)

For more information about the current process, go to CTE Credential Data Collection

Resources for High School Industry Credentialing

Why Credentialing? Credentialing in Career and Technical Education-This is a PDF document. (PDF)
Explore Industry Credentialing Examination Fact Sheets
Questions and Answers-This is a PDF document. (PDF)
Recommendations for Proctoring Industry Certification Credentialing Examinations (PDF)
Teacher “exempted exams” for the Virginia Credentialing Initiative-This is a PDF document. (PDF)
Credential Exam Codes-This is a Word document.

National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) Assessments

How to Get Started with NOCTI Assessments

Virginia National Averages for NOCTI Revised Assessment for School Year 2018-2019-This is a Word document.

STEM-H Credential List

STEM-H Credentials (effective 5/26/16)-This is a PDF document. (PDF)

Previous Years Archived Board-Approved List

Previous Years Archived Teacher-Eligible Industry Credentialing Assessments List

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