The Path to Industry Certification: High School Industry Credentialing

The Path to Industry Certification: High School Industry Credentialing initiative encourages students to work toward a selected industry credential or state license while pursuing a high school diploma. 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.

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 examination, e.g., skill assessments from the National Occupational Competency Institute (NOCTI).

The Virginia State Board of Education approves for student-selected verified credit only those examinations 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; and
they must be standardized and graded independent of the school in which the test is given.

As of January 10, 2008, the State Board of Education in Virginia has approved 151 credentials for career and technical education courses or course sequences. View a chart of the credentials (Word) approved by the Virginia Board of Education for student-selected verified credit along with brief descriptions and the courses which may prepare a student for the approved examinations.

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 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

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 2008, most career and technical education course(s) offer training for one or more industry credentials. During the 2006 – 2007 school year, 13,325 Virginia students passed either industry certification exams, occupational competency exams, 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 2008, 2,244 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.

Resources for High School Industry Credentialing

Information pertaining to the Virginia Credentialing Initiative

How Credentials Work for Student-Selected Verified Credit

Board of Education Approved Industry Certifications, Occupational Competency Assessments, and Licensures (PDF)
New Credentials Added to Board of Education List for Student-Selected Verified Credit for 2006-07 School Year
DOE press release which includes student-selected verified credit explanation (Word)
Recommendations for Proctoring Industry Certification Credentialing Examinations and/or NOCTI Occupation Competency Assessments (PDF)
Sample Courses of Study with Selected Credential
- Agricultural Education Concentration (Word)
- Business and Information Technology Concentration (Word)
- Family and Consumer Sciences Concentration (Word)
- Health and Medical Sciences Concentration (Word)
- Marketing Education Concentration (Word)
- Technology Education Concentration (Word)
- Trade and Industrial Education Concentration (Word)
Fact Sheets for Industry Certifications
- Credentialing in Career and Technical Education (Word)
- Standard Diploma Requirements (Word)
- High Stakes Credentialing for High School Career and Technical Education Students in Virginia (Word)
- Board of Education Approved Industry Certifications, Occupational Competency Assessments, and Licensures - November 29, 2006 (Word)
- Summary of School Report Card Data For School Year, 2005-06 (Word)
- NOCTI Occupational Competency Testing in Virginia for School Year, 2005-06 (Word)
- NOCTI National Norms for Tests Revised for Spring/Summer 2007 Testing Period (Word)
- Summary of Implementation Data for Active Credentials For School Year, 2005-06 (Word)
- Virginia Brainbench Testing Results as of February 15, 2007 (Word)
- Example Excel Spreadsheet for 2006-07 Data Collection Relating To Student/Teacher Credentialing (Word)
- Excel Spreadsheets for Virginia School Report Card and Credentials (by name) Achieved by Students and Teachers (2006-07 School Year) (Word)
- "Snapshots" of Student Testing for 2005-06 School Year as Reported by Virginia School Divisions Requesting Reimbursement for Industry Certification Examinations (Word) See link below for a voice-over Power Point presentation that explains this data.
Fact Sheets by Subject for Industry Certification
- Agricultural Education
  - Commercial Pesticide Applicator (Word)
  - Greenhouse Operators Certification (Word)
  - Outdoor Power Equipment Certifications (EETC) (Word)
- Business and Information Technology
  - ASK Business and Marketing Certifications (Word)
  - Certified Internet Web Master Certifications (Prosoft Training) (Word)
  - Certified Novell Administrator (Word)
  - Cisco Information Technology Certifications (Word)
  - CompTIA Certifications (Word)
  - Internet and Computing Core Certification (Certiport) (Word)
  - Microsoft Certified Professional (Word)
  - Microsoft Office Specialist (Word)
  - Oracle Certified Professional Examinations (Word)
  - Information Technology and Graphic Imaging Certifications (Brainbench) (Word)
- Family and Consumer Sciences
  - ACCESS (ACF) (Word)
  - Hospitality and Lodging Management Certifications (AH&LA) (Word)
  - ProStart Program (NRA) (Word)
- Health and Medical Sciences
  - Certified Nurse Aide (VBN) (Word)
  - Dental and Medical Assistant Certifications (NAHP) (Word)
  - Dental Assistant Examinations (DANB) (Word)
  - Emergency Medical Technician (VDH-OEMS) (Word)
  - Virginia Pharmacy Technician Examination (VBP) (Word)
- Marketing Education
- Technology Education
  - AutoCAD Certifications (Brainbench) (Word)
  - CompTIA Certifications (Word)
  - Certified Electronics Technician Program (ETA) (Word)
  - Certified Solidworks Professional (CSWP) (Word)
  - Pre-Skills for Mastercam Certification (Word)
- Trade and Industrial Education
  - ACCESS (ACF) (Word)
  - Automotive Technician Examinations (ASE) (Word)
  - Automotive Youth Educational Systems Examinations (AYES) (Word)
  - Certified Electronics Technician Program (ETA) (Word)
  - Cisco Information Technology Certifications (Word)
  - Collision Repair and Refinishing Technician Examinations (ASE) (Word)
  - CompTIA Certifications (Word)
  - Cosmetology Licensure (VBBC) (Word)
  - Drafter Certification Program (ADDA) (Word)
  - EPA Technician Certification (HVAC) (Word)
  - Firefighter I Certification (Word)
  - HVAC Certification Program (NATE) (Word)
  - HVAC Excellence Certification Program (Word)
  - HVAC Industry Competency Exams (ARI) (Word)
  - Machining Skills Certification Program (NIMS) (Word)
  - Nail Technician Licensure (VBBC) (Word)
  - National Automotive Technician Examinations (NATEF) (Word)
  - National Construction Career Tests (NCCER) (Word)
  - Network Cabling Certification (BICSI) (Word)
  - Network Cabling Certifications (RBT) (Word)
  - Outdoor Power Equipment Certifications (Word)
  - PrintED Examinations (GAERF) (Word)
  - Residential Construction Academy Examinations (HBI) (Word)
  - SENSE Welding Certification (AWS) (Word)
National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) Assessments
Implementation Data on Specific Credentials Utilized by School Divisions
- 2006-2007 School Year
  - "Snapshots" of Student Testing Showing Pass Rates (PDF)
  - Summary of Credentials Utilized By School Divisions (XLS)
  - Credentials Achieved By Students (School Report Card Data) (PDF)
  - Implemenation Data for Board Approved Credentials (PDF)
- 2005-2006 School Year
  - "Snapshots" of Student Testing Showing Pass Rates (PDF)
  - "Snapshots" of Student Testing for 2005-06 School Year (PowerPoint Voiceover)
  - Summary of Credentials Utilized By School Divisions (PDF)
  - Credentials Achieved By Students (School Report Card Data) (PDF)
- Summary of Brainbench Tests Taken By Virginia Students/Teachers (as of February 2008) (PDF)
- Summary of Completed Industry Certification Teacher Training Academies (PDF)
Instructions for CTE Coordinators on Collecting and Reporting Credentialing Implementation Data
- Excel Spreadsheets for Virginia School Report Card and Credentials (by name) Achieved by Students and Teachers (2007-08 School Year)
Credentialing Partnerships
- Credentialing Partnerships With Selected Entities for Career and Technical Education Programs (PowerPoint Voiceover)
Credentialing Implementation Narratives ("Certipedia")

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