CTE Industry Credentialing

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Overview

To encourage more students to work towards selected industry credentials or state licenses while pursuing a high school diploma, the High School Credentialing program was developed.

In Virginia, industry credentials include:

State-Issued professional license, required for entry into a specific occupation as determined by a Virginia state licensing agency;
Industry Certification from a recognized industry, trade, or professional association validating essential skills of a particular occupation; and
Occupational Competency Assessments.

Data on Industry Credentialing in Virginia

Refer to the Credential Build-A-Table to create credential reports by state, division, school. Use to identify which credentials are earned in various divisions throughout the state. Compare/contrast this information to better match credentials to the needs in your local area and your students. Get an idea of the student attainment rates of certain credentials over others.

Board of Education-Approved Industry Credentials

Industry Credential Submission Form

The Virginia Department of Education evaluates industry credentials on an on-going basis against prescribed criteria for graduation requirements for the Standard Diploma 8VAC20-132-51.B and verified credit (8VAC20-132-110.C). Credentials that meet the criteria are presented to the Virginia Board of Education annually for approval. Use the following link to submit new credentials for our consideration as well as to update existing credentials with VDOE.

Industry Credential Portal

CTE Student Industry Credentials

The 2020 General Assembly approved, and the Governor signed, HB 516 and SB 112 pertaining to high school graduation requirements. The legislation, in accordance with § 22.1-253.13:4.D.6 of the Code of Virginia, provided additional requirements that:

“Require that students (i) complete an Advanced Placement, honors, or International Baccalaureate, or dual enrollment course; (ii) complete a high-quality work-based learning experience, as defined by the Board; or (iii) 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, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or the Virginia workplace readiness skills assessment. The Department of Education shall develop, maintain, and make available to each local school board a catalogue of the testing accommodations available to English language learners for each such certification, examination, assessment, and battery. Each local school board shall 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.”

Board-Approved Industry Credentials for Students (Revised May 20, 2025) (docx)

CTE Catalogue of Industry Credentials with Testing Accommodations for English 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 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 learner of the availability of such testing accommodations prior to the student's participation in any such certification, examination, assessment, or battery.

The Career and Technical Education Catalogue of Industry Credentials with Testing Accommodations for English Learners (Revised September 2024) (docx) 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 Learner accommodations. Additional information about accommodations can be obtained in the Procedures for Determining English Learner Participation in the Virginia Assessment Program (docx).

CTE Teacher Industry Credentials for Initial Licensure

In accordance with Section § 22.1-298.1 of the Code of Virginia, 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 (docx) – Industry Credentials for teachers seeking an Initial Virginia License with Endorsement(s) in an Area of Career and Technical Education (Revised March 2025)

STEM-H Industry Credentials

STEM-H Industry Credentials emphasize critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation—skills that are foundational across a broad range of careers. STEM is now embedded and interwoven across Virginia's Career Cluster framework as a cross-cutting cluster to ensure learners of all ages can see the direct application of a STEM orientation in a variety of industries, making potential career pathways more relevant and aligned with the needs of a given job market. To satisfy the STEM Diploma Seal requirement, students can complete any credential identified on the list of CTE Student Industry Credentials.

How Credentials Work for Graduation Requirements, 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, and professional licenses that will meet the verified credit requirements as well as to earn the board’s Career and Technical Education seal and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) seal. Students who earn a credential by passing a certification or licensure examination may earn verified credits to meet graduation requirements. Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia (8VAC20-132-51 and 8VAC20-132-110).

Career and Technical Education Credential - graduation requirement for students pursuing the Standard Diploma

8VAC20-132-51.B.

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

A laboratory science verified credit may be awarded to students who complete a career and technical education program sequence and (i) pass two examinations or occupational competency assessments in a career and technical education field that confers certification or an occupational competency credential from a recognized industry, trade, or professional association; (ii) acquire two professional licenses in a career and technical education field from the Commonwealth of Virginia; or (iii) pass one examination or competency assessment from clause (i) and acquire one license from clause (ii). The examination or occupational competency assessment must be approved by the board as an additional test to verify student achievement.

Additional Requirements for Graduation for Standard and Advanced Studies Diplomas

8VAC20-132-51. B.2 and C.2.

In accordance with the Standards of Quality (§ 22.1-253.13:4.D.6) students shall (i) complete an Advanced Placement, honors, International Baccalaureate, or dual enrollment course; (ii) complete a high-quality work-based learning experience, as established by board guidance on work-based learning; or (iii) earn a career and technical education credential 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 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.

Awards for Exemplary Student Performance

Governor's Seal (8VAC20-132-51.H.1)
Board of Education Seal (8VAC20-132-51.H.2)
Board of Education's CTE Seal (8VAC20-132-51.H.3)
Board of Education's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Seal (8VAC20-132-51.H.4)

Resources for High School Industry Credentialing

Credential Exam Codes

The Credential Exam Code list provides the official SSWS examination numbers needed for reporting purposes.

Credential Exam Codes (docx)

Current Process for CTE Credential Data Collection (SSWS)

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

National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) Assessments

Virginia uses NOCTI National Averages as our cut scores for NOCTI Examinations. These are updated by NOCTI every January and July and posted below.

NOCTI Assessments – National Averages Revised August 15, 2025 (docx)