Industry-Recognized Credentials FAQs

General Questions

Earning Industry-Recognized Credentials


General Questions

What is an industry-recognized credential?
An industry-recognized credential is a verification of an individual’s qualification or competence. A third party with authority (U.S. Department of Labor, 2010) issues a credential. Industry-recognized credentials are valued in the labor market and are a validation of knowledge and skill. They can take many forms, including certifications, certificates, and licenses. 

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Why should students earn industry-recognized credentials?

In addition to helping students meet graduation requirements, earning an industry-recognized credential allows students to learn about a particular skill set or job and demonstrate mastery of skills. Students learn more deeply by practicing and applying their knowledge through work and employment experiences They learn about workplace expectation and professional skills needed for employment, as well as learning about career pathways

Industry-recognized credentials provide an opportunity to earn a livable wage while pursuing additional education. Some industry-recognized credentials can be used as evidence of prior learning and can be awarded college credit.

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Do all jobs or industries use industry credentials?
No, not all industries use credentials as validation of knowledge and skills. Schools should not require or expect students whose interests lie in those fields to work toward credentials that will not offer them value in their future careers. Instead, those students should work toward obtaining whatever is needed in their future careers. For some students, that might be taking advantage of College Credit Plus or other college credit opportunities, while for others that might be engaging in meaningful, work-based learning experiences in their areas of interest.

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Earning Industry-Recognized Credentials

How can a school set up a new program that leads to a credential?
Every school district in the state is part of a career-technical planning district. Your career-technical planning district leadership can offer guidance and assistance in starting new programs that lead to credentials. This may be a career-technical education director in your district, or career center leadership in your area. If you are unsure who to contact to get the process started, contact industrycredentials@education.ohio.gov. The Department would be happy to connect you to local staff and resources in your area or assist you with developing a new program. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce also created credentialing toolkits that highlight the resources and steps needed to set up in demand credentialing programs in Ohio's schools. 

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Where is there a full list of industry-recognized credentials?

The Department provides a full credential list with Education Management Information System (EMIS) Assessment Area Codes, career fields, and point values. 

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How do students earn industry-recognized credentials?
Students can earn industry-recognized credentials through comprehensive career-technical education programs, through programs dedicated specifically to credentials for students in their senior year, or through existing courses that integrate the content needed to successfully obtain the credential. Students can also earn credentials outside of the traditional school setting or model, participating in training conducted outside of the school.

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How can a student earn a high school diploma under the “credential” option?

In order to qualify for a diploma under the credential option, a student must earn 12 points of Industry-Recognized Credentials from one career field.

Graduation requirements for students on the Industry-Recognized Credential pathway can be found on the Graduation Requirements page under a student’s graduation year. 

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Can a student mix and match credentials from the same career field??

Yes, a student may choose any combination of credentials that totals to 12 points within a single career field. Students can consult with a counselor, teacher, or other professional to aid in choosing the bundle of credentials that best suits their career aspirations.

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Can a student mix and match credentials from different career fields??
The goal is for students to exit high school with a coherent bundle of credentials that leads to meaningful employment or post-secondary options. For example, obtaining a Taser certification (for law enforcement) along with a couple of IT certifications and the ServSafe (for food handlers) as a bundle would not have an obvious use or application in the workforce.

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How do industry-recognized credential point value changes impact students?
  • Point Value Increases:
    • When the point value of a credential is increased, the change will apply to the graduation cohort in the year of the change. For example, point value increases implemented in FY21 will apply to the graduation cohort of 2021 and all subsequent cohorts.
    • The date the credential was earned does not impact the point value at the time the student is expected to leave school. For example, if the point value of a credential increased in FY21 from 4 to 6, students in the 2021 graduation cohort who are reflected on the 2022 report card would be impacted by the change regardless of when they earned the credential.  
  • Point Value Decreases:
    • When the point value of a credential is decreased, implementation of the decrease will not take effect for 4yrs to allow students who had earned the credential prior to the point value decrease to exit school. For example, if the point value of a credential decreased in FY22 from 3 to 1, the change would not be implemented in the accountability system until the 2026 graduation cohort, reflected on the 2027 report card.
    • The date the credential was earned does not impact the point value at the time the student is expected to leave school.

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Last Modified: 12/5/2024 1:28:14 PM