What are industry-valued credentials?

• An education- and work-related credential, which could include a license or certificate, can be defined as a verification of an individual’s qualification or competence issued by a third party with the relevant authority to issue such credentials (U.S. Department of Labor, 2010).

To ensure an educated and skilled workforce, many industries and educational entities have successfully developed and implemented industry-recognized credentials to connect individuals to the skills they need to enter and advance in jobs. Many credentials are stackable, meaning they can build on previous competencies and skills through an individual’s lifetime.

Through ODCTE leadership, agency operations, dissemination of best practices and multiple delivery arms, Oklahoma CareerTech strives to increase student educational attainment of industry credentials.

More information on the process can be found on the certifications page.

The Oklahoma CareerTech system will begin issuing digital badges utilizing the Credly platform starting in December 2022. Digital Badges will be issued using information entered into the “Real-Time” certification section of the CTIMS system. Certifications must be included on the Approved Assessment list, in order to be listed in the “Real-Time” certification section.

If a testing vendor currently offers a digital badge, we will not be duplicating those efforts. We will be focusing on those areas that do not currently receive a badge from an existing vendor.

In order to earn a credential that is digitally badged by the Oklahoma CareerTech, a student must:

• Complete any course work in an Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education approved program that encompasses the areas included in the objectives/blueprint for an assessment. All approved programs within the Oklahoma CareerTech network of accredited technology centers lead to industry-recognized credentials.

Once a student completes an assessment listed on the Approved Assessment list, the instructor/designated representative will need to add it into the “Real-Time” certification section of the CTIMS system to allow us to gather the information to issue a badge to the student if it meets the criteria required.

More information on the process can be found on the badging page.