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A Clear Advantage – Industry-Recognized Credentials

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Industry-recognized credentials (IRCs) offer benefits, not only to the student who earns an IRC, but also to the schools and communities. But what are IRCs? They could be considered one of the first forms of micro-credentials or “badges.” Each IRC has been developed by a related industry to certify that the person holding the credential or certification has demonstrated mastery of skills critical to that industry or specific job.

To earn an IRC, it is not enough to sit through a class, read a manual, or even earn a diploma. One must actually become proficient at and demonstrate skills and knowledge valuable to businesses that tend to offer competitive wages, benefits, and work environments.

Advantages for Students
IRCs are developed, vetted, and regularly updated by those who want to hire people with specific skills. Consequently, employers can have confidence an applicant who has earned an IRC can be moved to the top of the applicant pool. Further, employers are often willing to offer higher pay and better benefits to attract and retain employees with IRCs.

Similarly, colleges and universities offering technical degrees or diplomas often recognize IRCs and the skills they represent. This can mean bypassing otherwise required classes or lessons thus saving the student money on tuition and other costs, leading to faster program completion.

IRCs Support All Career Interests
There is an extensive list of career areas each with multiple IRCs. The CTE Incentive Grants Class of 2022 Certification List contains hundreds of IRCs in all six CTE program areas. These include business and industry certifications, and Wisconsin Technical College certificates. This approved list is updated every year to ensure that the certificates, while industry-endorsed, actually have value with employers.

Given the many IRC options, it can be hard for a school or district to know where to begin or how to expand IRC offerings. Do you have community businesses struggling to find skilled workers? Share the list from DWD and ask them which IRCs would be of greatest value locally. Invite them to be part of the process of figuring out how to prepare students with the knowledge and skills to be successful in earning the IRCs. Even if a school is solicited to buy curriculum leading to a credential, you will want to consider the factors that are used to compile the approved list.

Next Steps With IRCs
In 2013, Wisconsin Act 59 led to the Career and Technical Education Incentive Grant Program operated by the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) in cooperation with the Department of Public Instruction. Through this program, each year, Wisconsin high schools can receive grants of up to $1,000 per student who earned an approved IRC.

The program continues to be funded because IRCs so reliably prove attainment of skills demanded by Wisconsin business and industry. Taken a step further, each certificate earned leads to economic benefits for communities and the state through a more highly skilled—and consequently more highly paid—workforce.

IRCs are incredibly valuable, but they are only possible where a committed team is ready to collaborate on providing the necessary training, guidance, and assessment opportunities. Make sure the schools in your community are working toward making that happen.

—Submitted by Kevin Miller and Jessa Dahmes, Education Consultants, CTE Team, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction