Industry/occupational certifications are the least understood type of credential a learner can earn. A new report, Understanding Certifications, helps make the picture clearer. The report was prepared by Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW), Workcred (affiliate of the American National Standards Institute), and the George Washington Institute of Public Policy (GWIPP), as part of a two-year study of certifications supported by a grant from Lumina Foundation.
Awarded by industry groups, professional associations, and companies, certifications have the potential to be useful tools to workers making transitions in times of turbulent labor markets. Certifications are based on an individual demonstrating through an examination that she or he has acquired the knowledge and skills required to perform a specific occupation or job. More than 6,700 certifications are in use, with millions of people earning a certification annually.
The report provides an overview of how certification processes work, including how they relate to educational programs, career pathways, and hiring. The report raises a number of questions that need to be explored about certifications moving forward, some of which will be explored in a follow up piece later this year.
The three partner organizations are doing in-depth research into a mix of certifications used within healthcare, manufacturing, and information technology, designed to provide policymakers, practitioners, employers, and funders with a clear picture of the patterns and trends among certifications.
We see today’s report, Understanding Certifications, as a baseline of solid information about what’s known about certifications now that can inform choices by certification users. The study will deepen and expand that knowledge, with a final report scheduled for Fall, 2021.
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