CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION
A Critical Component of 21st Century Education
8-FIVE WAYS THAT PAY
According to the Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE) a credential "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). The term credential encompasses educational certificates, degrees, certifications and government-issued licenses."
For the purpose of this website project, possession of one of the five credential related items listed below represents one of "five ways to pay on the way to a B.A." (the ability to earn higher levels of pay that, in turn, may enable paying for the expense of post-secondary education).
1. Certificate
Certificates are awarded upon the successful completion of a brief course of study, usually one year or less but at times longer, primarily in public or private two-year institutions of higher education, university extension programs or non-degree granting postsecondary institutions like area career and technical education schools. Upon completion of a course of study, a certificate does not require any further action to retain.I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It’s easy. Just click “Edit Text” or double click me and you can start adding your own content and make changes to the font. I’m a great place for you to tell a story and let your users know a little more about you.
2. Certification
Certifications indicate mastery of or competency in specific knowledge, skills or processes that can be measured against a set
of accepted standards. These are not tied to a specific educational program, but are typically awarded through assessment and validation of skills in cooperation with a business, trade association or other industry group. After attaining a certification, individuals often must meet ongoing requirements to maintain the currency of the certification.
3. License
A license is legal permission, typically granted by a government agency, to allow an individual to perform certain regulated tasks or
occupations. A license can be obtained by meeting certain requirements set forth by the licenser, usually by completing a course of
education and/or assessments. Upon receipt of a license, ongoing requirements may be necessary to maintain the license.
4. Degree
An academic degree is an award or title conferred upon an individual for the completion of a program or course of study over multiple years at postsecondary education institutions.
5. Industry Recognized Credential
High-quality credentials are recognized by multiple employers across an industry. To help better identify and prioritize such credentials, ACTE proposes the following uniform definition of “industry-recognized” be implemented across federal legislation when referencing credentials. The term ‘‘industry-recognized,’’ used with respect to acredential, means a credential that—
A. is sought or accepted by employers within the industry or sector involved as a recognized, preferred or required
credential for recruitment, screening, hiring, retention or advancement purposes; and,
B. where appropriate, is endorsed by a nationally recognized trade association or organization representing a significant
part of the industry or sector.
RECOGNIZED POSTSECONDARY CREDENTIAL
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 defined the term "recognized postsecondary credential" as a "credential consisting of an industry-recognized certificate or certification, a certificate of completion of an apprenticeship, a license recognized by the State involved or Federal Government, or an associate or baccalaureate degree."