Less than a year after its launch, Workcred, an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-affiliated organization, was granted tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Workcred's mission is to strengthen workforce quality by improving the credentialing system, ensuring its ongoing relevance, and preparing employers, workers, educators, and governments to use it effectively.
Workcred's efforts are significant at a time when more than 4,000 personnel certification bodies are at work in the United States - but less than 10% are accredited or reviewed by a third-party accreditation body. When it comes to U.S. credentialing, there is a need for increased confidence, quality, consistency, and transparency across industry sectors.
Established by ANSI, Workcred is committed to the development of a competency-based credentialing ecosystem by helping employers, educators, governments, and the workforce in identifying quality, market-valued, and effective credentials - and in utilizing them well.
"We are excited to see Workcred's continued growth and recognition," said Roy Swift, Ph.D., executive director of Workcred. "Our vision is a labor market which relies on the relevance, quality, and value of workforce credentials for opportunities, growth, and development. I am confident that Workcred will improve the credentialing ecosystem by better aligning credentials with the evolving needs of industry, education, organizations, and individuals."
Dr. Swift is a retired U.S. Army colonel who previously served as ANSI's chief workforce development officer and senior director of personnel credentialing accreditation programs. Dr. Swift was also the executive director of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), and chief of the Army Medical Specialist Corps in the Army Surgeon General's Office, among other roles.
For more information about Workcred and its various initiatives and activities, visit www.workcred.org.