A new blog post from Workcred makes the case that certification bodies can no longer treat outcomes data as optional, as employers seek evidence of credential value and policymakers increasingly tie funding and workforce decisions to outcomes.
“Despite their prevalence in the workforce, there is no complete, centralized, third-party source of data on the outcomes or impact of certifications,” writes Workcred senior manager Talisa Jackson, Ph.D.
The data gap has real consequences. Only eight states currently report credential outcomes, even as 44 states have developed “credentials of value” frameworks to inform workforce initiatives and funding decisions, and 35 states now incentivize credential attainment using state and federal funding. Certifications left out of these data systems risk being overlooked, missing the opportunity to reach more candidates and remain competitive.
The post offers steps that certification bodies can take now, including partnering with colleges to track exam outcomes, using Credential Engine’s Credential Transparency Description Language to make credentials searchable across systems, and engaging with national data initiatives that link credential data to wage and employment outcomes.
Jackson’s bottom line: “With more than one million credentials on the market, data is no longer the differentiator; it is the price of admission.”
Read the full blog post on Workcred’s website.