Industry Credential Testing Policy

What is an industry credential?

An industry-recognized credential is a verification of an individual’s qualification or competence. A third party with authority (U.S. Department of Labor, 2010) issues a credential. Authorities include business, trade association, or other industry-group assessments that measure technical competency and validate knowledge and skills in a specific industry. This also includes licenses or legal permission to engage in particular types of work that typically a government agency issues.

Why should students earn industry credentials?

In addition to helping students meet graduation requirements, earning an industry credential allows students to learn about a particular skill set or job and demonstrate mastery of skills. Students learn more deeply by practicing and applying their knowledge through work and employment experiences They learn about workplace expectations in terms of professional or “soft” skills needed for employment, as well as learning about career pathways and what the labor market for particular occupations looks like. And, they learn the job-specific skills they will need to perform day-to-day tasks.

Industry credentials provide an opportunity to earn a good wage while pursuing additional education. Some industry-recognized credentials can be used as evidence of prior learning and can be awarded college credit.

To the left are the areas within the graduation requirements for the Class of 2023 and beyond where earning industry recognized credentials can offer alternatives for demonstrating competency and as one way to show readiness.

How do students earn industry credentials?

Students can earn industry credentials through comprehensive career-technical education programs, through programs dedicated specifically to credentials for students in their senior year, or through existing courses that integrate the content needed to successfully obtain the credential.

Ohio Virtual Academy’s CTE Programs offer a range of state approved industry credentials for students to earn based on their pathway course enrollment. It is the goal of the program for every student who participates to earn at least one credential.

Students will have the opportunity to take the credential tests that correspond with their pathway courses. Each pathway will have at least one credential that is offered virtually to choose from. Pathway teachers will provide students with a contract to fill out which includes three statements of agreement:

• Student statement of agreement: "In order to be successful on the test, I know that not only must I participate actively in class and complete my assigned academic work, but I must also study on my own to prepare for the test."

• Student statement of agreement: "If the test needs to be proctored at a physical testing location, I commit to traveling to the assigned testing location for the proctored industry credential exam. I will communicate with the testing coordinator in a timely manner to set up my exam date and time, and I will arrive on time and prepared to test."

• Learning coach statement of agreement: "As the student’s learning coach, I will ensure that my student attends the industry credentialing exam on the assigned day at the assigned time, and at the assigned location. I also commit to overseeing my student’s progress in class so that they can be successful on the exam."

Not abiding by these agreements may result in OHVA no longer funding or facilitating credential testing opportunities for that student in the future.

If students do not pass the credential test after their first attempt, a second attempt will be provided, if desired by the student, after the student attends three remediation sessions with their pathway teacher.

For more information on the industry credential options available through OHVA’s CTE Programs, reference our program specific materials, or contact a CTE administrator, or your school counselor.

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