The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is committed to ensuring that students graduate from high school equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in college and their careers. As part of the College and Career Readiness (CCR) Pillar of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, students are meant to be on a structured career pathway at the time of graduation.
Definition of an Industry-Recognized Credential (IRC)
In alignment with the CTE Committee and approved by the Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB), MSDE is implementing a new definition of an Industry-Recognized Credential (IRC).
The CTE Committees IRC Policy is defined by the CTE Committee and is being implemented by MSDE to ensure consistent recognition across the state.
The CTE Committee defines an Industry-Recognized Credential (IRC) as:
A formal validation of an individual’s skills and/or competencies that align with state or regional in-demand occupations and are recognized by industry and employers. An IRC may be a certification, license, or credential obtained through an assessment process, is portable, and may be stackable. The IRC leads to documented positive employment outcomes, ensures relevance in the labor market, and supports career advancement and economic development for credential holders.
State-Approved List of Industry-Recognized Credentials
MSDE and the CTE Committee maintain a state-approved list of Industry-Recognized Credentials (IRCs) that have been vetted and meet standards. You can view the approved list in the
CTE Committees IRC Policy.
Key Criteria for IRC Approval
For an IRC to be recognized under the
CTE Committee IRC policy, it must meet the following core criteria:
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Aligns with In-Demand Occupations: The credential is associated with occupations that are in high demand or emerging within Maryland as defined by the Governor’s Workforce Development Board (GWDB) using state labor market data and employer feedback, or as defined as a regional need or emerging credential by the Local Workforce Development Board.
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Provides Documented Outcomes: There is evidence of positive employment and wage outcomes for individuals who have obtained the IRC, demonstrating its effectiveness in contributing to workforce readiness and economic advancement.
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In cases where the credential does not lead to a living wage job, or where data is not yet available, the credential should show that it can be stacked with Governor’s Workforce Development Board – CTE Committee | 7 Industry-Recognized Credential Policy May 2024 other credentials, exhibiting progression in a career pathway with positive wage outcomes; or that it meets criteria #1 since it leads to an in-demand occupation.
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Validated by Industry: The credential is recognized by multiple employers within an industry sector and is developed or endorsed by industry associations when applicable, ensuring its relevance and value in the job market.
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Assessment-Based: The credential is awarded upon successful completion of an assessment process that may include written, oral, or performance evaluations, demonstrating the individual’s mastery of specific knowledge, skills, and abilities required for a particular occupation or skill area.
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Standards-Driven: The credential is based on industry-accepted standards for skills and competencies, ensuring that it reflects the current needs and practices of the relevant industry.
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Attainable and Accessible: The credential is attainable by high school students through secondary, postsecondary, or other training programs and is accessible to a wide range of learners, including special populations, to support equity and inclusion in access to attainment of industry-recognized credentials.
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Portable: The credential can support employment in more than one region of the state and, where applicable, outside the state
It is preferable for the industry-recognized credential to also meet these additional two criteria (stackable and/or renewable), but these are not a requirement for approval as they are not universally applicable to every valuable industry-recognized credential:
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Stackable: The credential can:
- be transferred seamlessly to postsecondary work through acceptance for credit or hours in core program courses at an institution of higher education;
- be counted toward hours in an aligned Registered Apprenticeship program; or
- be part of a prescribed coherent sequence of industry-recognized credentials that show progressive skill development and qualify credential earners for professional advancement within their industry.
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Renewable: Where applicable, the credential is renewable, requiring holders to engage in continuous learning or re-assessment to maintain the credential’s status and relevance.
Application Process for New IRCs
The application process for proposing new IRCs opens on August 1st and closes on October 31st each year. All applications will be reviewed and voted on by the CTE Committee the following January.
Applicants who wish to have new IRCs considered or added to the list are required to submit an application with supporting documentation through
this form during the application window. All IRC applications may be submitted by various entities, including community colleges, local workforce boards, local education agencies, industry partners, and others. However, each application must include the signature of the relevant LEA and provide supporting documentation that demonstrates the IRC meets the seven core criteria. A non-exhaustive
sample of acceptable artifacts is available to assist applicants in getting started.
Timeline for Implementation
Date
| Description
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August 1
| Online application for new industry-recognized credentials to be assessed opens. |
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October 31
| Online application for new industry-recognized credentials to be assessed closes. |
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November
| Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) reviews each submission for completeness and follows up with requesting entities to gather any additional information needed to make a recommendation to approve or not approve. |
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| December | MSDE prepares submission packages for each industry-recognized credential application meeting foundational application requirements, including a recommendation to approve or not approve the IRC. All packets and recommendations will be sent to CTE Committee staff by December 31st for review by the full CTE Committee. |
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| January | The CTE Committee will formally vote to approve or not approve each IRC package provided to them by MSDE. Once a formal determination is made, MSDE will notify the requesting entity of the status via email. Each approved IRC will be added to the state-approved IRC list on July 1st for use in the upcoming school year. |
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| February | MSDE and the CTE Committee will publish the annual State-Approved Industry-Recognized Credential list for use in the upcoming school year. |
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July 1
| The State-Approved Industry-Recognized Credential list goes into effect for the upcoming school year.
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Contact:
Pamela Clay
Coordinator, Apprenticeships and Industry Recognized Credentials
Office: (410) 767-5447
pamela.clay@maryland.gov