Industry-Recognized Credentials: From High School to High-Demand Careers

As the nation doubles down on preparing students for college and careers, one trend is standing out: the rise of industry-recognized credentials (IRCs).

What Are Industry-Recognized Credentials?

An industry-recognized credential is a nationally portable, third-party, exam-based certification that employers in a specific field accept—or even require. Students can earn IRCs independently of a particular course or institution, in high school or at any point in their careers.

What Are the Benefits of Industry-Recognized Credentials?

While most states define career pathways that guide students toward specific fields, those pathways don’t always translate seamlessly across the country or into immediate employment after graduation. IRCs, on the other hand, are transferable and stackable—students can build a portfolio of credentials that signal verified skills to employers regardless of state. Additionally, research studies have begun to demonstrate the connection between IRCs and higher employment and earnings rates. For example:

• Recent research in Virginia showed that adults who completed a stacked credential were 4 percentage points more likely to be employed than non-stackers and earned about $375 more each quarter.
• Illinois state research with CompTIA found that students who earned a certification had slightly higher employment rates and substantially higher wages than their noncertified peers.

How Are States Incorporating Industry-Recognized Credentials into K-12?

Accountability: Most states now include the attainment or administration of IRC exams in their Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) accountability plans, recognizing these credentials as reliable indicators of postsecondary readiness. 

Graduation Requirements: As of 2025, at least 10 states have incorporated IRC attainment as an optional component to meet high school graduation requirements. States with career-related diploma endorsements may include credential attainment related to a career pathway as a requirement.

Funding levers and incentives: Most states also offer full or partial reimbursement of exam fees, reducing cost barriers and expanding student access. A growing number of states tie incentive dollars to credential attainment:

• Ohio: Through the Innovative Workforce Incentive Program (IWIP), schools receive $725 for each student who earns a credential in a high-demand career field.
• Florida: The CAPE Industry Certification Funding program provides bonus dollars to schools and offers educator stipends, from $25–$100, when students earn approved credentials.

How Can Schools Identify High-Value Industry-Recognized Credentials?

States typically maintain their own lists of approved IRCs for accountability and funding. Always confirm with your state’s approving entity that a given credential counts toward your goals, whether that’s accountability points, funding, or both.

It's also important to note that credentials are not all created equal. Higher value credentials are often weighted by the state to recognize the importance of the rigor, demand from employers, or association with a high-need field. Explore the most commonly requested IRCs per Career Cluster by employers nationally here.

Learn more about how your state identifies and incorporates credentials into its education system by checking out Advance CTE’s 50-state dashboard.

How Does Edmentum Support IRC Preparation?

Industry-recognized credentials offer students a portable, credible signal of skills that employers understand and may even require. They complement state pathways, strengthen accountability outcomes, and unlock funding opportunities, all while giving learners flexible, stackable proof of what they can do throughout their careers. Edmentum offers career pathways aligned to the skills and topics covered on relevant certification exams, enabling students to build their knowledge and confidently demonstrate the abilities required to succeed in high-demand careers. Additionally, we provide a range of certification preparation courses to help students prepare for industry-recognized credentials exams. 

Edmentum’s partnership with Trade Prep, Powered by Interplay, reflects this national movement by bringing immersive, job-ready training for in high-demand skilled trades directly to students. Learn more here.