Credentials and Assessments

Resources on topics such as industry-recognized credentials, technical skill assessments, capstone projects and postsecondary degrees and certificates

  • Research/ Report
March 2023

This collaboration between the Education Strategy Group (ESG) and Accelerat[Ed] explores the lessons from the regional accelerator on strategies for successfully scaling accelerated pathway programs.

  • Guide/Tool
July 2022

This tool, developed by workgroup members representing various state agencies, advances that any policy — be it regulatory, legislative or programmatic — related to the effective development and implementation of CPL should include and/or address five core elements.

  • Guide/Tool
August 2021

This resource, created by Education Strategy Group (ESG), pulls together promising strategies for serving post-traditional learners utilizing a single comprehensive framework.

  • Guide/Tool
August 2021

Education Commission of the States (ECS) provides state leaders with a policy outline for the necessary components of nondegree credential that can lead to upskilling and advancement in the workforce.

  • Guide/Tool
August 2021

This toolkit provides leaders with definitions of quality non-degree credentials, questions to consider when moving the criterion into action and a list of additional resources that can be used to support the understanding of each quality criterion.

  • Research/ Report
July 2021

The goal of the survey series is to understand and track the landscape of postsecondary competency based education (CBE) providing stakeholders with a better understanding of the current landscape.

  • Case Study
  • Guide/Tool
July 2021

This report from JFF with a select group of community college practitioners, makes the case for policymakers, employers and practitioners to invest in and strengthen short-term credentialing programs to rapidly retrain unemployed workers for better career prospects.

  • Research/ Report
May 2021

This resource from the Community College Resource Center is a series of studies that offer strategies for states and community colleges to address the needs of historically marginalized learners of color in pursuing postsecondary education and training.