#AskExcelinEd: Why Are Industry Credentials Important for Career Pathways?

States offer a wide range of career and technical education programs and credentials intended to prepare high school students for success. But how effective are these programs and how relevant are the credentials students are earning?

Learn more at CredentialsMatter.org!

About Credentials Matter

Credentials Matter is an ongoing research partnership between ExcelinEd and Burning Glass Technologies designed to shed light on the landscape of industry credential data collection and alignment across the country. The project provides insight into how industry credentials earned by high school students align with workforce demand in each state to inform education system improvements and state data collection practices. Visit ExcelinEd.org/CredentialsMatter for more information.

Credentials Matter was made possible by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York. The statements made and views expressed are solely the responsibility of the authors.

View the Website

Visit CredentialsMatter.org to explore interactive maps and data tables and to learn more.

Read Report 1

View the Report 1 to examine the analysis’s approach, findings and recommendations.

Read Report 2

View Report 2 to see how industry credentials impact educational and labor market outcomes.