Community & BAC Meeting in March

Credentials and Their Mixed Messages

Tasha Werry, Executive Director

The quarterly BB2C Community and Business Advisory Council meeting is coming up on March 18, at 4:00 p.m. The topic: Credentials. We are all hearing so much about credentials and how important they are, and how much quicker and cheaper they are to earn. But, what are they really? How does one earn them? Is it worth it to earn them while in high school? Do they fit into the career path that I want to follow? Will they help me get a job? Will they help me get a head start on college now or later on in my life? These questions and more surround the vast world of credentials, and it is a vast world. The list of industry-recognized credentials that can count towards high school graduation in the state of Ohio rose from 68 in 2015, to 526 in 2020! That is just one list....
 
According to the Ohio Department of Education, 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. Industry-recognized credentials are valued in the labor market and are a validation of knowledge and skill. They can take many forms, including certifications, certificates, and licenses. 
 
While ODE speaks on behalf of the entire state of Ohio, what does this mean for students in southeast Ohio? During our March meeting, we will have local employers explain what credentials mean to them, and which ones they look for on resumes. We are hearing many messages about credentials, and some of them are mixed messages. Let’s find out what works locally. 
 
Register here. You will be sent a Zoom link a couple of days prior to the meeting.