Workcred’s executive director, Dr. Roy Swift, and Pearson VUE’s director of market development for government and military, Sue Jackson, teamed up to showcase how to utilize credentials to speed up the job hunt, in a presentation for the
Council of College and Military Educators (CCME) Annual Symposium on June 16, 2021. The symposium, which featured education opportunities for service members and their families, brought together education,
military, and veteran experts to explore the 2021 event theme, "Bridging the Gaps – Credentials that Lead to Sustainable and Successful Outcomes."
Through the presentation, Swift and Jackson discussed the key differences between credentials, which include certificates, certifications, degrees, and licenses, and explained how each can be integrated into different models of learning. The duo also highlighted the importance of certifications to the military; in fact, service members have a high success rate in attaining civilian credentials – more than 85 percent, compared to the industry average of 70 percent. High pass rates demonstrate the relevance of military training and experience to civilian jobs.
“Understanding how to identify quality credentials that have market value has become even more crucial for service members,” Swift clarified, “because of the variety and evolution of credentials, which confuses the marketplace even more.”
Workcred and Pearson VUE also shared how credentials are an integral part of high-priority government and U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) funding programs, such as Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) and Army Credentialing Assistance,
which show the paths for service members to earn civilian certifications and licenses. Through a variety of self-developed resources – Pearson VUE’s Value of IT Certification report,
and Understanding Quality: The Role of States in Supporting Quality Non-Degree Credentials
co-authored by Workcred and the National Governors Association – the presenters provided examples of how quality credentials enhance and improve force readiness, transition preparation, veteran employment, and career portability, as well as ensure that non-degree credentials
are accepted as college credit and embedded into degree programs.
“Our recent research revealed how industry certifications demonstrate that candidates have the necessary skills and experience to excel in their positions and that they are more motivated than ever before to earn certifications, which help them to advance both personally and professionally,” explained Jackson. “Employers felt a direct and favorable impact as well, experiencing benefits such as increased quality of work, greater productivity and efficiency, as well as the employee’s ability to mentor others.”
About Workcred
Formed in 2014 as an affiliate of the American National Standards Institute, Workcred’s mission is to strengthen workforce quality by improving the credentialing system, ensuring its ongoing relevance, and preparing employers, workers, educators, and governments to use it effectively. Workcred's vision is a labor market that relies on the relevance, quality, and value of workforce credentials for opportunities, growth, and development. Learn more at www.workcred.org.
About Pearson VUE
Pearson VUE has been a pioneer in the computer-based testing industry for decades, delivering more than 16 million certification and licensure exams annually in every industry from academia and admissions, to IT and healthcare. They are the global leaders in developing and delivering high-stakes exams via the world's most comprehensive network of nearly 20,000 highly secure test centers as well as online testing in more than 180 countries.
Pearson VUE’s leadership in the assessment industry is a result of collaborative partnerships with a broad range of clients, from leading technology firms to government and regulatory agencies. For more information, please visit PearsonVUE.com.
About CCME
CCME, a not-for-profit organization, was founded almost 50 years ago to promote, encourage, and deliver quality education to service members and their families in all branches of the armed services. The 2021 virtual symposium took place on June 15-16.
