Essential Credentials by Program and Career Cluster

The following highlights the essential industry credentials and safety credentials for all state-designated programs.

Essential industry credentials are high-demand credentials in the target job market, and/or credentials required for target occupations.

Essential safety credentials verify that students have the knowledge and skills needed to work safely in their target occupation.

All Massachusetts Career Technical Education (CTE) programs must (1) prepare all students in the program to take, and (2) provide an opportunity for them to achieve at least one essential credential and all essential safety credentials unless otherwise noted.

Credentials on the essential list are included based on the following criteria:

• The certification must have high-value currency in the market, which can be gained through various processes including transparency initiatives, general awareness, endorsements and validations, regulations, hiring policies and practices, and/or procedures that can be used to translate the credential into academic credit.
• Must lead to improved hiring outcomes and/or increased earnings for students who attain the credential.
• Credentials required for employment in program field must be included.

Programs may choose to differentiate and expand upon their program by offering supplemental credentials. These may include credentials that are:

• Endorsed by local or regional industry associations or workforce boards.
• Equipment, tools, software or process specific if valued by industry.

Postsecondary credentials may also be identified for certain program areas. A high school degree is a prerequisite to attain a postsecondary credential. Students may pursue postsecondary credentials to further their education after high school.

Visit the Frameworks page for a complete list of all supplemental and postsecondary credentials by program area.

For more detailed definitions of all types of credentials, including a comparison chart for certificates, licenses, and degrees, review the Association for Career and Technical Education's Fact Sheet .

**Disclosure Statement: Reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Our office is not responsible for and does not in any way guarantee the accuracy of information on other sites accessible through links herein. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE may supplement this list with other services and products that meet the specified criteria. For more information contact: ccte@mass.gov .