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Transparency
Credential Engine develops its data standards through open, inclusive, and transparent processes
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April 23rd, 2025
Welcome to Transparency, Credential Engine’s monthly newsletter. Spring is bringing new momentum to the movement for credential and skill transparency. In this edition, we highlight innovative uses of CTDL, including WGU’s Achievement Wallet, our upcoming webinar showcasing how institutions are using CTDL xTRA to unlock the power of AI-driven course data, and a new blog series designed to help you better understand Credential Engine’s mission and work. As the credentialing ecosystem continues to evolve, we’re excited to share how transparency is driving greater access and more informed decision-making.

Credential Finder Numbers ([link removed]) : 97,975 Credentials, 9,455 Organizations, 44,375 Learning/Training Opportunities, 10,947 Competency Frameworks, 198,523 Competencies, 19,848 Transfer Values, and more! We encourage readers to explore the Credential Finder and learn more about the data in the Credential Registry.
Jump ahead:

> Spotlight (#Spotlight)
> U (#Policy) pdates (#Updates)
> CTDL Solutions (#Technology)
> News (#News)
> E (#State) vents (#Events)


** Spotlight.
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The Achievement Wallet – Unlocking Opportunity Through Transparent Credential Data

In today’s complex learning and career landscape, learners often struggle to clearly communicate the full scope of their verified skills and credentials to employers and other institutions. Without a unified, trusted system for managing and sharing this information, opportunities can be missed and achievements overlooked. That’s where the Achievement Wallet comes in, a solution that empowers individuals to securely collect, manage, and share their learning records in a way that’s portable, meaningful, and recognized.

Developed by iQ4, the Achievement Wallet uses [link removed] Transparency Description Language (CTDL) data to help bridge the gap between education and employment. By using CTDL and the Credential Registry, Western Governors University (WGU) is ensuring its credential and skill data is structured, machine-readable, and linked to real-world job requirements, making it easier for learners to demonstrate their competencies to employers and systems that matter through the use of the WGU Achievement Wallet. ([link removed])

The Achievement Wallet exemplifies the value of open, transparent data in building a more navigable, equitable credentialing ecosystem. It’s not just a tech solution, it’s a step toward a learner-centered future.

Read the WGU Achievement Wallet story here ([link removed]) and watch our webinar on the Achievement Wallet here ([link removed]) .

Learn more about solutions that use CTDL to empower people ([link removed]) .


** Updates.
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Op-ed: Policymakers Must [link removed] the Charge to Fix America’s Credential Chaos: In a new op-ed for Work Shift ([link removed]) , CEO Scott Cheney makes the case for why structured, open credential data must be a cornerstone of federal and state workforce strategy. He lays out four clear, actionable steps policymakers should take now to bring order to the credential chaos, and to ensure AI helps, not harms, learners and job seekers. Read the full op-ed ([link removed])

Expanding Access to Education Data: Join Credential Engine on April 30 at 2 PM ET for an insightful webinar on how AI-driven solutions are rapidly increasing the amount of data in CTDL. This session is about CTDL xTRA, an open-source, AI-powered tool developed by Credential Engine in collaboration with Learning Tapestry. CTDL xTRA leverages large language models to extract and transform public web content into structured, machine-readable data.

Speakers from Bristol Community College and Houston Community College will share how they are using CTDL xTRA to enhance transparency and better support learners. If you're interested in how AI is reshaping the education and workforce landscape, and the role CTDL xTRA can play,register today. ([link removed]) Learn more about this opportunity here ([link removed]) .

Unlocking the Future of Credential Transparency: At Credential Engine, we're committed to making the credential and skill landscape clearer, more connected, and more useful for everyone, from learners and workers to educators and employers. Our latest three-part blog series illustrates the importance of creating a transparent, data-rich credential ecosystem that empowers decision-making and drives equity in education and employment.
1. The Power of a Common Language ([link removed])
Learn how establishing a shared language for credentials and skills lays the foundation for clarity and consistency in an otherwise complex landscape.

2. Building Solutions for Better Learning and Career Opportunities ([link removed])
Explore the innovative tools and strategies we're enabling to help individuals navigate learning pathways and unlock new career options.

3. Create Lasting Change with Scalable Credential Transparency ([link removed])
Discover how we’re working to ensure that credential and skill transparency is not just impactful, but sustainable and scalable for the long term.

Read the full series here ([link removed]) and see how this work is helping shape the future of learning and work.


** CTDL Solutions.
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Advancing CTDL to Describe Global Credential Types: The CTDL team is currently working to expand how the CTDL describes credential and qualification types defined within national and regional qualification systems around the world. This effort builds directly on CTDL updates completed in early 2025 by the global Qualifications Frameworks as Data Task Group, which introduced new terms to support transparent, structured descriptions of qualifications frameworks ([link removed]) and their components.

Now, a global focus group is taking the next step—exploring how CTDL can reflect distinctions between specific types of credentials and qualifications, particularly those formally defined by public authorities. While CTDL already supports many credential classes such as degrees, certificates, licenses, and micro-credentials, this proposal enhances its ability to describe credential types that are uniquely defined and embedded in different systems—such as the distinction between an Honours Degree and an Ordinary Degree in the UK, or the equivalencies between South African and UK Honours Degrees.

In most jurisdictions, credential types are defined within qualification systems and aligned to levels of progression frameworks. They are shaped by national structures and policies and can be offered and issued by a range of education, training, or assessment providers. Accurately describing these types helps ensure global transparency, comparability, and mobility for learners.

The result of this work will be a proposed expansion to CTDL. A public webinar will be held on May 6th at 12 PM ET to present the proposal and gather broader community feedback. Final CTDL updates will follow the feedback period.
L ([link removed]) earn more ([link removed]) about the opportunity to provide input to this proposal and register here ([link removed]) .

U.S. Department of Labor O*NET Occupations and Industry Model Competency Frameworks in the CTDL: Credential Engine published an updated blog ([link removed]) highlighting expanded data included in the integration of O*NET Occupations and Industry Model Competency Frameworks in the Credential Registry, an update to the original 2020 post about O*NET data in the Registry. O*NET data links competencies to real-world occupations, enhancing the utility of the CTDL. These connections improve data interoperability and help people better understand career pathways and required skills. Read more about these important updates and their implicationshere ([link removed]) .


** News.
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1. Policymakers Must Lead the Charge to Fix America’s Credential Chaos ([link removed])
2. Unlocking the Future of Credential Transparency: Blog Series ([link removed])


** Events.
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Meeting the skills-first moment: Competency Publication with Credential Engine and C-BEN: Join Credential Engine staff and our partners at the Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN) on April 29th at 2 PM ET to hear about the power of a registry built on open linked data. Now that any credential issuer can publish competencies to the Credential Registry, the possibilities for mobilizing skills and competencies are sky-high! Register here ([link removed]) .

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