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Transparency
Credential Engine develops its data standards through open, inclusive, and transparent processes
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November 20th, 2025

Welcome to Transparency, Credential Engine’s monthly newsletter! This month, we’re gearing up for the release of the 2025 Counting Credentials reports, which will share the updated U.S. credential count, an updated provider count, total annual expenditures across the country, and more. Stay tuned, and follow us ([link removed]) on social media, to be among the first to access the report on December 9th.
Jump ahead:

> Spotlight (#Spotlight)
> U (#Policy) pdates (#Updates)
> Policy Corner (#Policy)
> Partnerships (#State)
> C (#Technology) TDL Solutions (#Technology)
> Events (#Events)


** Spotlight.
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Recognizing Cultural Skills in a Transparent Credential Ecosystem

As education and workforce systems increasingly depend on structured, open, linked, and interoperable (SOLID) skills data, recognizing cultural skills is becoming essential both in the United States and globally. Cultural knowledge, values, practices, and stories shape how people contribute to their communities and workplaces. When these cultural skills are represented in open data formats, they become visible and transferable across institutions, borders, and industries. The result is a stronger global talent ecosystem, more inclusive hiring and learning pathways, and better recognition of the full range of skills individuals carry with them.

The Blackfeet Living Principles project in Montana is exploring how cultural identity can be documented and shared through an open data approach in a meaningful way. Led by Accelerate Montana with support from SkillsFWD, Credential Engine, and the Gates Foundation, the project translates nine Blackfeet cultural values into open data in CTDL. As shown in the micro-documentary Blackfeet Living Principles as Open Data ([link removed]) , this work explains how cultural principles can be thoughtfully expressed as skills that guide meaningful work and community life.

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Blackfeet Living Principles as Open Data Micro-documentary

The implications of this type of transparency are far-reaching. When cultural skills are captured in open data formats, communities everywhere can ensure their knowledge is honored and connected to modern education and workforce systems. This opens the door to more equitable recognition, richer talent ecosystems, and a future in which cultural identity is an integral and valued part of credentials worldwide. Credential Engine welcomes partners who want to help advance this work and contribute to building credential systems that reflect the diverse skills that shape our shared global workforce.


** Updates.
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Credential Engine Selected for GitLab Foundation Grant: We’re excited to announce that Credential Engine has been selected as a grantee by the GitLab Foundation ([link removed]) through their Learning for Action Fund. This funding will allow us to deepen our work on credential and skill data transparency, empowering more learners, workers, and education providers with clear, actionable information. It also supports our efforts to build stronger feedback loops so that we can track impact more meaningfully. We’re honored to join a cohort of changemakers committed to creating pathways to opportunity, and look forward to leveraging this partnership to amplify our collective impact across the credential ecosystem. Learn more here ([link removed]) .

Credential Engine and Cognizone Announce Strategic Partnership: Credential Engine has entered a strategic partnership with Cognizone ([link removed]) , combining our shared commitment to open data, credential interoperability, and global transparency. The partnership between Credential Engine and Cognizone addresses a critical global need: enabling individuals and institutions to understand and compare qualifications, credentials, and skills across borders and systems. Beginning with efforts to align our standards and systems, this collaboration will help learners, workers, institutions, and policymakers everywhere access clearer, more comparable information about credentials across borders and systems. Learn more here ([link removed]) .


** Policy Corner.
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$50M Opportunity: Talent Marketplaces & Credential Registries: The U.S. Department of Education has announced up to $50 million in funding ([link removed]) through the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education – Special Projects (FIPSE) to support high-quality, short-term programs. Funding is available to institutions of higher education, combinations of such institutions, public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies, and state higher education agencies. This grant prioritizes Talent Marketplaces and the development of Credential Registries to improve data collection, reporting, and alignment with in-demand skills.

Credential Engine’s open technologies, including the CTDL and the Credential Registry, can meet this priority by enabling states, institutions, and workforce organizations to catalog and connect short-term credentials and skills data. By leveraging our services, organizations can build interoperable, transparent systems that link education and training pathways to high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations, supporting more informed decision-making for learners, employers, and policymakers. The deadline to apply is December 3, 2025. Please contact Scott Cheney at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) if you are interested in learning more. Learn more here ([link removed]) .


** Partnerships.
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Short-Term Credential Provider Endorsement: Higher Learning Commission ([link removed]) (HLC) is applying its expertise to establish a reliable source of quality assurance for students, employers, and others navigating this growing market. HLC's Endorsement ([link removed]) of providers is also expected to assist business and industry in meeting specific workforce needs. The Endorsement helps students who are looking for credible providers in the short-term credential landscape to secure a certificate or certification. As part of the Endorsement, credential providers will need to provide their organization's CTID, or their globally unique identifier, in the Credential Registry. Credential Engine will also be providing guidance to credential providers on how to publish
information about their short-term credentials and competencies to the Registry this year, as well. Learn more here ([link removed]) and join one of their upcoming webinars.

Solution Spotlight: How Arkansas LAUNCH Uses CTDL Data: Credential Engine recently hosted a Solution Spotlight webinar ([link removed]) , “How Arkansas LAUNCH Uses CTDL Data,” highlighting how Arkansas LAUNCH ([link removed]) , the state’s tool connecting learners, educators, and employers to workforce and credential opportunities, is leveraging CTDL data. By using standardized credential and skill information, LAUNCH is improving transparency in the credential ecosystem and helping create clearer pathways between education, workforce development, and employment opportunities.
The webinar featured insights from Arkansas partners on how they are applying CTDL data to support Arkansans. You can watch the full webinar ([link removed]) or check out our summary ([link removed]) to learn more about their approach and the impact of CTDL data. If your organization is interested in showcasing your solutions in a future Solution Spotlight webinar, contact us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .


Increasing Transparency for GI Bill Eligibility: To enhance the value of LAUNCH data, Credential Engine partnered with Arkansas to add critical information on GI Bill eligibility. Through the OPEN Initiative ([link removed]) , Credential Engine published U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill approvals
([link removed]) for Arkansas education and training providers. Erin McCarley, Chief Skills Strategy Officer at ARData, explains: “By linking to GI Bill Approved Institutions in the Registry, the Arkansas LAUNCH platform will be able to provide
personalized recommendations to service members, veterans, and their eligible family members for education and training opportunities that qualify for GI Bill benefits. This data will save service members time and money and help them make better decisions.”


** CTDL Solutions.
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Two-Factor Authentication for Credential Engine Accounts System: Starting December 1st, 2025, our account system will require two-factor authentication (2FA) for all users. This added security measure helps protect your account and personal information. If you use the account system, please be prepared to complete the 2FA setup when you next log in. Instructions and support resources will be available to guide you through the process.


** Events.
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Lumina FutureReady States ([link removed])
Nashville, TN. November 12-14th. Credential Engine participated in the Lumina FutureReady States Convening, where state leaders and education innovators explored strategies for building a future-ready workforce. Credential Engine’s involvement highlighted our ongoing commitment to increasing transparency in credentials and skills and fostering cross-sector collaboration to support workforce and education alignment. Learn more about our work with FutureReady States here ([link removed]) .

Bridging Education and Work: How Credential Transparency Serves Learners and Employers ([link removed])
Virtual. November 19th. Credential Engine, along with our partners in Ohio, presented at a Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) webinar showcasing how open data standards, like the CTDL, unlocked new insights into skills, pathways, and workforce demands. Attendees learned how these innovations drove measurable ROI for learners, institutions, and employers while helping to build a more connected and future-ready talent ecosystem.

Open University of Japan International Symposium: Potential of Digital Badges ([link removed])
Tokyo, Japan. December 3rd. This year’s symposium will examine how digital badges enable learners to demonstrate their achievements and support more learner-centered education. The event will also explore the role of digital badges in reducing education disparities, ensuring the stackability of learning, and improving global portability. Credential Engine will present how credential transparency, enabled by CTDL, unlocks the potential of digital badges by transforming them from simple digital records into trusted, portable signals of value. CTDL strengthens local use, supports global connection, and ensures that every digital credential can be clearly understood, compared, and applied to learning and work. More information: English ([link removed]) and Japanese ([link removed]) .

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