On November 9, 2022, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education Deputy Secretary  Dr. Jeffrey Fuller, Deputy Secretary released a PennLink message to all LEAs titled New School Code Requirement: Industry-Recognized Credentials on High School Transcripts.  According to the message,  “[N]o later than the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, an industry-recognized credential attained by a student must be included on the student’s transcript. This requirement was added to Section 121 of the Public School Code by Act 55 of 2022. Section 121 defines an industry-recognized credential as any credential identified in the industry credential resource book or in the industry-based learning guidelines compiled by the Department of Education.”

As such, transcripts must include credentials identified in the Industry-Recognized Credentials for Career and Technical Education Programs Resource Guide and those that meet the minimum non-technical requirements for an industry-recognized credential as found in the Guidance for Identifying and Reporting Industry Credentials for Non-CTE Students. These criteria apply to any student who earns an industry-recognized credential, regardless of whether the student is enrolled in a career and technical education program. 

The student transcript must include the name of the industry-recognized credential, the credential provider and the date earned (e.g., Certified Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting National Board, May 15, 2022.)

Questions about the Industry-Recognized Credentials for Career and Technical Education Programs Resource Guide should be directed to Beth Marshall at [email protected].

Questions about the Guidance for Identifying and Reporting Industry Credentials for Non-CTE Students should be directed to Laura Fridirici at [email protected].

Questions about industry-recognized credentials and Act 158 statewide graduation requirements should be directed to [email protected].