Ohioans can receive academic credit for credentials, experience

As an adult student, working more than 30 hours each week while taking 15 semester hours of coursework at Lorain County Community College (LCCC), Robert Tennent was finding it challenging to balance work, school, and life. But a credit for credentials initiative through the Ohio Department of Higher Education, supported by the DeWine-Husted administration, has made things easier for him.

Industry-Recognized Credential Transfer Assurance Guides – or ITAGs – are a way to award academic credit for already-earned credentials. This relatively new option impacts a broad range of high-demand career fields, including business technology, engineering and manufacturing, healthcare, information technology and cybersecurity, and transportation, with more to come. To learn more about qualifying credentials, visit transfercredit.ohio.gov/edu.

Tennent was able to apply Microsoft certifications that he earned in the IT field, which aligned with ITAGs, for academic credit toward a degree. He studied for and completed the certifications on his own.

“Being able to have those certifications count for college credit saved me time and money,” Tennent said. “And having this credit recognized is a great feeling for me. I thank Lorain County Community College for participating in the ITAG credit-for-credentials work.”

LCCC President Marcia J. Ballinger, Ph.D., said implementing ITAGS is a way to meet students where they are in their academic journey.

“LCCC is committed to helping students reach their goals quickly and affordably,” President Ballinger said. “ITAGs allow students to earn credit for what they already know, providing a pathway to educational attainment and career advancement.”

Tennent jump-started his collegiate program by receiving credit for prior learning. He is one of many students to be awarded credit for credentials from their occupation and work experience. To earn this type of credit, students need to provide proof of earning a qualifying credential to the admissions office at their intended public community college or university, much like submitting a transcript from another institution to receive credit. The credential must be current to qualify for credit. Students should consult with the organization that awarded their credential to ensure that it is still valid.

Earning industry-recognized credentials is not the only method for receiving credit for prior learning. Ohio’s public colleges and universities award credit to service members and veterans for training received in the military. Credentials earned through Ohio Career Technical Center programs also can lead to college credit. In addition, colleges assess and award credit for experience gained through employment that aligns with college courses.

According to the National Student Clearinghouse, more than 86,000 Ohioans are designated as “likely completers” if they re-enroll in academic programs. Receiving credit for knowledge gained through work experience can be the link between a job and returning to receive a college degree.

Along with building Ohio’s 21st-century workforce, earning a college degree can provide a significant increase to a person’s future income. According to Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, median lifetime earnings increase with higher degree attainment.

Ohio is seeking to develop a more credentialed and competitive workforce. The Ohio Bureau of Labor Market Information expects that between 2020 and 2030, 55% of job growth in Ohio will be in occupations requiring a postsecondary credential, with 42% in occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Additional information on eligibility for the grant programs may be obtained from a college or university advisor.

The Ohio Department of Higher Education’s Guaranteed Transfer Pathways are designed for individuals with a certificate or industry-recognized credential to earn an associate degree, as well as for individuals with an associate degree to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Ohio’s transfer credit initiatives support students as they work to attain licenses, certificates, or degrees. The Ohio Department of Higher Education has created a Credit Transfer Tool to assist students in understanding how previous coursework, career-technical credit, military credit, credit-by-exams, and credentials can transfer to Ohio’s public colleges and universities.

Numerous statewide programs are available to encourage employees to upskill their credentials, including:

• Second Chance Grant Program
  Provides scholarships to students who have been out of college for a year or more.

• Talent Ready Grant Program
  Provides funding for short-term certificates at an Ohio community college, an Ohio Technical Center, or a state university branch campus.

• Work Ready Grant Program
  Provides funding to Ohio residents who demonstrate the highest levels of financial need enrolled in a qualified program at an Ohio community college, an Ohio Technical Center, or a state university branch campus.

• TechCred
  Reimburses employers for employees earning technical certificates.

• Individual Microcredential Assistance Program (IMAP)
  Reimburses training providers for eligible Ohio residents earning approved microcredentials.