Credential Registry Guidance · Publishing
Add optional data to learning opportunities
Go beyond the required fields so people can see what a program or course teaches, what it costs, how long it takes, what credit it's worth, and what it leads to.
Before you dive in
You don't need to fill in all of these. Most organizations start with where it's offered and the recommended benchmark properties, then add the handful of other fields that answer the questions their learners and partners ask most. You can come back and add more at any time.
The sections below follow the property tabs in the Bulk Upload tool, so you can match what you read here to what you see on screen. Everything here applies to learning programs, courses, and other learning opportunities alike, unless it's marked for one type. In the manual editor, most of these fields show up in the sections that open once you've saved the record for the first time.
Two labels to watch for in the field lists:
- More than one allowed You can list several values, like several subjects or audiences.
- Links to a published record The field points to another record, like a competency framework or support service, so that record has to be in the Registry before you can link to it.
Optional shortcut
Ask an AI which fields matter for you
Paste this into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or whatever you already use. Edit the bracketed parts for your situation, then copy and send it.
If your AI can't open the link, it'll ask for the field list. The list covers every field on this page, including the ones tucked inside the collapsed sections, grouped the same way they're grouped here, with each field's meaning and notes (like "Links to a published record"). It's long, so if your AI's message box cuts it off, use Download field list and attach the file instead of pasting. Heads up: this list only covers learning opportunity fields. If your goal also touches credentials, assessments, or other record types, say so — a good AI will ask you for those fields separately rather than guess.
Double-check what it suggests before you act on it. Weigh the fields it recommends against what data you actually have on hand, how much time you have to gather more, and what matters most for your goal — treat the answer as a starting point, not a final list.
In the tool: Recommend At Least One of These Properties
Start here: where it's offered
Tell learners where to find it: online, at a list of locations, or at specific addresses. These are recommended rather than required, but at least one of them makes a record far more useful.
Fill in at least one of these for every learning opportunity.
Start with: Available Online At Availability Listing
See all 5 fields
| Field | What it means | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Available Online At | Direct URL where someone can start the learning online. | |
| Availability Listing | A URL listing the places or times it's offered. | |
| Available At | Physical address(es) where it's offered, referenced by Address ID. | More than one allowed Uses addresses already on file for your organization. |
| Available At Codes | Same as Available At, but referenced by your own external identifiers for those addresses. | More than one allowed |
| Available At Offered By Orgs | Pulls in every address on file for the listed offering organization(s). | More than one allowed Saves listing addresses one by one when a whole partner's locations apply. |
In the tool: Recommended Benchmark Properties
Recommended benchmark properties
These are the properties Credential Engine recommends for every learning opportunity. None are required, but together they cover what people look for most: what it teaches, what the experience looks like, and what credit it's worth.
Fill these in next, before anything else on this page.
Start with: Teaches Competencies Delivery Type Credit Unit Type Credit Unit Value
See all 9 recommended benchmark properties
| Field | What it means | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Teaches Competency Framework | A whole published competency framework that this learning opportunity teaches. | Links to a published record Use this or Teaches Competencies, not both. |
| Teaches Competencies | Specific competencies it teaches, from a published framework or collection. | More than one allowed Links to a published record The competencies must already be published in a framework or collection. See guidance on frameworks and collections. |
| Learning Method Type | How the learning is conducted, like lecture, laboratory, or work-based. | More than one allowed |
| Delivery Type | How it's delivered: in person, online only, blended, and so on. | More than one allowed |
| Delivery Type Description | More detail about how it's delivered. | |
| Credit Unit Type | The kind of credit it awards, like semester hours, clock hours, or continuing education units. | If your unit isn't listed, describe it in Credit Unit Type Description. |
| Credit Unit Value | The amount of credit awarded. For a range, this is the minimum. | |
| Credit Unit Max Value | The most credit awarded, when the amount varies. | Pairs with Credit Unit Value as the minimum. |
| Credit Unit Type Description | More detail about the type of credit. |
In the tool: Optional Properties
Optional properties
The largest tab, grouped here by what each set of fields helps people learn. Pick the groups that matter for your learning opportunities and skip the rest.
Help people find it
Fill these in if you want it to turn up in more searches and be matched to subjects and programs of study.
Start with: Keywords Subjects CIP List
See all 7 fields
| Field | What it means | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Keywords | Search terms (not whole sentences) that help people find it. | More than one allowed |
| Subjects | Educational subjects it covers. | More than one allowed |
| Instructional Program Type | The instructional program(s) it relates to, by name. | More than one allowed To use official codes instead, use CIP List. |
| CIP List | The same programs as Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes. | More than one allowed |
| SCED | The School Courses for the Exchange of Data code, a standard code for classifying courses. | Courses only. 5 to 14 characters. |
| In Catalog | A web page for a catalog or listing that includes it. | |
| Same As | Another web page with information about this same learning opportunity, like its listing on another site. | More than one allowed |
Who it's for and how long it takes
Fill these in if you want learners to be able to tell whether it fits their situation and schedule.
Start with: Estimated Duration Audience Type
See all 6 fields
| Field | What it means | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated Duration | How long it typically takes to complete. | |
| Estimated Duration Description | Free-text detail about the duration, like self-paced ranges. | Can be used on its own, without a number. |
| Audience Type | Specific groups it's meant for, such as veterans, current students, or job seekers. Leave it blank if it's for everyone. | More than one allowed Choose from a set list. See the Audience Type options. |
| Audience Level Type | The intended audience level, like beginner or postsecondary. Leave it blank if it's for all levels. | More than one allowed |
| Learning Method Description | A description of how the learning is conducted. | Pairs with Learning Method Type in the recommended properties. |
| Content Description | A description of the topics, concepts, theories, and practices it covers, like a list of what a course typically covers in a term. |
Jobs and industries it relates to
Fill these in if you want to connect the learning to the jobs and industries learners and employers search by.
Start with: Occupation Type Industry Type
See all 5 fields
| Field | What it means | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Occupation Type | Occupations it relates to, by name. | More than one allowed To use official codes instead, use O*NET List. |
| O*NET List | The same occupations, as O*NET codes. | More than one allowed |
| Industry Type | Industries it relates to, by name. | More than one allowed To use official codes instead, use NAICS List. |
| NAICS List | The same industries, as NAICS codes. | More than one allowed |
| Recognized For Industry | An industry that recognizes this learning opportunity. | More than one allowed Links to a published record |
What kind it is and when it's offered
Fill these in if it has a formal classification people or systems filter by, or it's only offered for a set period.
Start with: Is Non-Credit Date Effective
See all 6 fields
| Field | What it means | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Is Non-Credit | Marks it as non-credit. | |
| Is Registered Apprenticeship | Marks it as a Registered Apprenticeship. | |
| At Level | The stage or level it represents in a published progression model. | More than one allowed Links to a published record |
| Degree Concentration | A focused plan of study within a degree, like Aerospace Engineering within an Engineering degree. | More than one allowed For degree programs. |
| Date Effective | The first date it was offered. | |
| Expiration Date | The date it stops being offered. |
Who offers and oversees it
Fill these in if another organization delivers it, or it's accredited, approved, regulated, or recognized by an outside body.
Start with: Offered By Accredited By
See all 6 fields
| Field | What it means | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Offered By | The organization(s) that offer it, if different from, or in addition to, the owner. | More than one allowed Can point to a published organization, or just give its name and webpage. |
| Accredited By | The organization that accredits it. | Can point to a published organization, or just give its name and webpage. |
| Approved By | The organization that formally approves it. | Can point to a published organization, or just give its name and webpage. |
| Regulated By | The organization that regulates it. | Can point to a published organization, or just give its name and webpage. |
| Recognized By | The organization that recognizes it. | Can point to a published organization, or just give its name and webpage. |
| Object Of Action | An action taken on this learning opportunity, like accrediting, approving, recognizing, regulating, or offering it. | Links to a published record |
How it connects to other things
Fill these in to link it to the courses inside it, the credentials it leads to, and other related records.
Start with: Included Learning Opportunities Target Credentials
See all 9 fields
| Field | What it means | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Included Learning Opportunities | Courses or other learning opportunities that are part of this one, like the courses in a program. | More than one allowed |
| Prerequisites | Courses someone has to complete before starting this course. | More than one allowed Courses only. For a program's entry requirements, use a Condition Profile instead. |
| Target Credentials | Credentials this learning opportunity connects to. They can be your own or another organization's, like an industry certification. | More than one allowed Links to a published record Not in the Registry yet? Use a Connection Profile instead; its Target Credential can just name it. |
| Target Credential Relationship | How it connects to the target credential: Is Preparation For, Requires, or Recommends. | Left blank, it's set to Requires. Requires means the credential requires this learning opportunity, like a degree that requires this course. Is Preparation For means this prepares people for the credential. Recommends means the credential recommends it. |
| Results In Credential | A credential someone earns by completing this learning opportunity. | |
| Has Support Service | Support services available to people taking it. | More than one allowed Links to a published record |
| Receives Transfer Value From | A transfer value this learning opportunity receives credit from. | More than one allowed Links to a published record |
| Provides Transfer Value For | A transfer value this learning opportunity provides credit toward. | More than one allowed Links to a published record |
| Has Rubric | A published rubric used to evaluate learners. | Links to a published record |
Identifiers and versions
Fill these in if you track codes or versions for your programs and courses.
Start with: Coded Notation
See all 3 fields
| Field | What it means | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Coded Notation | Your code for it, like a course code (BIO 101) or program code. | |
| Identifier | An ID for it from another system or scheme, like a state course code. | More than one allowed |
| Version Identifier | An ID for this version, like a catalog year. | More than one allowed |
In the tool: Condition Profile Properties
Requirements and recommendations
A condition profile describes what someone needs to enroll in or complete the learning opportunity: other courses, credentials, experience, credits, and so on. A learning opportunity can have more than one, for example one for what's required and another for what's recommended. Each one needs a Condition Type.
Fill these in if enrolling or completing involves specific steps or prerequisites learners need to plan around.
Start with: Condition Type Description Target Learning Opportunity
See all fields
| Field | What it means | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Condition Type | What kind of condition this is: Requires, Recommends, Renewal, Corequisite (taken at the same time), or Co-Prerequisite (completed before or at the same time). | |
| Name, Description, Subject Webpage | A label for the condition, a plain-language explanation, and a web page with details. | |
| Target Credential, Target Assessment, Target Learning Opportunity | Credentials, assessments, or other courses and programs someone must complete, like a degree required before a master's program. | More than one allowed Can point to a published record, or just name one. |
| Target Occupation, Target Job | Occupations or jobs tied to the condition. Target Occupation is a general occupation, like Computer User Support Specialist; Target Job is a specific job, like a role at a particular employer. | More than one allowed Can point to a published record, or just name one. |
| Required Competency Framework, Target Competencies | Competencies someone must already have: a whole framework, or specific competencies from one. Use one or the other, not both. | More than one allowed Links to a published record |
| Simple Target Competency | Competencies described in plain text, when they aren't published as part of a framework. | More than one allowed |
| Condition Items | Other requirements in plain language, like a background check or English proficiency. | More than one allowed |
| Submission Of Items, Submission Of Description | What someone must submit, like transcripts, as links or a description. | More than one allowed |
| Experience, Years Of Experience | The kind and amount of work or other experience required. | |
| Credit Value, Credit Unit Type Description | The number and type of credits required, including a minimum and maximum if there's a range. | |
| Audience Type, Audience Level Type | Who this set of conditions applies to, when requirements differ by group. | More than one allowed Audience Type uses the same set list as the Audience Type field above. |
| Alternative Condition | Two or more alternative paths, any one of which meets this condition. | More than one allowed |
| Asserted By | The organization stating this condition. | Links to a published record Only needed if it's not the organization that owns the learning opportunity. |
| Affiliation | An organization someone must be formally connected to through work, study, or membership. | Links to a published record |
| Condition Excludes | Something that does not count toward meeting this condition. |
In the tool: Financial Assistance Properties
Financial assistance
Describe scholarships, grants, loans, or benefits that can help someone pay for it. Each one needs a name, plus a description or a web page.
Fill these in if learners can get help paying for it.
Start with: Name Type Value
See all fields
| Field | What it means | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Name, Description, Subject Webpage | What the assistance is called, plus a description or a web page with details (at least one of the two). | |
| Type | The kind of assistance, like a Pell Grant, WIOA funding, a GI Bill benefit, a scholarship, or a loan. | More than one allowed |
| For Type | What the assistance can be used for, like tuition or application fees. | More than one allowed |
| Value | The amount of assistance or a range, with its currency. Can be just a description instead. |
In the tool: Cost Properties
Costs
Describe what it costs, when those costs are specific to this learning opportunity. For costs your organization applies to many records, see Common Costs above.
Fill these in if you want learners to see the cost before they commit.
Start with: Types List Currency Type Details
See all fields
| Field | What it means | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Types List | Each kind of cost with its price, like tuition and a lab fee. | More than one allowed |
| Currency Type | The currency the prices are in. | |
| Details | A web page with full cost details. | |
| Description | A plain-language summary of the costs. | |
| Residency Type | Whether the costs depend on residency: in-state, out-of-state, local, regional, or international. | Applies to every cost in the profile. |
| Audience Type | Who the costs apply to, when costs differ by group. | Applies to every cost in the profile. Uses the same set list as the Audience Type field above. |
| Condition Items | Conditions for the costs, in plain language. | More than one allowed |
In the tool: Connection Properties
What it leads to and builds on
A connection profile describes how this learning opportunity relates to others: what it prepares someone for, what it gives advanced standing toward, or what it's required for. Each one needs a Connection Type and a description. For a quick link to a credential, Target Credentials (above) may be all you need; use a connection profile when you want to explain the relationship or say what credit it carries.
Fill these in if it's part of a pathway, or counts toward something else.
Start with: Connection Type Description Target Credential
See all fields
| Field | What it means | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Connection Type | The relationship: Is Preparation For, Preparation From, Advanced Standing For, Advanced Standing From, Is Required For, Is Recommended For, Corequisite, or Co-Prerequisite. | |
| Name, Description | A label and plain-language explanation of the connection. The description is required. | |
| Target Credential, Target Assessment, Target Learning Opportunity | The credential, assessment, or course or program on the other end of the connection. | More than one allowed Can point to a published record, or just name one. |
| Target Occupation, Target Job | An occupation or job on the other end of the connection. Target Occupation is a general occupation, like Computer User Support Specialist; Target Job is a specific job, like a role at a particular employer. | More than one allowed Can point to a published record, or just name one. |
| Condition Items | Conditions for the connection, in plain language. | More than one allowed |
| Credit Unit Type, Credit Unit Value, Credit Value Description | Credit awarded through the connection, for example credit granted toward a degree. |
Not sure which fields fit your learning opportunities? Email the Publishing team at publishing@credentialengine.org.