The Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL) defines the following Credential subclasses for use in resource descriptions by the credentialing community. Where a specific subclass does not exist for the type of credential being described, the nearest parent class should be used. For example, a “Bachelor of Architecture” is neither a Bachelor of Science nor a Bachelor of Arts and so should be described as a Bachelor Degree.
Badge
Recognition designed to be displayed as a marker of accomplishment, activity, achievement, skill, interest, association, or identity.
Digital Badge: Badge offered in digital form.
Open Badge: Visual symbol containing verifiable claims in accordance with the Open Badges specification and delivered digitally.
Certificate
Credential which designates participation in, completion of, or demonstration of requisite knowledge and skills for a formal academic or training program, an occupation, or non-formal learning.
Distinct from degrees of higher education and typically non-renewable. For degrees of higher education use an appropriate type from the Degree hierarchy.
Academic Certificate
Credential awarded for successful completion of a formal education program, demonstrating requisite knowledge and skills.
Formal education programs include academic, career, technical programs with defined completion requirements and often require approvals by provincial or federal government.
Basic Technical Certificate
Credential awarded at a postsecondary level for successful completion of a formal education program that is completed within one semester, demonstrating competencies within a specific occupational area, indicating job readiness.
Typically equivalent to a United States IPEDS level 1a that specifies postsecondary certificates of less than 300 clock hours, or less than 9 semester or trimester credit hours, or less than 13 quarter credit hours.
General Education Level 1 Certificate
Credential award at a postsecondary level for successful completion of general education courses that cover a broad range of foundational academic skills and takes less than 1 year.
Can lead to a General Education Certificate Level 2 or a degree. Equivalent to a United States IPEDS Award Level 1b that specifies postsecondary certificates of 300-899 clock hours, or 9-29 semester or trimester credit hours, or 13-44 quarter credit hours.
If the competencies are related to a specific subject area or occupational area use the Technical Level 1 or use a Higher Education Certificate.
General Education Level 2 Certificate
Credential award at a postsecondary level for successful completion of general education courses that takes at least 1 year that cover a broad range of foundational academic skills and takes less than 2 years to complete.
Can lead to a degree. Equivalent to a United States IPEDS Award Level 2 that specifies postsecondary certificates of at least 900 but less than 1,800 clock hours, or at least 30 but less than 60 semester or trimester credit hours, or at least 45 but less than 90 quarter credit hours.
If the competencies are related to a specific subject area or occupational area use the Technical Level 2 or use a Higher Education Certificate.
Higher Education Level 1 Certificate
Credential awarded at the postsecondary level for successful completion of a formal higher education program that takes about one year in a specific subject.
Typically equivalent to 60 ECTS Credits at Level 5 in the European Qualifications Framework.
Higher Education Level 2 Certificate
Credential awarded at the postsecondary level for successful completion of a formal higher education program that takes about two years in a specific subject.
Typically equivalent to 120 ECTS Credits at Level 5 in the European Qualifications Framework and the Short Cycle in the Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
Credential award that requires completion of an organized program of study at a level beyond that of a bachelor’s degree, which is designed for persons who have completed a baccalaureate degree but does not meet the requirements of a master’s degree.
This may include certificates that are for specialties within an occupational field or occupational program of study. Equivalent to a United States IPEDS Award Level 6.
Post-Master Certificate
Credential award that requires completion of an organized program of study beyond that of a master’s degree, which is designed for persons who have completed a master’s degree but does not meet the requirements of a doctor’s degree.
This may include certificates that are for specialties within an occupational field or occupational program of study and can include post-doctoral first professional certificates such as healthcare and law. Equivalent to a United States IPEDS Award Level 7 or 17, 18, and 19.
Secondary Education Certificate
Credential for successful completion of a formal secondary-level education program that is less than a diploma and does not indicate completion of secondary education graduation requirements.
Use Diploma or General Education Development to indicate completion of secondary education graduation requirements.
Technical Level 1 Certificate
Credential award at a postsecondary level for successful completion of a formal education program that is more than one semester and less than 1 year, demonstrating competencies within a specific subject area or an occupational area indicating job readiness.
Can lead to a Technical Certificate Level 2 or a degree. Equivalent to a United States IPEDS Award Level 1b that specifies postsecondary certificates of 300-899 clock hours, or 9-29 semester or trimester credit hours, or 13-44 quarter credit hours.
Technical Level 2 Certificate
Credential award at a postsecondary level for successful completion of a formal education program that is at least 1 year but less than 2 years, demonstrating competencies within a specific subject area or in an occupational area indicating job readiness.
Can lead to a degree. Equivalent to a United States IPEDS Award Level 2 that specifies postsecondary certificates of at least 900 but less than 1,800 clock hours, or at least 30 but less than 60 semester or trimester credit hours, or at least 45 but less than 90 quarter credit hours.
Technical Level 3 Certificate
Credential award at a postsecondary level for successful completion of a formal education program that is at least 2 years but less than 4 years, demonstrating competencies within specific occupational areas indicating job readiness.
Can lead to a degree. Equivalent to a United States IPEDS Award Level 4 that specifies certificates of 1,800 or more clock hours, or 60 or more semester or trimester credit hours, or 90 or more quarter credit hours.
Certificate of Completion
Credential that acknowledges completion of an assignment, training or other activity.
A record of the activity may or may not exist, and the credential may or may not be designed as preparation for another resource such as a credential, assessment, or learning opportunity.
Certificate of Participation
Credential that acknowledges attendance and/or engagement in an activity.
These certificates do not imply completion, or mastery of specific skills, or that a grade has been awarded, but recognize the individual’s active participation with an activity. A record of the activity may or may not exist, and the credential may or may not be designed as preparation for another resource such as a credential, assessment, or learning opportunity.
Professional Certificate
Credential awarded for demonstrating competencies in a profession or particular occupational field, including job readiness.
These certificates validate competency in tasks, tools, software, or procedures within a particular industry and are often awarded by training centers, career and technical education, industry organizations, or businesses.
Proficiency Certificate
Credential awarded after assessment of skills in a specific area defined by a recognized body of experts, without regard for how the skills were learned.
Examples of specific areas include language, typing, music, and dance.
Work-Based Learning Certificate
Credential awarded for work-based learning and earn-and-learn models that meet standards and are applicable to industry, trades, occupations, and professions.
Work-based learning includes many types of skills training that are occupation specific including, but not limited to apprenticeships.
Apprentice Certificate
Credential awarded at the Apprentice level for successful completion of an apprenticeship program in industry trades and professions.
Journeyman Certificate
Credential awarded at the Journeyman level for successful completion of an apprenticeship program in industry trades and professions.
Master Trade Certificate
Credential awarded at the Master level for demonstration of the highest level of skills and performance in industry trades and professions.
Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate
Credential awarded to indicate readiness for an apprentice-level program.
Certification
Time-limited, revocable, renewable credential awarded by an authoritative body for demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform specific tasks or an occupation.
Certifications can typically be revoked if not renewed, for a violation of a code of ethics (if applicable) or proven incompetence after due process. Description of revocation criteria for a specific Certification should be defined using Revocation Profile.
Degree
Academic credential conferred upon completion of a program or course of study, typically over multiple years at a college or university.
Associate Degree
College/university award for students typically completing the first two years of full-time postsecondary school education.
Equivalent to an award at UNESCO ISCED 2011, Level 5, and United States IPEDS Award Level 3.
Use this class for types of Associate Degrees that are not covered by more specific subtypes.
Associate of Applied Arts Degree
College/university award for students typically completing two years of full-time postsecondary school education in a technical, professional, or vocational program with an emphasis on direct employment in the arts and social sciences fields.
Equivalent to an award at UNESCO ISCED 2011, Level 5, and United States IPEDS Award Level 3.
Use the name property to capture local variations on what this class covers.
Associate of Applied Science Degree
College/university award for students typically completing two years of full-time postsecondary school education in a technical, professional, or vocational program with an emphasis on direct employment in applied scientific and technological fields.
Equivalent to an award at UNESCO ISCED 2011, Level 5, and United States IPEDS Award Level 3.
Use the name property to capture local variations on what this class covers.
Associate of Arts Degree
College/university award for students typically completing the first two years of full-time postsecondary school education with an emphasis in the liberal arts and sciences such as the humanities and social science fields.
Equivalent to an award at UNESCO ISCED 2011, Level 5, and United States IPEDS Award Level 3.
Use the name property to capture local variations on what this class covers.
Associate of Science Degree
College/university award for students typically completing the first two years of full-time postsecondary school education with an emphasis in scientific and technical fields and professional fields of study.
Equivalent to an award at UNESCO ISCED 2011, Level 5, and United States IPEDS Award Level 3.
Use the name property to capture local variations on what this class covers.
Bachelor’s Degree
College/university award for students typically completing three to five years of education where course work and activities advance skills beyond those of the first one to two years of college/university study.
Equivalent to an award at UNESCO ISCED 2011, Level 6, and United States IPEDS Award Level 5.
Use for 5-year cooperative (work-study) programs. A cooperative plan provides for alternate class attendance and employment in business, industry, or government; thus, it allows students to combine actual work experience with their college studies. Also includes bachelor’s degrees in which the normal 4 years of work are completed in 3 years.
Bachelor of Arts Degree
College/university award for students typically completing three to five years of education where course work and activities advance skills beyond those of the first one to two years of college/university study, with an emphasis in the liberal arts and sciences such as the humanities and social science fields.
Equivalent to an award at UNESCO ISCED 2011, Level 6, and United States IPEDS Award Level 5.
Use the name property to capture local variations on what this class covers.
Bachelor of Science Degree
College/university award for students typically completing three to five years of education where course work and activities advance skills beyond those of the first one to two years of college/university study, with an emphasis in scientific and technical fields and professional fields of study.
Equivalent to an award at UNESCO ISCED 2011, Level 6, and United States IPEDS Award Level 5.
Use the name property to capture local variations on what this class covers.
Doctoral Degree
Highest credential award for students who have completed both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree or their equivalent as well as independent research and/or a significant project or paper.
Equivalent to UNESCO ISCED, Level 8 and United States IPEDS Award Levels 17, 18, and 19.
Use the name property to capture local variations on what this class covers.
Professional Doctorate
Doctoral degree conferred upon completion of a program providing the knowledge and skills for the recognition, credential, or license required for professional practice.
Equivalent to UNESCO ISCED, Level 8 and United States IPEDS Award Level 18.
Use the name property to capture local variations on what this class covers.
Research Doctorate
Doctoral degree conferred for advanced work beyond the master level, including the preparation and defense of a thesis or dissertation based on original research, or the planning and execution of an original project demonstrating substantial artistic or scholarly achievement.
Equivalent to UNESCO ISCED, Level 8 and United States IPEDS Award Level 17.
Use the name property to capture local variations on what this class covers.
Master’s Degree
Credential awarded for a graduate level course of study where course work and activities advance skills beyond those of the bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.
Equivalent to an award at UNESCO ISCED 2011, Level 7, and United States IPEDS Award Level 7.
Master of Arts Degree
Credential awarded for a graduate level course of study where course work and activities advance skills beyond those of the bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, with an emphasis in the liberal arts and sciences such as the humanities and social science fields.
Equivalent to an award at UNESCO ISCED 2011, Level 7, and United States IPEDS Award Level 7.
Use the name property to capture local variations on what this class covers.
Master of Science Degree
Credential awarded for a graduate level course of study where course work and activities advance skills beyond those of the bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, with an emphasis in scientific and technical fields and professional fields of study.
Equivalent to an award at UNESCO ISCED 2011, Level 7, and United States IPEDS Award Level 7.
Use the name property to capture local variations on what this class covers.
Specialist Degree
Credential awarded for a graduate level course of study where course work and activities advance skills beyond those of the master’s degree and less than a doctoral degree and provide specific preparation for advanced careers in a specialist field.
Equivalent to UNESCO ISCED, Level 8, and United States IPEDS Award Level 8.
Use the name property to capture local variations on what this class covers.
Diploma
Credential awarded by educational institutions for successful completion of a course of study or its equivalent.
General Education Development (GED)
Credential awarded by examination that demonstrates that an individual has acquired secondary school-level academic skills.
Equivalent to a secondary school diploma, based on passing a state- or province-selected examination such as GED, HiSET, or TASC; or to an award at UNESCO ISCED 2011 Levels 2 or 3.
Secondary School Diploma
Diploma awarded by secondary education institutions for successful completion of a secondary school program of study.
Equivalent to an award at UNESCO ISCED 2011 Levels 2 or 3.
License
Credential awarded by a government agency or other authorized organization that constitutes legal authority to do a specific job and/or utilize a specific item, system or infrastructure and are typically earned through some combination of degree or certificate attainment, certifications, assessments, work experience, and/or fees, and are time-limited and must be renewed periodically.
Micro-Credential
Credential that addresses a subset of field-specific knowledge, skills, or competencies; often developmental with relationships to other micro-credentials and field credentials.
Quality Assurance Credential
Credential assuring that an organization, program, or awarded credential meets prescribed requirements and may include development and administration of qualifying examinations.