April 2018—CCO certification is featured prominently in a new online resource designed to allow job seekers and employers search and compare an increasing array of credentials, including degrees, certificates, licenses, certifications, badges, and apprenticeships. NCCCO was invited by its accrediting body, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), to participate in the pilot program of the new resource, known as Credential Engine (credentialengine.org).
Launched publicly in December after two years of development, Credential Engine collects and connects credentialing data such as competencies, quality assurance measures, and labor market information in a Web-based Registry that uses a common language to allow for credential comparability. All CCO certifications are listed in the Credential Registry, along with the associated competencies, assessments, and costs required for each.
Over the next year, Credential Engine will gather credentialing data on a larger scale, work with vendors to develop new applications to leverage that data, and launch international outreach efforts to eventually map the global credential landscape. Already, over 1,500 credentials from more than 170 organizations have been submitted to the Credential Registry. Credential Engine has a goal of 50,000 credentials by the end of 2018 and 100,000 by the close of 2019.