The Power of a Common Language: Creating a Crystal Clear Map of the Credential and Skill Landscape

We envision a future where millions of people worldwide have access to clear information about credentials, qualifications, and skills, unlocking opportunities for learning, advancement, and meaningful careers.

Every year, millions of workers and learners struggle to make sense of the education and training landscape. With over one million credentials in the U.S. alone — degrees, certificates, apprenticeships, licenses, and more — it’s nearly impossible to tell which ones have real value. 

Workers want to know: Will this program get me hired? Employers ask: Does this credential provide the skills we need? 

There are no clear answers because these are buried in outdated systems, inconsistent descriptions, and disconnected data.

Without well-organized and easily accessible credential data — for humans and AI tools alike — people waste time and money on education and training that doesn’t lead to real job opportunities. Employers miss out on skilled talent. States and policymakers struggle to align education with workforce needs.

Building a Transparent Credential Marketplace

Transparency is more than a buzzword — it’s the foundation for a system where education and skills are clearly linked to opportunity. 

For learners, transparency means knowing which credentials have real value in the job market.

For employers, it means defining their skills requirements for open jobs in a way that makes it easier to find qualified talent.

For educators, it means describing programs in ways that connect directly to career pathways.

The Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL) provides the infrastructure to make all of these happen. Think of CTDL as a universal translator for credentials and skills, a common language that allows learners, employers, and education providers to communicate clearly.

When a cybersecurity training provider describes their certificate, or a community college outlines its advanced manufacturing program, CTDL ensures each credential’s skills and competencies are defined in common terms that all stakeholders can understand.

Scaling Impact Through Transparent Solutions

Credential transparency isn’t just an abstract concept. It’s being put into action across states, industries, and sectors:

• States like Indiana and New Jersey are building open credential registries, making it easier for job seekers to navigate their options.
• Workforce systems and training providers are adopting CTDL to align programs with in-demand skills.
• Employers are leveraging structured data to identify talent based on verified skills, not just degrees.

To keep this momentum going, we must scale our efforts and impact. At Credential Engine, we are doing this through a strategic focus on:

Advancing the use of CTDL: We work across education, workforce, industry, and government to encourage the adoption of CTDL-based solutions, empowering people globally to achieve real economic mobility.

Policy and advocacy: We ensure education and workforce systems adopt open, structured credential data for long-term impact.

Technology and data infrastructure: We build and support technologies and resources to make it easy for stakeholders to successfully integrate and use transparent credential data at scale.

The Future of Credential Transparency

This isn’t just about data – it’s about creating a future where:

• Workers can confidently choose programs that lead to real job opportunities.
• Employers can find and hire based on verified skills.
• Education providers can align training with industry needs.
• Policymakers can measure outcomes of the programs they fund and support.

Join us in making credential transparency a reality. Whether you’re an educator, employer, or workforce leader, your engagement helps create a more connected, accessible, and effective system.

Learn more about transparency and how CTDL can help you build better pathways to opportunity.