Participation in the process of updating the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL) is vital to ensuring its global utility. Thanks to the input and collaboration of the community, the new CTDL Credential Types terms have now been implemented and are fully documented in the updated CTDL Handbook.
Enabling Global Credential Transparency
Across countries and regions, credential and qualification types are defined, regulated, and recognized in distinct ways. These distinctions often carry legal, policy, and quality assurance significance, determining who is authorized to offer a credential, what is required to earn it, how it is validated, and how it is recognized within and across education, employment, and qualification systems.
Within CTDL, credentials awarded to individuals are represented through two key constructs:
- Credential Classes describe broad categories of credentials, such as Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates, and Badges, that are awarded by many different types of organizations around the world.
- Credential Types provide more specific descriptions of credentials as formally defined by public authorities within national or regional qualification systems. Credential Types reflect how credentials are regulated and recognized in specific contexts and capture distinctions important for transparency, quality assurance, and recognition across systems and borders.
How CTDL was Expanded
This enhancement builds on the work of the Qualifications Frameworks as Data Global Task Group and was further refined through an international Credential Types Focus Group and a public webinar in May 2025. These collaborative efforts ensured that the new terms address real-world needs, reflect global use cases, and support interoperability across diverse education and workforce systems.
What Has Been Implemented
CTDL now includes a new CredentialType class, supporting properties, and updated guidance in the CTDL Handbook. These additions make it possible to represent credential and qualification types as defined in national and regional systems—advancing global transparency, comparability, and mobility.
Current Status and What’s Next
- The CredentialType class and supporting terms are now live in CTDL.
- The CTDL Handbook has been updated with new definitions and examples.
- The Credential Registry publishing system is being updated to enable publishing of Credential Types.
- Once publishing is enabled, Credential Type data will also be accessible for consumption through the Registry.
- Additional outreach and guidance will follow to support adoption and alignment with global partners.
Resources
- CTDL Handbook: Credential Section
- CredentialType in CTDL Terms
- Summary of the Credential Types Focus Group and Public Webinar
- Credential Type Focus Group Archive
- CTDL Handbook: Qualifications Frameworks Section
- Qualifications Frameworks as Data Global Task Group Archive
If you have questions or would like to discuss implementation support, please contact us at info@credentialengine.org.