WNJB-ET 0152

PRINTED 4/8/02

This procedure established the definition of a “credential” for Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
performance measurement and sets out the process for approval of the same. The effective date
for implementation of these procedures is April 1, 2002. On or after April 1, 2002, the only
credentials recognized within the WIA system will be those complying with this procedure.
Customers enrolled in a credentialed program prior to April 1, 2002 will have that credential
counted toward WIA performance goals.

CREDENTIALS IN THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT SYSTEM

Introduction

With the passage of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993, commonly
referred to as the “Results Act,” Congress established a process to improve the strategic plans
and performance results of federal agencies. The Government Accounting Office’s (GAO)
website on GRPA describes the purpose of this Bill as follows:

The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 seeks to shift the focus of
government decision-making and accountability away from a preoccupation with
the activities that are undertaken -- such as grants dispensed or inspections made
-- to focus on the results of those activities, such as real gains in employability,
safety, responsiveness, or program quality. Under the Act, agencies are to
develop multi-year strategic plans, annual performance plans, and annual
performance reports.

To strengthen the goals of the GPRA, every subsequent Bill considered by Congress has
contained language that referred to the Act and also included language requiring specific
program accountability. The two major pieces of workforce legislation enacted in 1998 not only
included performance indicators but extended the concept of accountability to require continuous
improvement strategies for all grantees and sub-grantees.

The requirements of the GPRA have implications for developing a workforce credentials system
in New Jersey. The pieces of federal legislation directly relevant to this process are Title I and
Title II of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and
Technical Education Act of 1998. These Acts delineate the performance indicators or WIA Titles
I and II and Perkins. A review of the indicators shows considerable overlap among the three
programs. Since the intent of the WIA is to “consolidate, coordinate, and improve employment,
training, literacy and vocational rehabilitation programs,” it is incumbent on each state to
develop an integrated accountability system for its workforce development efforts. An essential
element of this integrated approach must be the adoption of a single set of definitions that will
enable policy makers to evaluate the effectiveness of programs provided to clients, regardless of
the particular program they were in.
In New Jersey, the State Employment and Training Commission (SETC) has overall
responsibility for a system of accountability at the state, local and service provider levels through
the establishment of real performance measures that are meaningful to both job seekers and
employers. The attainment of a “credential” is one of these measures. The SETC program is
outlined in The Strategic Five-year State Plan for New Jersey’s Workforce Investment System.

What is a Credential?

The performance indicators for the programs cited above, all include the term “credential” in
reference to the attainment of educational skills, education completion, or occupational skills.
Unfortunately, none of the three Acts defines the term “credential.” The U.S. Department of
Labor (USDOL) has issued an advisory document, dated March 14, 2000, that purports to define
“credential” as a:

Nationally recognized degree or certificate or state/locally recognized credential.

Credentials include, but are not limited to, a high school diploma, GED or other
recognized equivalents, postsecondary degrees/certificates, recognized skill
standards, and licensure or industry-recognized certificates. States should
include all State Education Agency recognized credentials. In addition, states
should work with local Workforce Investment Boards to encourage certificates to
recognize successful completion of the training services listed above that are
designed to equip individuals to enter or re-enter employment, retain
employment, or advance into better employment.

Unfortunately, the above “definition” goes beyond the traditional concept of a definition to
include advisory language. More importantly, this advisory statement ignores state statutes and
regulations that define and delegate the authority for educational and occupational credentials.
Under existing New Jersey law, the following Departments and agencies, at a minimum, have
authority to establish educational or technical credentials:

• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Banking and Insurance
• Casino Control Commission
• Commission on Higher Education
• Department of Community Affairs
• Department of Education
• Department of Environmental Protection
• Department of Health and Senior Services
• Department of Labor
• Department of Law and Public Safety
• Department of Personnel
• Sandy Hook Pilots Association
• Supreme Court of New Jersey
• Department of Treasury

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• Department of Transportation
• Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor

The suggestion from the USDOL that encourages local Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) to
develop their own local educational or occupational certificates is counter to State statute and
administrative code. New Jersey’s approach to implementing educational and occupational
credentials must be based on the legislated authority that has been given to the respective
departments of state government.

Education Credentials

In New Jersey, the authority for establishing education credentials rests with two entities: the
State Board of Education and the Commission on Higher Education. The State Board of
Education is responsible for “the general supervision and control of public education in the state,
except for higher education, and . . . shall formulate plans and make recommendations for the
unified, continuous and efficient development of public education, other than higher education,
of people of all ages within the state” (N.J.S.A. 18A: 4-10).

The Commission on Higher Education is responsible for “Statewide planning for higher
education including research on higher education issues and the development of a comprehensive
master plan, including, but not limited to, the establishment of new institutions, closure of
existing institutions, and consolidation of institutions” (N.J.S.A. 18A: 3B-14). According to
State statute (N.J.S.A. 18A: 3-15.3) an institution of higher education means “an in-state
institution licensed by the Commission on Higher Education or an out-of-state institution
licensed by the appropriate state agency and regionally accredited or seeking accreditation by the
appropriate accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Education or the
United States Department of Education.”

Therefore, in New Jersey, the Commission on Higher Education is solely responsible for
establishing the standards for higher education and approving institutions that may award an
academic degree. The State Board of Education is solely responsible for establishing the
standards and approving institutions that offer non-collegiate education. The State Board of
Education has established two credentials to indicate that an individual has completed the high
school level of education. These credentials are the state endorsed high school diploma, and the
tests of General Educational Development (GED).

The education credentials recognized by New Jersey’s Workforce Investment System will be:

1. A State Endorsed High School Diploma;

2. A GED Diploma;
3. College Degrees and Credit-based Certificates recognized by the New Jersey Commission on
Higher Education; or
4. Any literacy credential approved by the Department of Education.

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Literacy Credentials

To assess the pre-diploma status of individuals, the Department of Education (DOE) has adopted
the Educational Functioning Level Descriptors for the Adult Basic Education Levels developed
by the Division of Adult Education and Literacy of the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE).
These Levels establish a uniform standard for assessing the entry-level ability of clients and their
progress through the three Adult Basic Education (ABE) Levels. These three levels are:

• Beginning Basic Literacy

• Intermediate Basic Literacy
• Adult Secondary Education

The corresponding English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) Levels are:

• Beginning ESL
• Intermediate ESL
• Advanced ESL

Institutions providing ABE and ESL training may issue a Certificate of Mastery based upon
completion of each National Reporting System level of instruction.

Technical Credentials

A technical credential is defined as “a recognized skill standard, license, or industry-recognized

skill certificate.” National credentials are issued either by an agency of the federal or state
government or by an organization recognized by the USDOE. In New Jersey, the authority for
establishing or recognizing a technical credential is vested in a number of state agencies. Table 1
lists the state agencies that issue or regulate technical/professional credentials.

In addition, industries, industry trade associations, and sometimes even individual companies
develop technical credentials to serve their own workforce development, quality control, and
marketing purposes. Many industry-based technical credentials have gained national recognition
and acceptance. In some cases, an industry-based credential possesses more credibility among
employers than does a traditional academic degree in that same field.

The term “credential” as applied to the state’s Workforce Investment System is viewed as either
educational or technical. The authority for establishing education credentials has been assigned
to the DOE and the Commission on Higher Education. The process of certifying the attainment
of proficiency in a technical field is vested in a number of state agencies.

The state will have an integrated, coherent, non-duplicative workforce credentials system in
which educational credentials regulated by the State Board of Education and the Commission on
Higher Education complement technical credentials recognized by an appropriate State agency.
The State neither creates new credentials nor arbitrarily imposes technical competency standards
on students; rather, the skills marketplace, in the form of employer demand, will define

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occupational competency standards, establish corresponding technical credentials, and sustain
the integrity and credibility of those credentials once established.

The State’s role is to encourage and assist in the development of such industry-endorsed
credentials, whether developed by industry associations, public-private partnerships such as the
National Skills Standards Board, or by consortia such as VTECS (Vocational and Technical
Education Consortiums of States) and NOCTI (National Occupational and Career Testing
Institute), and to monitor their continuing validity. The result will be a Workforce Credentials
system that reflects the State’s constitutional commitment to a “thorough and efficient” system of
education and to its statutory mandate to serve “people of all ages.”

The technical credentials recognized by New Jersey’s Workforce Investment System are
technical proficiency credentials that have been accepted or established by the DOE. These will
include all occupational licenses authorized under existing or future New Jersey Administrative
Code (N.J.A.C) or statute. Industry-based organizations, WIBs and other education and training
related agencies might submit proposed credentials to the DOE for acceptance. The submission
will be in accordance with procedures published by the DOE. Requests for inclusion of
additional technical credentials must be submitted to the Director of Vocational Education, PO
Box 500, Trenton, NJ 08625. The successful completion of a Bureau of Apprenticeship/DOE
approved Registered Apprentice program shall be counted as a credential.

The DOE will be responsible for maintaining, updating, and disseminating the state list of
technical proficiency credentials that have been accepted or adopted by authorized State
agencies. The list will be published on the COEI Internet site at http://wnjpin.net/coei.

Credentials Review Board

The Department of Labor will establish a Technical Credential Review Board to oversee the
technical credentialing process for the Workforce Investment System. The Board shall include
the following members or their designated representative:

• The Staff Director of the Center for Occupational Employment Information

• The Chair of the Commission on Higher Education
• The State Director of Vocational Education
• The Commissioner of the Department of Labor
• The Executive Director of the State Employment and Training Commission
• A Workforce Investment Board Director as designated by the Commissioner of Labor
• A One-Stop Career Center Operator as designated by the Department of Labor

Should the DOE reject an application for approval of a new technical credential, the submitting
agency will have the right to appeal the decision to the Technical Credential Review Board. The
Board will establish procedures for the appeal process once it is constituted.

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 TABLE 1
LICENSED OCCUPATIONS

Casino Control Commission Rooming House Operator

Casino Employee Sub-code Official
Casino Key Employee Tax Collector
Casino Service Employee
Department of Education
Department of Agriculture Associate Educational Media Specialist
Milk Tester Director of Student Personnel Services
Educational Media Specialist
Department of Banking and Insurance Learning Disabilities Teacher
Home Repair Contractor Librarian
Home Repair Salesperson Reading Specialist
Insurance Producer School Business Administrator
Mortgage Banker and Broker School Nurse
Public Adjuster School Occupational Therapist
Real Estate Broker School Physical Therapist
Real Estate Instructor School Principal
Real Estate Salesperson School Psychologist
School Social Worker
Department of Community Affairs School Superintendent
Asbestos Employee School Supervisor
Asbestos Safety Technician Substance Awareness Coordinator
Boiler Operator - Black Seal Teacher
Building Inspector
Construction Official Department of Environmental Protection
County Finance Officer Chest Radiologic Technologist
County Purchasing Official Dental Radiologic Technologist
Crane Operator Nuclear Medical Technologist
Electrical Inspector Orthopedic Radiologic Technologist
Elevator Inspector Pesticide Applicator - Commercial
Fire Inspector Pesticide Applicator - Private
Fire Instructor Pesticide Dealer
Fire Official Pesticide Operator - Commercial
Fire Protection Inspector Podiatric Radiologic Technologist
Firefighter Pump Installer
Mechanical Inspector Radiation Therapy Technologist
Municipal Clerk Radiologic Technologist
Municipal Finance Officer Radon Measurement Specialist
Operating Engineer - Blue Seal Radon Measurement Technician
Operating Engineer - Gold Seal Radon Mitigation Specialist
Operating Engineer - Red Seal Radon Mitigation Technician
Plumbing Inspector Tree Expert
Public Works Manager Underground Storage Tank Servicer
Refrigeration Engineer - Blue Seal Urologic Radiologic Technologist

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Wastewater System Operator Electrical Contractor
Well Driller Electrologist
Electrologist Instructor
Department of Health and Senior Embalmer
Services Employment Agency Operator
Animal Control Officer Fire and Burglar Alarm Installer
Assisted Living Coordinator Funeral Director
Emergency Medical Technician Groom
Environmental Health Specialist Harness Race Driver
Landscape Irrigation Architect Harness Race Horse Trainer
Lead Abatement Worker Hearing Aid Dispenser
Lead Abatement Planner Home Inspector
Lead Inspector Homemaker - Home Health Aide
Medication Aide Investment Advisor
Nurse Aide Job Listing Agent
Nursing Home Administrator Jockey
Paramedic Laboratory Director
Personal Care Assistant Land Surveyor
Public Health Officer Landscape Architect
Licensed Practical Nurse
Department of Labor Locksmith
Blaster Manicurist
Marriage and Family Therapist
Department of Law and Public Safety Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapist
Acupuncturist Master Plumber
Advanced Practice Nurse Municipal Accountant
Alcohol and Drug Counselor Occupational Therapist
Architect Occupational Therapist Assistant
Associate Counselor Ophthalmic Dispenser
Athletic Trainer Ophthalmic Technician
Audiologist Optometrist
Barber Orthotist
Beautician Osteopath
Bio-analytical Laboratory Director Perfusionist
Boxer Pharmacist
Boxing Manager Physical Therapist
Career Counselor Physical Therapy Assistant
Cemetery Salesperson Physician
Certified Nurse-Midwife Physician Assistant
Certified Public Accountant Podiatrist
Chiropractor Private Investigator
Consultant/Outplacement Agent Professional Counselor
Cosmetologist-Hairstylist Professional Engineer
Cosmetology Instructor Professional Planner
Dental Hygienist Prosthetist
Dentist Psychoanalyst

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Psychologist
Public Accountant

Public Movers and Warehousemen

Real Estate Appraiser
Registered Dental Assistant
Registered Nurse
Rehabilitation Counselor
Respiratory Therapist
Scale and Meter Mechanic
School Accountant
Securities Agent
Shorthand Reporter
Skin Care Specialist
Social Worker
Speech Pathologist
Speech-language Specialist
Thoroughbred Racing Occupations
Thoroughbred Race Horse Owner
Veterinarian
Weighmaster

Department of Transportation
Bus Driver
Driving Instructor
Truck Driver

Department of Treasury
Public Safety Telecommunicator

Sandy Hook Pilots Association

Harbor Pilot

Supreme Court of New Jersey

Attorney

Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor

Longshoreman
Pier Superintendent
Port Watchman
Waterfront Checker
Waterfront Elect Hiring Sys Controller
Waterfront Hiring Agent