Credentialing for 2030: Skills, Credit, and Mobility

Across the country, colleges and workforce systems are rethinking how learning is recognized, so students can receive credit for the skills they gain through work, military service, apprenticeships, and industry certifications. By expanding Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), aligning credentials with industry demand, and improving credit mobility and the portability of learning records across institutions and employers, systems are creating faster, more affordable pathways into high-demand careers—particularly for working adults. Drawing on lessons from California’s large-scale credentialing reforms and from Ithaka's strategic research on student mobility, credit transfer, and outcomes, this session highlights practical strategies, emerging models, and policy enablers that other states and systems can adapt to improve equity, reduce time to completion, and strengthen economic mobility.