Narrative: III. a. 2. F.

West Virginia is improving access to post-secondary credentials through a variety of initiatives aimed at expanding opportunities and reducing barriers for individuals seeking further education and training. 

Credential Alignment

The state is working to identify and align credentials with career pathways for high growth sectors and key industries. This ensures that credentials earned by individuals are relevant to current workforce needs and provide pathways to meaningful employment.  Newly introduced programs highlighting credential alignment include the West Virginia Nursing Workforce Expansion Program, Tourism Works, and Learn & Earn.   

The state promotes the attainment of postsecondary credentials through multiple programs and initiatives. Examples include:

• All training providers are required to describe the credential(s) to be earned. All Perkins V postsecondary recipients report on credential, certificate, or degree earned as part of their required accountability measures.
• Business and industry partners encourage training that results in a postsecondary credential by making credentials a required outcome measure for all proposals, requiring them to identify credentials/certifications to be obtained.
• DRS analyzes labor market demand and model service delivery systems to identify opportunities for industry-recognized certificates that lead to increased and improved employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
• Education programs, including secondary and postsecondary Perkins V and adult basic education, provide professional development opportunities to help providers understand and navigate the full credentialing spectrum and develop expertise in occupational counseling.

All postsecondary institutions with Perkins V funding have advanced credit offerings aligned with at least one approved CTE program of study and offer additional advanced credit opportunities. Students can earn between two and 22 college credits for their secondary technical coursework before high school graduation as permitted in the specific CTE approved program of study and the Perkins V Statewide Articulation Agreement.

Micro-Credentials and Badging Programs

Adult Education is exploring the use of micro-credentials, particularly for individuals with barriers to employment, to allow for the attainment of skills in shorter segments that lead to an industry-recognized credential to demonstrate skill competency to potential employers. In addition, students enrolled in WVDE-approved CTE programs can earn badges. Badges are earned when a student meets or exceeds the workforce entry score for the state identified program of study technical assessment. A digital badge is an electronic indicator of one’s skills, performance, and achievement. Badging programs and micro-credentials can provide stackable learning paths to promote expanded training portfolios to match specialized industry positions. WVCTCs and higher education institutions are providing access to multiple micro-credential options and allowing for skills exchanges for individuals.  

Articulation Agreements

In accordance with the Strengthening Career and Technical Education Act for the 21^st Century (Perkins V), West Virginia requires postsecondary institutions receiving Perkins V funding, including the CTCs, to articulate with secondary schools that offer WVDE-approved CTE programs of study. These articulation agreements allow qualified students enrolled in approved career and technical programs of study to receive college credit toward a diploma, certificate, or degree in a similar program at a postsecondary institution. These programs serve as a seamless pathway from secondary to postsecondary education and ensure students transition from one level to another without delays or duplication of learning.

Financial Support

The state provides financial aid programs, scholarships, and grants to help individuals afford post-secondary education and training. These financial resources help reduce financial barriers and make it easier for individuals to pursue and complete credentialing programs.  Programs providing even more financial support include Promise Scholarship, Learn & Earn, Rapid Response Advance Grant, and West Virginia Inviests.   

In 2023, The West Virginia Legislature Gov. Jim Justice established West Virginia’s first statewide dual enrollment program to allow more students to take college courses in high school. West Virginia’s higher education system is developing a four-year pilot program to begin in fall 2024, supporting up to an estimated 10,000 students per year. Through this program, high school students can enroll at West Virginia’s public CTCs and four-year institutions to take courses in certain designated career pathways—such as health care, information technology, advanced manufacturing, construction, engineering, education, and agriculture—that meet workforce needs identified by the West Virginia Department of Commerce. The state’s Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System will administer this program, adding to the more than $100 million in state-sponsored financial aid offered each year through the West Virginia Invests program, the state’s tuition-free community college program, the merit-based Promise Scholarship, and the needs-based Higher Education Grant Program, among others.

WorkForce West Virginia recognized the need to establish a new Apprenticeship unit to help coordinate and promote not only current registered apprenticeship programs but to encourage and assist in the development of new registered apprenticeship programs.  A new Director of Apprenticeships was hired in December 2023 to begin building the unit and to establish partnerships with various entities. The agency has already been working closely with the Office of Registered Apprenticeships, other State agencies such as WV Department of Education, Department of Economic Development and Division of Rehabilitation Services, Trades organizations and individual employers.  The focus has been to coordinate efforts in increasing not only the amount of registered apprenticeships statewide but the amount of job seeker awareness leading to potential enrollment in registered apprenticeships.  There are a significant number of 18-24 year olds graduating high school without any clear direction. Emphasis will be placed on collaborating with various partners to promote registered apprenticeships to West Virginia’s youth.

Further identifying West Virginia’s commitment to advancing Registered Apprenticeships, the West Virginia Legislature passed HB5162 in 2024 solidifying a Youth Apprenticeship Program.  The program allows students to enroll in apprenticeship programs, receive secondary credit, and receive necessary credentials for the apprenticeship while earning credits towards their high school diploma.  A pilot for the program will be implemented during the 2024-2025 school year with a comprehensive apprenticeship program for all school systems beginning the 2025-2026 school year.  

By implementing these initiatives, West Virginia ensures that individuals have increased access to post-secondary credentials that are aligned with workforce needs, relevant to career pathways, and accessible to all residents across the state