Technical Skills Attainment & Industry Recognized Credential

Industry Recognized Credential (IRC) and Stackable Credential Applications

The window for submitting an IRC or Stackable Credential application is open from March 1 through May 31.

The IRC application is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RequestforIRC2021.

  • An IRC is defined as a portable, recognized credential that validates an individual has successfully demonstrated skill competencies in a core set of content and performance standards in a specific set of work-related tasks, single occupational area, or a cluster of related occupational areas. A student does not have to be a concentrator to take an IRC.

The stackable credential application is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/stackablecredentials2021.

  • Beginning in school year 2020-2021,students earning two stackable credentials in a program area will have the same effect on a district's Perkins V reporting as earning an IRC.
  • A stackable credential is defined as a series of aligned, recognized, preferred, and/or required credentials (stackable) within an industry or sector that support an individual’s ability to obtain related, career employment.
  • Examples of a stackable credential might include Basic Life Support (BLS), OSHA 10, ServSafe®, Forklift Operator or Commercial Driver's License (CDL). These credentials alone do not indicate concentration in a CTE program, but two or more of these types of credentials indicate the student has earned preferred credentials.

Guidance for Selecting IRCs and TSAs

New IRC and TSA Guidance (Updated 9/14/2021) This guidance document provides the list of approved IRCs, TSAs, and stackable credentials.

Career Clusters

The National Career Clusters® Framework provides an organizational structure for framing CTE programs through well-developed programs of study. There are 16 Career Clusters and 79 Career Pathways in the National Career Clusters® Framework. The Career Clusters include:

  • Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
  • Architecture & Construction
  • Arts, A/V Technology & Communications
  • Business Management & Administration
  • Education & Training
  • Finance
  • Government & Public Administration
  • Health Science
  • Hospitality & Tourism
  • Human Services
  • Information Technology
  • Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security
  • Manufacturing
  • Marketing
  • Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
  • Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

More information can be found on the National Career Clusters® Framework website.