Industry Certification
An industry certification is a credential recognized by business and industry at the local, state or national level. Industry certificates measure competency and validate the knowledge base and skills that show mastery in a particular industry.
Earning an industry certification allows high school students to acquire and practice some of the most critical college and career-readiness skills, such as critical thinking, focusing, and the ability to prioritize. Ultimately, industry certifications can help students earn higher wages when they enter the workforce.
Gaining an industry certification signals to both potential employers and prospective colleges that this is a young person who is not afraid of challenges. That certification paper says, “Here is someone who is thinking ahead, who can set and achieve goals, who can bring initiative and commitment to the table.
- Industry Recognized Credentials are available in the following programs:
- Agriculture
- Business and Marketing
- Family and Consumer Science
- Health Science
- Skilled and Technical Science
State Approved IRC List 2023 - 2024
Below is the list of Industry Recognized Credentials (IRC) approved for the 2023 - 2024 school year. Please refer to the attached PDF for details of Program Area and links to sources approved by OSPI. Information can always be found on OSPI's CTE Resources Resources & Essentials page under Additional Resources.
Download detailed list in PDF format
Adobe Certified Associate Certifications (Various Certs)
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Academy Cloud Certifications (Various Certs)
American Design Drafting Assoc (ADDA) Certified Drafter
American Institute of Floral Design Certification
American Meat Science Association Culinary Meat Selection & Cookery Certification
American Meat Science Association Meat Evaluation Certification
American Meat Science Association Food Safety & Science Certification
American Sign Language (ASL): Level 1 Certifications (ASL-T, ASLPI)
American Welding Society Welding Certification (Various Certs)
A*S*K Institute Certification
Autodesk Certified Professional/User- AutoCAD (Various Certs)
Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certification (Various Certs)
BASF: Plant Science Certification
Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification
Biotechnician Asst Credentialing Exam (BACE)
Bloodborne Pathogens Certification
Boater’s License Certification (WA State)
Center for Financial Responsibility Personal Financial Literacy Certification
Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (NHA)
Certified Coding Associate (CCA) (AHIMA)
Certified Electrocardiograph Technician (CET) (NHA)
Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) (NHA)
Certified Erosion & Sediment Control Lead (CESCL) (WA Dept of Ecology)
Certified Irrigation Technician License (CIT)
Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (NHA)
Certified Medical Assistant (NHA)
Certified Nursing Aide/Assistant
Certified Personal Trainer
Certified SolidWorks Associate (CSWA)
Certiport Business: Communication Skills for Business, Entrepreneurship and Small Business
Certiport Information Technology Specialist: Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Data Analytics, Device Configuration and Management, Networking, Networking Security Certification, Software Developer
Child Development Associate (CDA): Council for Professional Recognition
CISCO Certified Network Associate (CCNA) (Various Certs)
Clinical Medical Assistant Certification (NHA)
Coding in Minecraft: JavaScript Certification
Coding in Minecraft: Python Certification
Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Certification (WA State DOL)
CompTIA A+ Certification
Core Plus Aerospace: Advanced Manufacturing, Foundational Certificate of Competency
Core Plus Construction: Foundational Certificate of Competency
Core Plus Maritime: Foundational Certificate of Competency
Cosmetology License (WA ST DOL)
Ducks Unlimited Ecology Conservation & Management Certification
Early Childhood Education Short Certification (WA ST DCYF)
Emergency Medical Technician: Basic
Equipment & Engine Technology Certification (EETC)
EVERFI Financial Literacy Certification
Express Employment Professionals Business Office Technology Certification
Express Employment Professionals Employability/21st Century Success Skills Career Prep Certification
FAA Aviation Maintenance Technician: General
FAA Private Pilot License
FANUC Robotics and Advanced Automation Manufacturing (Various Certs)
First Aid/CPR/AED
Flagger Certification (WA State DOT)
Food Worker Card (WA State DOH)
Forklift Operator Certification
Fundamentals of Animal Science Certification: Elanco
Google Workspace Certification (formerly G-Suite)
HIPPA Compliance Certification
Home Care Aide (HCA) (WA State DOH)
Intuit Certified Bookkeeper
Intuit Design for Delight Innovator Certification (Various Certs)
Javascript/Java Programming Certification (Various Certs)
JROTC: Leadership and Employability Skills Certification
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Mastercam Certificates (Various Certs)
Merchant Mariner Transportation Worker’s Identification Credential (TWIC) Card
Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) Certification (state-level TSA certification)
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)/Fundamentals (Various Certs)
MSSC Certified Logistics Technician (CLT)
National Center for Construction Ed and Research (NCCER): Welding, Construction, Maritime, Manufacturing
National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA): Dental Assist. National Board
National Health Sciences Certificate (NCHSE)
National Restaurant Assoc. (NRA): ProStart Certification
National Restaurant Assoc. (NRA): ServSafe Certification
National Retail Foundation Business of Retail: Operations & Profit
National Retail Foundation Retail Industry Fundamentals Certification
National Retail Foundation Warehouse, Inventory, & Logistics Certification
NCCCO Mobile Crane Operator or Rigger Certification
NCLCA Principles of Livestock Selection & Evaluation
NHJTCA Equine Management & Evaluation
Onshape Certified Associate
Oracle Certified Associate (OCA): JAVA SE 8 Programmer
OSHA 10/30 Hr. General Industry
Paraeducator Certification (Various Certs)
Pesticide Applicator License: Commercial/Private
Pharmacy Assistant Registered (WA State DOH)
PMI Project Management Ready Certification
Principles of Small Engine Technology Certification (EETC)
Python Coding Certification (Various Certs)
Registered Apprenticeship or Apprenticeship Preparation: L&I Approved or Registered/Recognized by WSATC
Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) (WA State DOH)
Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) Certified Industry 4.0 (Various Certs)
Southwest Airlines Professional Communications
ShopBot Tools Certification (Various Certs)
United Brotherhood of Carpenters Career Connection Certifications
Unity Certified User Programmer Certification (Various Certs)
U.S. Military: Airforce, Army, Marine Corps, Navy (Various Certs)
USITT- USITT State Level Backstage Technology Certification
Veterinary Medical Applications Certification (Elanco)
Wastewater Treatment Operation Certification (WA Dept. of Ecology)
WA STARS Child Care Basics Certification
WISHA 10 for Agriculture (L&I)
WordPress (Certified Developer, Certified Administrator, Elementor Specialist, WooCommerce Specialist)
YouScience Agriculture Certification: Agriculture Biology, Agricultural Science, Natural Resources Science, Plant & Soil Science, or Animal Science
YouScience Art Certifications: Commercial Art, Commercial Photography, Video Productions
YouScience Automotive Service Fundamentals Certification
YouScience Business Certifications: Business Office Specialist, Business Communications, Business Law, Business Web Page Design
YouScience Child Development Certification
YouScience Computer Science: Exploring Computer Science Certification
YouScience Construction Trades Foundations Certification
YouScience Culinary Arts Certification
You Science Digital Certifications: Digital Marketing, Digital Media
YouScience Early Childhood Education Certification
YouScience Exercise Science and Sports Medicine Certification
YouScience Finance Certifications: Adult Roles Financial Literacy, Business Mathematics, General Financial Literacy, Personal Financial Responsibility
YouScience Interior Design
YouScience Manufacturing Certifications: CAD Mechanical Design, Welding Technician, Woodworking Technician
YouScience Marketing Certifications: Advertising & Promotion, Marketing Fundamentals, Marketing
YouScience Medical Certifications: Dental Assistant, Medical Anatomy & Physiology, Medical Forensics, Medical Terminology
You Science Nutrition: Food & Nutrition, Nutrition & Wellness
YouScience Robotics Certification
YouScience Small Engine Repair Certification
