1. National Center for Education Statistics
New Federal Data on Certifications and Licenses: An Update for California Community Colleges
Sharon A. Boivin, Ph.D.
National Center for Education Statistics
February 3, 2017

2. Background
The need for better data on non-degree credentials for work became apparent during the recession
An interagency group had attempted to address this early in the 2000s, but the time wasn’t ripe
Non-degree credentials with labor market value include industry-recognized certifications, occupational licenses, and educational certificates
GEMEnA commissioned in fall 2009; declared victory and disbanded in fall 2016.
President’s State of the Union in 2009
This works falls between Labor and Ed
So the important thing to understand is that there are these two kinds of credentials and they are different things, but the names sound the same and it’s confusing. How do we help respondents know what we’re trying to get at?

3. GEMEnA Objective
Develop a parsimonious set of survey items to measure prevalence and key characteristics of non-degree credentials
Incorporate items into federal surveys of households and individuals

4. GEMEnA Member Organizations
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Chair
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Census Bureau
Council of Economic Advisors
Department of Education Office of the Under Secretary
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NSF)
OMB Office of Statistical and Science Policy

5. Development Process Experts helped define the constructs
Focus groups of potential respondents provided insight into relevant words/terms
Cognitive interviews helped refine question wording and instructions
Pilot studies tested items on large numbers of respondents

6. Main Certification/License Item
Based on focus groups and cognitive interviews and after examining the results of the 2010 pilot test, GEMEnA agreed that its newly-developed item on certifications and licenses was valid for measuring the prevalence of these credentials in the United States adult population.

7. Validated Item* on Certifications/Licenses
This is the validated item, as used on ATES.
Note two things: 1) we ask for CNs/licenses at the same time 2) examples change with context, e.g. NSCG
Our development work showed that respondents do not easily distinguish between certifications and licenses particularly when the certification is required for the license.
So we ask for both together.
*Shown as administered on the Adult Education and Training Survey (ATES), part of the National Household Education Survey (NHES) of 2016 sponsored by NCES and administered by the Census Bureau.

8. Provider Item
GEMEnA recommended that surveys include an item designed to distinguish between certifications and licenses. This item asks the respondent whether the credential was issued by a government agency.

9. Additional Items These vary by survey, but may include:
Whether the credential is required for his or her job
Field of certification or license
Whether it can be revoked or suspended
Year first issued
Perceived usefulness

10. Data Currently Available
Current Population Survey (beginning Feb. 2015)
2008 Survey of Program Participation (Wave 13 Topical Module)
2002/2012 Education Longitudinal Survey 10 year follow up of 10th grade class of 2002
2008/12 Baccalaureate and Beyond 4 year follow up of 2008 bachelor degree recipients
2012/14 Beginning Postsecondary Students 2 year follow up of 2012 first time students

11. Data Soon to Become Available (availability)
Re-engineered SIPP (early 2017)
National Survey of College Graduates (early 2017)
Adult Training and Education Survey (Fall 2017)—part of the National Household Education Survey
High School Longitudinal Study 2nd Follow Up (early 2018)

12. Current Population Survey
New measures on currently active certifications and licenses provide estimates of
prevalence of these credentials
labor market outcomes of credential holders
Data represent the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population aged 16 years and over
60,000 eligible households
Adding Questions on Certification and Licenses to the Current Population Survey (March 2016) (

13. CPS Items on Certifications/Licenses
Do you/Does [name] have a currently active professional certification or a state or industry license? Do not include business licenses, such as a liquor license or vending license. Help text: A professional certification or license shows you are qualified to perform a specific job. Examples include a realtor license, a teacher's license, or an IT certification. Only include certifications or licenses obtained by an individual.
Were any of your/his/her certifications or licenses issued by the federal, state, or local government?
Earlier you told me you/[name] had a currently active professional certification or a state or industry license. Is your/his/her certification or license required for your/his/her job?
Based on validated items, revised for the CPS environment. Second question basically asks, is at least one of these a license. Breadth versus depth.
Data on first two questions available now, data on last question available early in 2017.

14. How Prevalent are these Credentials?
Approximately 18% (17.8%) of adults held a currently active certification or license in 2015
Most credential holders reported having a license
87.8% of certification or license holders
15.6% of all adults
But CPS is biased towards licenses.
“Adults” refers to the civilian noninstitutionalized population 16 years and over.
A person may have more than one certification or license, and a person with a license may also have a certification.
A respondent was considered to have a license if they reported that any of their certifications or licenses had been required by a government agency.

15. In which Occupations are these Credentials Most Prevalent?
Certifications and licenses were most prevalent in…
Healthcare practice and tech 76.9%
Law 68.1%
Education, training, library 55.5%
Healthcare support 51.8%
Next most common: 40% of protective service and 39.7% of community and social services.

16. Are Credentials Associated with Wages?
Median weekly earnings of full-time workers were 34% higher with a credential
$1,004 for certification or license holders vs. $747 for others
This pattern holds for all demographics except men with an advanced degree

17. Adult Training and Education Survey (ATES)
Part of the National Household Education Survey (NHES)
Detailed information on up to 3 certifications or licenses
50,000 adults ages 16-65
Two-stage mail household survey
Data available early Fall 2017

18. Website: nces.ed.gov/surveys/gemena
List of surveys with links to questionnaires and data
Documentation on development process and published reports
GEMEnA-developed working definitions of certifications, licenses, and certificates
Go, get resources.

19. For More Information
Sharon A. Boivin, Ph.D. National Center for Education Statistics Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking (through 9/30/2017)