Webinar Series

Creating the Infrastructure Needed for Scalable Learning and Employment Records

June 29, 2022
Why do we care about LER’s?: 

Exploring State Efforts to Build 

Learning and Employment Records

Amanda Winters

National Governors Association

6/29/22
The National Governors Association

NGA Center for Best Practices

The NGA Center is the technical assistance and 

consultative arm of the organization. The Center 

helps state leaders develop and implement 

innovative solutions to public policy challenges.

About NGA

Founded in 1908, the National Governors 

Association is the voice of the nation’s 

governors. Our members are the governors of 

the 55 states, territories, and 

commonwealths. Though our members come 

from across the political spectrum, we’re 

boldly nonpartisan. 2
Exploring the “WHY” of skills/LER’s

What drew us to this topic? 

Lifelong Learning

Data Security/privacy

Shifting Credential Landscape

Cross-agency alignment efforts

Meeting industry needs/Connecting to employers/Skills gap

Understanding the burgeoning ed tech space

3
NGA 

Skills-Driven 

States

__________

4
● The Brookings Institution ● Business Roundtable ● Competency Based Education 

Network

● Credential Engine ● Digital Promise ● Goodwill ● National Association of Workforce 

Boards

● Markle Foundation ● US Chamber of Commerce 

Foundation

● The Society for Human Resource 

Management

National LER Advisory 

Council Leadership 

Board

5
“A learning and employment record is a digital record 

of learning and work that can be linked to an 

individual and combined with other digital records for 

use in pursuing educational and employment 

opportunities. An LER can document learning 

wherever it occurs, including at the workplace or 

through an education experience, credentialing, or 

military training. It can also include information about 

employment history and earnings.”

6
The solution

Technology is outpacing the policy

Need to Explore the WHY and not just the 

HOW?

Education/Workforce policy examples

Career pathways

Stackable credentials

Industry-recognized credentials

Non-degree credentials 

Technology-Related initiative examples

Supply/demand dashboards

Workforce/job boards

CTDL/Credential data

Stakeholder Engagement connections

Skills-based hiring

Wrap-around services 

Starting Point: 

Policy Connections

Taking a step back from 

Tech

States are further along 

than you might realize

7
Starting Point: Opportunities to Innovate

Badges, Certificates, Diplomas, Licenses, Micro-Credentials 

Credentials leading to state licensure

Stackable career pathways

Public and private education/training providers

Data Systems

Learners/workers

Supply/demand

Need/wage levels/outcomes

Interoperability

Technology

Security/privacy/governance

AI/Digital wallets

8
State Examples

Connecticut- Legislation Requires the workforce agency, in consultation with other agencies, to establish 

standards to designate certain credentials as "credentials of value". 

Maryland SB 317 (2017) directed the State Board of Education, Maryland Higher Education Commission,

and the Governor’s Workforce Development Board to develop statewide attainment goals for industry

recognized credentials.

Indiana SB 198 (2017) includes attainment of an industry recognized certification or credential as part of

the state’s definition of a workforce-related program.

The Tennessee Talent Exchange was launched by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce 

Development, Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association, Tennessee Retail Association, 

and Hospitality TN. This online portal matches out-of-work Tennesseans with employers that have job 

openings, with plans to connect to postsecondary education and in-demand credentials.

9
Equity opportunities

Can these shifts lead to more 

equitable outcomes?

What are the challenges here?

Access to Opportunity and Data

Pathways/Support

Connection to employers

10
Asset Mapping

○ Education/Workforce issues: ■ Ex: Career pathways, transfer 

pathways, licensure/certification, 

non-degree credentials

○ Technology-related issues: ■ Ex: Supply/demand dashboards, 

data sharing/MOU’s, blockchain, 

data interoperability 

○ Stakeholder engagement: ■ Ex: Employer connection, 

upskilling/reskilling, skills-based 

hiring, Wrap-around services 

11
We are still exploring

More questions for consideration:

What assumptions are we making as we launch 

this work?

How can current systems shift to focus on skills? 

How do we know that this is the right move?

12
Any questions?

13
Q & A 

14
www.credentialengine.org

Learning and Employment 

Records for Cybersecurity

We encourage reuse and remix of this resource with attribution

15
16
Discover Credential 

& Competency 

Pathways

Olivia Updated Digital 

Record with 

Evidence of Learning 

and Employment

Control When, 

Where, and Who to 

Share All or Part of 

Digital Record 

Discover Job Skill 

Requirements and 

Employer Preference 

Matches

Retain and Advance 

in Employment with 

Work-based Learning

Learner

Search and Compare

Credentials

Enroll and

Learn

Achieve

Skills

Collect Digital

Credentials

Share

Achievements

Match

Achievements

to Job Skills

Get a Job

Upskill and

Learn More

Learners are 

central to the 

ecosystem

Connecting 

credentials, skills, and 

jobs across lifelong 

learning and career 

opportunities

17
Disconnected learn and work records

U.S. Department of Education

18
Connected learn and work records

Education and 

Training

Workforce 

Demands

Credential, 

skill, and job 

transparency

Opportunities for people

Verifiable digital learning and employment records powered 

by the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL)

● Open

● Linked

● Trusted

● Accessible

● Useful

● Relevant 19
What are Learning and Employment Records (LERs)?

20
Global Open LER Standards

Standards support full transparency and interoperability of LERs:

W3C Verifiable Credentials and Wallets

• VCs for universal verification and delivery data

• VC wallets for collection and storage of LERs

Open Badges 3.0

• For content packaging of single records

Comprehensive Learner Records 2.0

• For content packaging of multiple records

Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL)

• For meaningful Linked Open Data so that LERs can be usefully 

understood and applied

21
Tags

Alignments to 

CTDL in the 

Credential 

Registry

Earning

Criteria

Open Badges: Meaningful Linked Open Data Inside

22
Stack proofs of your employment 

history, educational background, 

skills, and qualifications.

Claim digitally signed records from 

your work or college to build a 

verified career portfolio.

Organize all your career and 

education credentials. Store 

them privately.

Control who you share your 

records with.

Making it simple for people 

and organizations to 

exchange verifiable, trusted 

career credentials.

Velocity Network Foundation

Workforce 

(individuals) Relying

Parties 

(employers, 

educators 

receiving digital 

credentials)

Issuing

Parties 

(employers, 

educators 

issuing digital 

credentials)

23
Verifiable Credentials include 

alignments to CTDL in the 

Credential Registry, which 

hosts rich Linked Open Data 

about credentials, skills, and 

pathways.

People and systems need 

meaningful information to 

exchange in career 

credentials.

24
Credential Transparency 

Description Language (CTDL)

An open schema for 

transparent, meaningful 

information to build learn 

and work ecosystems. ● Credentials ● Knowledge, skills, and 

abilities

● Jobs and work roles ● Pathways ● and much more....

https://credreg.net 25

25
LERs connect to a world of Linked Open Data

Linked Open Data on 

the web for rich 

knowledge graphs that 

are human and 

machine readable

26
27
PlugFest

● Companies who develop solutions implementing a standard meet 

and check that their implementation is compatible with the 

implementation of another solution developer

○ Question: Can my credentials be portable across systems?

● Demonstration, not standards certification

● Interoperability, not integration

28
PlugFest 1, June 2022 - Hello, world! I am a VC Wallet!

● The wallet can display a verifiable credential

● Credential shows important data about the issuer, how credential 

was earned, etc.

● Minimum data requirements are met

PlugFest 2, November 2022 - ... and I can hold a variety of credentials

● Credentials issued by another credential provider in the 

same wallet

PlugFest 3, 2023 - ... and they can be shared by the user

● Credentials from multiple providers can be combined and 

shared 

● Export credentials to another wallet

29
LER Interoperability 

Principles and 

Classification

30
Draft Principles of Interoperability for LERs 

● Open Standards: Require use of open data standards in the creation, exchange, and use of LERs including the competency/skill and 

employment data. 

● Trust: Create a trusted environment for employers, individuals, and education providers for the collection, sharing and using of an individual’s 

competency/skill, credential, and employment data as currency in the talent marketplace. 

● Privacy and Security: Systems should protect privacy and security in all aspects of interoperability and the expectations of individuals about 

their privacy and security are respected. 

● Universal Access: Every learner/worker should have access to and control of a digital wallet to store, manage, and curate their LERs. Wallets

should use multiple open standards to support all kinds of LERs.

● Support Multiple Levels of Achievements: We must account for the range of learning and employment opportunities and support the 

capabilities of multiple systems to offer learning, validate skills, and produce LERs. Including accommodation of self assertions of 

competency/skill.

● Alignment: States, districts, federal agencies, employers, and others must be aligned in their support of the principles.

● Market Demand: The market, guided by public and private investment, should encourage innovation to meet evolving demands for 

interoperability. 

● Think globally, act locally: LERs and digital wallets must function in local, regional, state, national and global talent marketplaces.

31
Inclusive Design Principles 

for Learning and Employment Records

32

32
How can learner/workers use their own records? 

● Collect and curate records 

● Analyze strengths and gaps in skills

● Explore career opportunities

● Include records in a professional or social profile

● Apply for, enroll in, and complete education and training

● Apply for employment

● Manage career advancement and transition

Learning and Employment Records for Greater Equity

33

33
Power your LERs with global open standards connecting 

equitable learning and career pathways

Standards support full transparency and interoperability of LERs:

W3C Verifiable Credentials and Wallets

Open Badges 3.0

Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL)

1. Define requirements for information that makes LERs valuable.

2. Organize data about credentials, skills, jobs, and pathways from 

multiple sources. 

3. Map the data to CTDL and include CTDL in LERs issued to individuals.

4. Issue and receive credentials to/from VC wallets.

5. Provide equitable on-ramps and supports leading to opportunities.

6. Ensure people have control over collecting and sharing their own LERs. 34

34
For More Information

Scott Cheney

Executive Director

scheney@credentialengine.org

Jeanne Kitchens

Chief Technology Services Officer

jkitchens@credentialengine.org

Deb Everhart

Chief Strategy Officer

deverhart@credentialengine.org

Website: credentialengine.org

Email us: info@credentialengine.org

Technical Information: credreg.net

Credential Finder: credentialfinder.org

Find @CredEngine on Social Media 

35
Q & A 

36
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JuneNiceWebinar

37

Complete

Survey
Thank You for Joining Us!

Upcoming Webinar:

“Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile for Your Cybersecurity Career”

When: Wednesday, July 20, 2022, 2:00PM – 3:00PM ET

Register: https://go.usa.gov/xJFKt

nist.gov/nice/webinars

38