Montana to Launch Statewide Credential and Skills Registry to Strengthen the Connection Between Education and Workforce

A new statewide credential registry will make Montana's educational credentials, skills, and career pathways more transparent and accessible to students, workers, and employers across the state. Facilitated by Accelerate Montana through their SkillsFWD grant funding, in partnership with Credential Engine, this initiative invites Montana University System two-year colleges and Tribal colleges to join a pilot program creating a digital system serving Montana's workforce needs.

The Montana Credential Registry will be a centralized platform that powers user-friendly, online tools where Montanans can explore and understand the full spectrum of educational and professional credentials available in the state, including degrees, non-credit programs, and short-term training opportunities. 

“This pilot credential registry will help Montanan’s better understand the variety of rapid training available through their colleges and universities and see how those programs connect to real job opportunities in Montana’s workforce.”, said Interim Deputy Commissioner of Higher Education Joseph Thiel. “It will both help us test modern tools to communicate the skills and jobs these programs are designed for and rigorously measure how they pay off for students and the state.”

The Montana Credential Registry will catalog non-degree programs through the Validated Skills Training initiative, bringing previously unmapped educational pathways into public view. Accelerate Montana will coordinate with educational institutions to populate the registry with detailed program information, connecting with employment outcomes, wage data, completion rates, skill alignments, industry validations, and career pathways. Additionally, the Montana University System's Year to Career initiative will publish its micro-pathways to the registry, adding to a comprehensive view of educational opportunities directly serving workforce needs.

“We are excited to be part of this important workforce education initiative. Montana has rebranded noncredit training to elevate its importance in workforce development programs. Validated Skills Training based on a 21^st century credentialing system will benefit Montana citizens and employers.” stated Missoula College Dean, Tom Gallagher.

The Montana Credential Registry will transform basic credential listings into actionable information by integrating detailed job skills and labor market data. Learners can discover which credentials exist, where to obtain them, and how they stack together to create career advancement opportunities. Employers will gain access to useful skills data and clear information about credential value.

“As Montana rapidly expands its advanced manufacturing and technology sectors, workforce development must keep pace. Innovative workforce solutions such as the Montana Credential Registry will not only enhance access to skill-based training but will also strengthen the alignment between industry needs and educational programs, ensuring that businesses can obtain the talent they require to innovate and grow at all levels,” comments Jason Yager, Executive Director, Montana Photonics & Quantum Alliance. “We take pride in collaborating with Accelerate Montana, an innovation leader, to help build tomorrow's workforce.” 

By partnering with Credential Engine, Montana will utilize leading-edge technologies to uplift the state's registry by pulling in data from the Credential Registry. Credential Engine, a non-profit focused on mapping the credentials and skills landscape, is spearheading a nationwide effort to make education and workforce data more accessible, actionable, and transferable. 

“Building a registry of open data about credentials and skills in Montana means that for the first time there will be real transparency that benefits learners, workers, employers and educators alike,” noted Scott Cheney, CEO of Credential Engine. “Open data allows for the creation of new tools and services, much as open data did for the development of Expedia, WAZE, and other modern webtools. Montana is joining over 30 other states that are making information about education and training easier for people to find, compare, and use.” 

As the Montana Credential Registry publishes more comprehensive information from education providers and employers, The Montana Registry will allow users to compare programs, understand skill requirements, and map their educational journeys. This information particularly benefits working adults seeking to upskill or change careers, as well as employers looking to identify candidates with specific competencies. The first phase of the credential registry will be accessible in mid-2025.

Visit the Montana Credential Registry page for more information.

Devin Peelman, Communications Manager at Credential Engine. Contact: dpeelman@credentialengine.org

Elizabeth Dove, Digital Credentials Coordinator at Accelerate Montana. Contact: elizabeth.dove@mso.umt.edu.

About Credential Engine

Credential Engine is a non-profit whose mission is to map the credentials, qualifications, and skills landscape with clear information, fueling the creation of resources that empower people to discover and pursue the learning and career pathways that are best for them. Credential Engine provides a suite of web-based services that creates for the first time a centralized Credential Registry to house up-to-date information about all credentials, the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL) a common description language to enable credential comparability, and a platform to support customized applications to search and retrieve information about credentials. Learn more about Credential Engine at www.credentialengine.org.

About Accelerate Montana

Accelerate Montana (AMT) is a portfolio of workforce and economic development programs affiliated with the University of Montana. Our mission is to support inclusive economic prosperity for Montana’s workers, businesses, and communities. We have a specific interest in serving populations and communities often left behind in workforce and economic development. This includes, but is not limited to, small, rural communities, Indigenous communities, and justice-involved individuals. AMT has extensive experience partnering with employers, higher education (particularly 2-year and Tribal colleges), other training providers, and workforce development organizations to develop in-demand, skills-based education and training programs and pathways.