What is a Credential?

For purposes of Complete 2021, industry certifications must meet the following are parameters:

  • Industry-recognized:  Credentials shall include technical and occupational skills identified as necessary for performing functions of an occupation based on standards developed or endorsed by employers.
  • Portable:  Credentials shall be recognized by multiple employers; educational institutions; and across geographic areas where appropriate.
  • Credentials shall be competency-based.
  • 3rd Party Validated:  Credentials shall have a process for determining their validity and relevance in the workplace, and a process in place for improvement.
  • Credentials should be reviewed for articulated credit.
  • Stackable: Where possible, credentials should be part of a career pathways framework and include stackable credentials that lead to a high-level industry-recognized credential or a postsecondary degree.

Industry Credentials available at Laurel Ridge Community College

Industry credentials available at Laurel Ridge
CredentialAwarding organizationType
Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Wastewater Works OperatorBoard for Waterworks and Wastewaterworks Operators and On-Site Sewage System ProfessionalsNon Credit
Architecture and Construction
Heavy Equipment Operations - Level 2National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)Non Credit
OSHA 10 ConstructionOccupational Safety & Health AdministrationNon Credit
Heavy Equipment Operations - Level 1National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)Non Credit
Highway/Heavy ConstructionNational Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)Non Credit
HVAC Tradesman License RenewalVirginia Board of ContractorsNon Credit
Contractor's LicenseVirginia Board of ContractorsNon Credit
Gas Fitter Tradesman License RenewalVirginia Board of ContractorsNon Credit
Electrical MasterVirginia Board of ContractorsNon Credit
Electrical Tradesman License RenewalVirginia Board of ContractorsNon Credit
Electrical JourneymanVirginia Department of Labor and IndustryNon Credit
Plumbing Tradesman License RenewalVirginia Board of ContractorsNon Credit
LEED Green Associate CertificationUnited States Green Building Council (USGBC)Non Credit
OSHA 10 Transmission and DistributionOccupational Safety & Health AdministrationNon Credit
OSHA Confined Space SafetyOccupational Safety & Health AdministrationNon Credit
OSHA 30 General IndustryOccupational Safety & Health AdministrationNon Credit
OSHA 10 General IndustryOccupational Safety & Health AdministrationNon Credit
Photovoltaic - Entry LevelNorth American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP)Non Credit
Electrical - Level 4National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)Non Credit
Core - Introductory Craft SkillsNational Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)Non Credit
Electrical - Level 1National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)Non Credit
Electrical - Level 2National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)Non Credit
Electrical - Level 3National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)Non Credit
HVAC - Level 4National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)Non Credit
HVAC - Level 3National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)Non Credit
HVAC - Level 2National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)Non Credit
HVAC - Level 1National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)Non Credit
Plumbing - Level 4National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)Non Credit
Plumbing - Level 3National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)Non Credit
Plumbing - Level 2National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)Non Credit
Plumbing - Level 1National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)Non Credit
Construction Project ManagementNational Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)Non Credit
Certified IPC Application Specialist (CIS)IPC-Association Connecting Electronics IndustriesNon Credit
HVAC 608 CertificationEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)Non Credit
Fiber Optics Installer CertificationElectronics Technicians Association (ETA) InternationalNon Credit
Energy AuditorBuilding Performance Institute (BPI)Non Credit
Building AnalystBuilding Performance Institute (BPI)Non Credit
Business, Management and Administration
Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence (PACE)American Society of Administrative ProfessionalsNon Credit
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)American Payroll Association (APA)Non Credit
Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC)American Payroll Association (APA)Non Credit
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) - Word 2016MicrosoftNon Credit
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) - Excel 2016MicrosoftNon Credit
SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)Non Credit
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)Project Management Institute (PMI)Credit
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)Project Management Institute (PMI)Non Credit
Office Proficiency Assessment and Certification (OPAC)Office Proficiency Assessment and Certification (OPAC)Credit
Administrative Legal Specialist (ALS)National Association of Legal Professionals (NALS)Credit
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) - Excel Expert 2010MicrosoftCredit
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) - Access 2010MicrosoftNon Credit
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) - Access 2010MicrosoftCredit
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) - Word 2010MicrosoftCredit
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) - Word 2010MicrosoftNon Credit
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) - Word Expert 2010MicrosoftNon Credit
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) - Word Expert 2010MicrosoftCredit
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) - Outlook 2010MicrosoftNon Credit
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) - Excel 2010MicrosoftCredit
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) - Excel 2010MicrosoftNon Credit
Certified Administrative Professional (CAP)International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP)Credit
Certified Administrative Professional (CAP)International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP)Non Credit
Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI)Non Credit
Professional in Human Resources (PHR)Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI)Non Credit
Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR)Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI)Non Credit
Certified Fund Raising ExecutiveCFRE InternationalNon Credit
Education and Training
Teaching LicenseVirginia Department of Education (VDOE)Non Credit
Google Certified Educator Level 2GoogleNon Credit
Google Certified Educator Level 1GoogleNon Credit
Finance
QuickBooks CertificationIntuitNon Credit
Health Science
Medication AideVirginia Board of NursingNon Credit
Apprentice Medical Scribe Professional (AMSP)American Healthcare Documentation Professionals GroupNon Credit
Licensed OpticianVirginia State Board of OpticiansNon Credit
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - IntermediateVirginia Office of Emergency Medical ServicesCredit
Pharmacy TechnicianVirginia Board of PharmacyNon Credit
Practical NurseVirginia Board of NursingCredit
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)Virginia Board of NursingCredit
Registered NurseVirginia Board of NursingCredit
Dental Hygienist LicenseVirginia Board of DentistryCredit
ParamedicNational Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT)Credit
Pharmacy TechnicianNational Healthcareer Association (NHA)Non Credit
Clinical Medical AssistantNational Healthcareer Association (NHA)Non Credit
Phlebotomy TechnicianNational Healthcareer Association (NHA)Non Credit
Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS)National Healthcareer Association (NHA)Non Credit
Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS)National Healthcareer Association (NHA)Non Credit
EKG TechnicianNational Healthcareer Association (NHA)Non Credit
Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)National Healthcareer Association (NHA)Non Credit
Mental Health First Aid USANational Council for Behavioral HealthNon Credit
Certified Surgical TechnologistNational Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA)Credit
Central Service TechnicianInternational Association of Healthcare Central Services Materiel Management (IAHCSMM)Credit
Phlebotomy TechnicianAmerican Society for Clinical Pathologists (ASCP)Credit
Basic Life Support for Healthcare ProviderAmerican Red CrossNon Credit
Basic Life Support for Healthcare ProviderAmerican Heart AssociationCredit
HeartSaver First Aid/CPR/AEDAmerican Heart AssociationNon Credit
Certified Professional Coder (CPC)American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC)Credit
Hospitality and Tourism
ServSafe Food HandlerNational Restaurant AssociationNon Credit
Human Services
CosmetologistVirginia Board for Barbers and CosmetologyNon Credit
Nail TechnicianVirginia Board for Barbers and CosmetologyNon Credit
Information Technology
CompTIA IT FundamentalsCompTIANon Credit
Oracle Certified Professional, Java Programmer SE8OracleNon Credit
CompTIA Linux+ CertificationCompTIACredit
CompTIA A+ CertificationCompTIACredit
CompTIA A+ CertificationCompTIANon Credit
CompTIA Security+ CertificationCompTIACredit
CompTIA Security+ CertificationCompTIANon Credit
CompTIA Network+ CertificationCompTIACredit
CompTIA Network+ CertificationCompTIANon Credit
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)CiscoNon Credit
Adobe Certified Associate - Photoshop CS4Adobe Systems IncorporatedNon Credit
Adobe Certified Associate - Flash CS5Adobe Systems IncorporatedNon Credit
Adobe Certified Associate - Flash CS4Adobe Systems IncorporatedNon Credit
Adobe Certified Associate - Dreamweaver CS5Adobe Systems IncorporatedNon Credit
Adobe Certified Associate - Dreamweaver CS4Adobe Systems IncorporatedNon Credit
Adobe Certified Associate - Dreamweaver CS3Adobe Systems IncorporatedNon Credit
Adobe Certified Associate - IndesignAdobe Systems IncorporatedCredit
Adobe Certified Associate - Premiere CS5Adobe Systems IncorporatedCredit
Adobe Certified Associate - Photoshop CS5Adobe Systems IncorporatedCredit
Law, Public Safety, Correction and Security
Certified ParalegalNational Association of Legal AssistantsCredit
Basic Law Enforcement ProfessionalVirginia Department of Criminal Justice ServicesNon Credit
Manufacturing
Manufacturing Technician Level 1Manufacturing Skills InstituteNon Credit
Lead Safe Inspector CertificationEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)Non Credit
Lead Safe RRP CertificationEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)Non Credit
Certified Welding Fabricator (CWF)American Welding Society (AWS)Non Credit
Certified Welder (CW)American Welding Society (AWS)Non Credit
Transportation, Distribution and Logistics
Work Zone Flagger CertificationVirginia Department of TransportationNon Credit
Dealer-Operator LicenseVirginia Motor Vehicle Dealer BoardNon Credit
Driver Education InstructorVirginia Department of Motor VehiclesCredit
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)Virginia Department of Motor VehiclesNon Credit
Two-Stroke Engine CertificationEquipment and Engine Training Council (EETC)Non Credit
Four-Stroke Engine CertificationEquipment and Engine Training Council (EETC)Non Credit
Compact Diesel Engine CertificationEquipment and Engine Training Council (EETC)Non Credit
Electrical Systems CertificationEquipment and Engine Training Council (EETC)Non Credit
Mobile Generators CertificationEquipment and Engine Training Council (EETC)Non Credit
Driveline/Hydraulics CertificationEquipment and Engine Training Council (EETC)Non Credit
Reel Technology CertificationEquipment and Engine Training Council (EETC)Non Credit