Industry-Based Certifications List for Public School Accountability
| Date: | July 24, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Industry-Based Certifications List for Public School Accountability |
| Category: | Career and Technical Education (CTE) |
| Next Steps: | Share with appropriate CTE and accountability staff |
Overview
The preliminary 2025-30 list of industry-based certifications (IBCs) to be used for public school accountability is now posted on the Industry-Based Certifications page of the TEA website. The new list of IBCs takes effect in the 2025-26 school year and will apply to accountability ratings issued in August 2027. There are 474 IBCs on the preliminary 2025-30 list, up from 309 from the 2022-25 list.
Subject to the rulemaking process for the 2027 accountability manual, IBCs that were on the 2022-25 list but will not be on the 2025-30 list are subject to a one-year sunsetting period. During this one-year period, school systems may continue to report IBCs from the 2022-25 list for both accountability and reimbursement purposes for the class of 2026. Of note, at present there are only 23 IBCs from the old list being removed from the new list.
To develop the new list, all IBCs on the current 2022-25 list, credentials on the TWC Inventory of Industry-Recognized Credentials List, state and federal licenses, as well as newly submitted IBCs, were reviewed. A total of 2,036 unique IBCs were considered against the following criteria as outlined in 19 TAC §74.1003:
- Meets the definition of a certification
- Industry recognized and valued
- Attainable by a high school student
- Portable
- Capstone or end-of-program
Additional Requirements:
- The assessment to obtain the IBC is not open book, open reference, and does not allow limitless retake opportunities without remediation or remuneration
- The IBC is attainable by high school students and adult professionals in the workforce
The following resources are available on the Industry-Based Certifications page of the TEA website:
- Preliminary 2025-2030 IBC List
- Comprehensive 2025 IBC Evaluation Results
- Preliminary IBCs to Program of Study Crosswalk
- Industry-Based Certification List Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Industry-Based Certification List Overview (key updates to the list)
Resubmission Opportunity
Certifying entities with an IBC that was submitted for review and not approved for the 2025-30 list may request a re-evaluation. Certifying entities with an IBC eligible for re-evaluation will receive an email with the requirements for resubmission. The Texas Education Agency must receive all documentation for re-evaluation via the unique link provided in the email not later than Friday, August 22, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. CDT. Applications for re-evaluation with incomplete documentation or that are submitted late will not be re-evaluated.
Final 2025-30 List of Industry-Based Certifications (IBCs) for Public School Accountability
At the conclusion of the re-evaluation process, the preliminary list will be updated with any additional certifications, and the final 2025-30 list of industry-based certifications (IBCs) to be used for public school accountability will be published.
Codes for IBCs that have been added to the list will also be made available in the PEIMS data standards in the fall for reporting of IBCs beginning in the 2025-26 school year.
Additional resources will be available in September to support school systems in making decisions regarding IBCs to offer in future school years.
Questions
If you have questions regarding the 2025-30 IBC List for Public School Accountability, please contact cte@tea.texas.gov.