What is the value of an industry-recognized credential? That is a question I am frequently asked, and my heartfelt response is that earning a validated credential from an ISO 17024 compliant credentialing body provides students with a significant advantage in accessing a variety of postsecondary opportunities such as undergraduate research positions and internships, as well as careers directly out of high school or higher education. ISO 17024 is a global benchmark for quality, validating the organizations offering the credentials, as well as the competencies and skills communicated through them. This structure fosters trust in the credentialing system, minimizes credentials that are self-declared, and provides a validated mechanism for ensuring credentials of value. These credentials serve as a hiring metric for employers, enabling them to identify candidates who possess the necessary aptitude and qualifications valued for success on the job.

The true value of validated credentials extends beyond their immediate benefit. This expanded value is encapsulated in the system of creating, maintaining, and integrating ISO 17024 compliant credentials, which includes industry participation in the blueprint design, standard creation, category weighting, setting of specifications for the difficulty level and cut score, and then performing periodic reviews to ensure continued relevance. I often refer to these credentials as “conversation pieces,” because industry must be deeply involved from the early development stages to the continued maintenance of the standards that make up the credential framework. Curricula developers and educators then adapt coursework and instruction to incorporate the standards. Through these conversation pieces we have a mechanism to truly link industry with education, enabling us to do so much more!

The true value of validated credentials extends beyond their immediate benefit.

For example, embedding industry-defined standards into curricula provides a means to link learning to industry opportunities. This not only adds relevance to the educational experience but also increases career awareness. Take the biotechnology industries as an example, where I often hear that students are not aware of the meaningful and high-growth career opportunities available. How might a technique used in a science lab be applied to a role in research and development, quality control, or biomanufacturing? By integrating competencies and skills within the framework of a credentialing exam, we provide a conversation piece that contextualizes learning with career goals, opening doors to opportunity.

I say this somewhat humorously, but how many of us have found ourselves in the endless loop of focus groups or annual advisory board meetings? We have fruitful conversations, with everyone leaving the meeting feeling they have been heard, only to return the following year and have the exact same conversations! Validated credentialing exam frameworks and standards, serving as conversation pieces, provide a baseline from which to demonstrate how industry needs are being addressed. This allows these meetings to focus more on building relationships with employers and key stakeholders. Educators can share how standards are being incorporated and taught, while industry partners gain clarity on how they can best engage and contribute to instruction and program success. With vetted standards provided by the credentialing exam framework, industry partners can more effectively identify and create pathways to employment.

Ultimately, the broader impact of ISO 17024 compliant credentials lies in how they are transforming the teaching and learning landscape. These credentials ensure that education systems remain reflective of and adaptive to the changing needs of employers. They have become integral to larger conversations, reminding us that as educators we are preparing students for real-world careers. They also reinforce to students that they have the power to shape, refine, and expand their career pathways. Importantly, maintaining ISO 17024 compliance requires regular framework reviews with industry boards, to ensure they remain relevant and aligned with industry workforce requirements. It is through these conversation pieces we can provide guidance to educators, expand career opportunities for our students, and be responsive to the workforce talent needs of the industry.

Tamara Mandell is the Director for the Education and Training Programs at Biotility. With more than 12 years of combined academic research and industrial biotechnology experience, she is fluent in the techniques, methodology, and regulatory compliance relevant to the applied sciences. Tamara’s experience, coupled with a B.S.E. in Biology and a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, prepared her to lead Biotility to the forefront of biotech education and training.