1. Counting Certificates: Estimates of certificates in the states
SHEEO Conference Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
August 9, 2016

2. Growing attention to certificate attainment
A certificate is a credential awarded by an educational institution based on completion of all requirements for a program of study. Certificates are awarded mainly by public, two-year schools or private, for-profit, non-degree granting business, technical, and trade schools.

3. Defining our terms: stock, flow and value of credentials

4. So how did we do this?

5. We started with the Survey of Income Program Participation (SIPP) data to determine the number of certificate holders.
We then determined how many of these certificate holders earn 20% or more above gender-specific high school median earnings.
Then we calculated a percentage of certificates with earnings premium by aggregated fields of study (roughly 20).
The SIPP total was allocated to states using the share of IPEDS production and the percentage of certificates with labor market value.

6. How did we check the results?

7. We compared our estimates of the share with certificates of value to the share of people with some college, no degree who have an earnings premium.
States
Some college, no degree with 20% earnings premium
(CPS)
Share with a certificate having a 20% earnings premium
(CEW estimate)
Certificate estimate within the share of some college, no degree with an earnings premium?
Colorado 8% 6%
YES
Florida 7%
Illinois
Indiana 9% 5%
Minnesota 4%
Mississippi
Oregon
Tennessee
Utah
11%
Virginia
Washington

8. Limitations—how to go further with this analysis
Take into account interactions between field of study, occupation and industry, as well as earnings differences by gender
Look at production over time in case there are significant changes by state.
Consider various thresholds for labor market value—for example, 10 percent earnings premium for some certificates—and ways to account for certificates’ contribution to further education and training.

9. Where we do we go from here?

10. Our baseline estimates measure the stock of certificates
Our baseline estimates measure the stock of certificates. Tracking progress is about measuring flow.

11. Next Steps for States
Investigate what CEW and other states have done to determine a baseline estimate.
Tap into administrative data at the state level to refine these estimates, measure progress and gauge value. Some states have started to do this…
Conduct qualitative research on certificate programs and their connections to employers and further education.
Keep an eye on upcoming national survey data that will help with better certificate estimates.

12. Visit: cew.georgetown.edu
For more information:
Visit: cew.georgetown.edu
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