WIOA reporting · Free tool
Enter a participant's credential type, timing, program enrollment, and documentation status. The tool returns a verdict on whether the credential counts under the WIOA credential attainment indicator, with the specific 20 CFR 677.155 citation for each result. Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is stored or transmitted.
1. What type of credential did the participant attain?
2. What kind of program was the participant enrolled in?
3. Was the credential attained during program participation?
4. What documentation is on file in the participant record?
The rules the tool runs
Per 20 CFR 677.155(a)(1)(iv)(B) and TEGL 10-16, Change 3 (Attachment 2), the credential must be one of the following: (1) a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC), (2) a postsecondary degree (AA, AAS, BA, BS, MA or higher), (3) an occupational license issued by a federal, state, or local government, (4) an industry-recognized certificate or certification, or (5) a certificate of completion of a registered apprenticeship program.
Certificates of participation, attendance-based completion certificates, work-readiness certificates that are not tied to a specific occupation, and company-internal certificates that are only recognized by the issuing employer do not qualify.
Per 20 CFR 677.155(a)(1)(iv), the credential must be attained either during program participation or within one year after program exit. Exit is defined per the WIOA 90-day rule (90 consecutive days without a service). The 365-day clock starts on the exit date, not the last service date and not the enrollment date.
Per 20 CFR 677.155(a)(1)(iv), the credential attainment indicator applies only to participants enrolled in an education or training program that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential or secondary school diploma. Participants receiving individualized career services alone, or on-the-job training only, are not measured under this indicator.
Per TEGL 10-16, Change 3 (Attachment 2) and the WIOA Data Element Definitions (PIRL element 1800, Type of Recognized Credential, and 1801, Date Attained a Recognized Credential), every credential attainment claim must be supported by at least one of: (1) a copy of the credential document, (2) written verification from the awarding entity, or (3) a verified data match with the credential issuer. The attainment date must be recorded in the participant record.
Per 20 CFR 677.155(a)(1)(iv)(B), a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent counts against the indicator only when two conditions are both met: the participant did not already have a secondary credential at program entry, and the participant is also employed or enrolled in an education or training program leading to a recognized postsecondary credential within one year after exit. The second condition is unique to secondary credentials and is one of the most commonly-missed rules.
Sources
State-level implementation may add additional documentation requirements beyond the federal baseline. Always verify state-specific WIOA reporting guidance with your state workforce agency before relying on this tool's verdict as the final compliance determination.
Automate this decision across every participant
Every credential entered against a participant is checked against 20 CFR 677.155 automatically. The intervention queue surfaces participants approaching the one-year window with credentials still in progress. Certification-ready exports carry the source of evidence for every claim.