§ 53E-10-310 — Utah first credential program.

(1) As used in this section:
(1)(a) "Eligible institution" means an institution of higher education as defined in Section 53H-1-101.
(1)(b) "First credential" means a certificate awarded by the state board to an eligible student who meets the criteria described in Subsection (7).
(1)(c) (1)(c)(i) "Industry-recognized credential" means a credential that is:
(1)(c)(i)(A) developed and offered by, or endorsed by, a nationally recognized industry association or organization representing a sizable portion of the industry sector;
(1)(c)(i)(B) sought or accepted by employers within the industry or sector as a recognized, preferred, or required credential for recruitment, screening, hiring, retention, or advancement purposes; and
(1)(c)(i)(C) regularly reviewed, updated, and validated by the issuing body to ensure ongoing alignment with industry standards and labor market needs.
(1)(c)(ii) "Industry-recognized credential" may also include a credential offered through a catalyst center as described in Section 53E-3-507.1.
(1)(d) "Master credential list" means the list of approved industry-recognized credentials maintained by the state board in accordance with this section.
(1)(e) "Program" means the first credential program described in this section.
(1)(f) "Technical college" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53H-1-101.
(2) The commissioner of higher education, the state superintendent of public instruction, and the governor's education advisor shall establish the First Credential Oversight Committee comprised of:
(2)(a) representatives from industries, including:
(2)(a)(i) members of professional associations or trade groups; and
(2)(a)(ii) employers from high-demand sectors as the state board determines in collaboration with the Utah Board of Higher Education and the Department of Workforce Services;
(2)(b) representatives from education including:
(2)(b)(i) members from the state board;
(2)(b)(ii) the director of the Catalyst Center Grant Program described in Section 53E-3-507.1;
(2)(b)(iii) LEA administrators, such as a superintendent or charter school director;
(2)(b)(iv) professionals from institutions of higher education, including technical colleges;
(2)(b)(v) career and technical education specialists; and
(2)(b)(vi) Talent Ready Utah; and
(2)(c) workforce development experts, including representatives from the Department of Workforce Services.
(3) The state board shall staff the First Credential Oversight Committee.
(4) The First Credential Oversight Committee shall develop a first credential master plan, which shall include:
(4)(a) a framework for developing and maintaining the master credential list;
(4)(b) a comprehensive needs assessment framework that evaluates:
(4)(b)(i) resources available through institutions of higher education, including:
(4)(b)(i)(A) faculty expertise and availability;
(4)(b)(i)(B) facilities and equipment;
(4)(b)(i)(C) existing certification programs; and
(4)(b)(i)(D) potential for program expansion;
(4)(b)(ii) industry partnership opportunities, including:
(4)(b)(ii)(A) geographical proximity to potential partners;
(4)(b)(ii)(B) willingness of local industries to participate;
(4)(b)(ii)(C) capacity for work-based learning placements; and
(4)(b)(ii)(D) alignment between industry needs and educational capabilities; and
(4)(b)(iii) general resource availability, including:
(4)(b)(iii)(A) current funding streams and potential funding sources;
(4)(b)(iii)(B) existing technology infrastructure;
(4)(b)(iii)(C) qualified personnel and staffing needs; and
(4)(b)(iii)(D) professional development requirements;
(4)(c) credential approval processes;
(4)(d) methods for ensuring industry demand alignment;
(4)(e) wage considerations for occupations associated with approved credentials;
(4)(f) clear definitions of industry-recognized credentials;
(4)(g) strategies for promoting stackability and sequencing of credentials;
(4)(h) approaches to ensure regional relevance of credentials;
(4)(i) mechanisms for collaboration between educational institutions, industry partners, and workforce development agencies;
(4)(j) strategies for continuous evaluation and improvement of the program;
(4)(k) the creation of a credentials review committee, including membership and duties;
(4)(l) in accordance with Subsection (17), an established framework of planning, implementation, and student outcome performance funding for an LEA administering first credential programming;
(4)(m) a weighted system for the master credential list that:
(4)(m)(i) assigns higher values to credentials based on:
(4)(m)(i)(A) alignment with high-demand, high-wage occupations;
(4)(m)(i)(B) incorporation of multiple learning pathways, including coursework, apprenticeships, internships, work-based learning, and related service opportunities;
(4)(m)(i)(C) industry recognition and portability; and
(4)(m)(i)(D) stackability with other credentials or degrees; and
(4)(m)(ii) uses the weighted values to:
(4)(m)(ii)(A) determine incentive funding levels;
(4)(m)(ii)(B) prioritize program expansion support; and
(4)(m)(ii)(C) guide student career planning; and
(4)(n) guidelines for LEAs to procure industry-recognized certification program licenses, including:
(4)(n)(i) verification that certifications appear on the master credential list;
(4)(n)(ii) requirement for competency-based assessments in proctored environments;
(4)(n)(iii) documentation of local industry endorsement; and
(4)(n)(iv) alignment with state and federal computer science initiatives where applicable, including the Computer Science for Utah Grant Program described in Section 53H-13-306.
(5) In accordance with the Utah First Credential Master Plan, the state board shall:
(5)(a) ensure that the credentials review committee membership reflects a balance of perspectives and expertise;
(5)(b) develop an online application and submission system for credentialing organizations and providers to submit programs for inclusion in the master credential list;
(5)(c) establish and maintain the master credential list based on the recommendations of the credentials review committee;
(5)(d) develop clear mechanisms for students to understand how earning one credential can lead to higher-level certifications or degrees; and
(5)(e) foster partnerships between high schools, technical colleges, employers, and apprenticeship programs to ensure students have access to meaningful work-based learning opportunities.
(6) The state board shall:
(6)(a) automatically include on the initial master credential list any existing credential that:
(6)(a)(i) meets the definition of industry-recognized credential under this section; and
(6)(a)(ii) is currently recognized by the state board or Utah Board of Higher Education as of July 1, 2024; and
(6)(b) review all automatically included credentials within one year to ensure ongoing compliance with program requirements.
(7) The state board shall award a first credential certificate to an eligible student who completes one of the following:
(7)(a) concurrent enrollment courses, composed of:
(7)(a)(i) between 12 and 18 core general education credits, or as industry standards dictate, with courses from different general education categories; or
(7)(a)(ii) a prescribed set of courses as the Utah Board of Higher Education designates;
(7)(b) an industry-recognized credential included on the master credential list;
(7)(c) 300 hours of completion through a youth apprenticeship program that:
(7)(c)(i) is described in Sections 35A-6-102 and 35A-6-104.5; and
(7)(c)(ii) includes courses that fulfill the requirements for an industry-recognized credential included on the master credential list;
(7)(d) completion of a technical college certificate; or
(7)(e) completion of a Career and Technical Education Pathway program.
(8) The Utah Board of Higher Education shall ensure that credits earned for a first credential certificate are:
(8)(a) accepted and transferable to institutions of higher education, including technical colleges;
(8)(b) applicable towards relevant degree programs; and
(8)(c) recognized by relevant industries as adequate preparation for employment.
(9) Subject to legislative appropriations, the Utah Board of Higher Education shall award a first credential scholarship to each student who earns a first credential certificate.
(10) The first credential scholarship may be used at the following institutions:
(10)(a) an institution of higher education as defined in Section 53H-1-101; or
(10)(b) a private, nonprofit college or university in the state that is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
(11) The Utah Board of Higher Education shall annually determine the first credential scholarship amount based on:
(11)(a) the number of eligible students; and
(11)(b) appropriations made by the Legislature.
(12) A student may use the first credential scholarship for:
(12)(a) tuition and fees;
(12)(b) books and supplies; or
(12)(c) other educational expenses as the Utah Board of Higher Education determines.
(13) The Utah Board of Higher Education shall ensure the scholarship is valid for use within three years from the date the student graduates from high school.
(14) A student may earn the first credential scholarship in addition to any other state-sponsored scholarships for which the student may be eligible.
(15) The first credential oversight committee shall present the master plan described in Subsection (4) to the Education Interim Committee by the November 2025 interim committee meeting.
(16) Every three years, the First Credential Oversight Committee shall:
(16)(a) review the Utah First Credential Master Plan;
(16)(b) as needed, create a list of recommendations and update the Utah First Credential Master Plan;
(16)(c) report the list of recommendations and the updated Utah First Credential Master Plan to:
(16)(c)(i) the state board;
(16)(c)(ii) the Utah Board of Higher Education;
(16)(c)(iii) the Department of Workforce Services;
(16)(c)(iv) the Education Interim Committee; and
(16)(c)(v) the Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee.
(17) (17)(a) The state board shall administer a first credential grant program for an LEA and award a grant in accordance with the following process.
(17)(b) The First Credential Oversight Committee shall establish:
(17)(b)(i) a needs assessment tool that evaluates:
(17)(b)(i)(A) an LEA's current first credential offering;
(17)(b)(i)(B) an LEA's capacity to develop or expand a first credential pathway;
(17)(b)(i)(C) resources and support needed for a first credential program, including resources available through institutions of higher education, industry partnership opportunities, and general resource availability; and
(17)(b)(i)(D) each potential barrier to implementation; and
(17)(b)(ii) a continuum of need to place each applying LEA.
(17)(c) An LEA seeking a first credential grant shall submit to the First Credential Oversight Committee:
(17)(c)(i) a completed needs assessment; and
(17)(c)(ii) a grant application that contains:
(17)(c)(ii)(A) current first credential data, including current credentials offered;
(17)(c)(ii)(B) preliminary goals for creating or expanding first credential opportunities within the LEA; and
(17)(c)(ii)(C) if applicable, plans for procurement of industry certification program licenses, including certification details and alignment with master credential list, documentation of employer endorsements, assessment and proctoring procedures, and integration with existing computer science programs.
(17)(d) The First Credential Oversight Committee shall:
(17)(d)(i) review each submitted application and needs assessment;
(17)(d)(ii) assign the LEA a placement on the continuum of need; and
(17)(d)(iii) provide to the LEA a specific requirement for an implementation plan based on:
(17)(d)(iii)(A) the LEA's continuum placement;
(17)(d)(iii)(B) each identified area for growth;
(17)(d)(iii)(C) each available resource; and
(17)(d)(iii)(D) each additional factor the First Credential Oversight Committee determines relevant.
(17)(e) An LEA shall submit to the First Credential Oversight Committee an implementation plan that includes:
(17)(e)(i) specific goals for expanding a first credential opportunity;
(17)(e)(ii) each implementation step and timeline;
(17)(e)(iii) a detailed cost projection; and
(17)(e)(iv) each additional element the committee requires based on the needs assessment results.
(17)(f) The First Credential Oversight Committee shall:
(17)(f)(i) review the implementation plan;
(17)(f)(ii) direct technical assistance to the LEA in accordance with the LEA's implementation plan;
(17)(f)(iii) provide feedback to the LEA to improve the implementation plan;
(17)(f)(iv) approve each implementation plan that meets the established criteria; and
(17)(f)(v) award an implementation grant for each approved plan.
(17)(g) Subject to legislative appropriations, the state board shall:
(17)(g)(i) award an incentive grant to an LEA that:
(17)(g)(i)(A) has implemented an approved plan;
(17)(g)(i)(B) increases the number of students who earn a first credential certificate; and
(17)(g)(i)(C) achieves each established implementation goal; and
(17)(g)(ii) in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, and in collaboration with the First Credential Oversight Committee, establish by rule:
(17)(g)(ii)(A) tiers for incentive grant awards;
(17)(g)(ii)(B) performance metrics for continued funding;
(17)(g)(ii)(C) reporting requirements for a grant recipient;
(17)(g)(ii)(D) requirements for reporting certification program outcomes and industry alignment;
(17)(g)(ii)(E) procedures for coordinating with computer science initiative grants; and
(17)(g)(ii)(F) guidelines for certification program procurement and implementation.
(18) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, and in collaboration with the Utah Board of Higher Education and the Department of Workforce Services, the state board shall make rules to implement the provisions of this section.

Legislative History

Amended by Chapter 9, 2025 Special Session 1