The Connecting Credentials Framework is a conceptual framework designed to make the decentralized U.S. credentialing system more coherent and transparent (the U.S. does not have a National Qualifications Framework as many other nations do). The CCF provides a common language and set of reference points to describe the levels of knowledge and skills associated with various credentials—from high school diplomas and industry certifications to college degrees and badges.

The CCF uses a competency-based, outcomes-focused approach, describing eight levels of achievement based on the complexity and scope of knowledge, skills, and abilities demonstrated by learners. It is non-regulatory and voluntary, intended to help stakeholders—including employers, educators, credential providers, and learners—understand and compare the value and rigor of different types of credentials.

The CCF was released in 2015. It was developed by Lumina Foundation, in collaboration with over 80 organizations, as part of the broader Connecting Credentials initiative. It was developed to:

• Address confusion and fragmentation in the U.S. credentialing landscape.
• Align educational credentials with the needs of the labor market.
• Support transparency, transferability, and comparability of credentials.
• Enable learners to stack and navigate different types of credentials (in addition to college degrees) across education and work pathways.
• Provide a framework that could inform the development of digital credentials, Learning and Employment Records (LERs), and other innovations in verifying learning outcomes.

While not a federally mandated system, the CCF has been influential in several national and regional efforts:

• Credential Engine incorporated elements of the CCF in its Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL) and Credential Registry, using it to help describe credential levels and competencies.
• Some workforce and education providers have used it to map credentials to competency levels and identify gaps or overlaps in credential offerings.
• Some state higher education systems and employers have aligned their internal frameworks to the CCF for clarity on credential value and progression.
• It influenced the design of other frameworks and tools related to skills-based hiring, pathways, and stackable credentials.

See: Qualifications Frameworks (QFs) | Learn & Work Ecosystem Library