How it works
Credential Engine maintains the Credential Registry, an open public infrastructure designed to support transparent, structured credential, skill, and job data. Organizations integrate Registry data into their platforms to power credential and skill discovery, improve credential transparency, and enable interoperability across education, workforce, and talent systems.
Registry data is open and publicly accessible. Organizations building production integrations with the Credential Registry, however, typically benefit from structured technical guidance, integration expertise, and strategic alignment with Credential Engine technologies and standards.
Credential Engine offers a Developer Integration Program that provides the technical support, partnership alignment, and integration resources necessary to successfully integrate Registry data into commercial platforms, applications, and data products.
Getting Started with the Credential Registry
Credential Engine works with technology partners through a structured integration pathway:
Discovery Conversation
Credential Engine meets with prospective partners to understand their platform, business model, and potential Registry use cases.
Complimentary Evaluation Period
Organizations may receive temporary API access to the Registry and limited technical support to explore integration options and assess technical compatibility.
Developer Agreement and Integration Tier
Organizations moving forward with Registry integration execute a Developer Agreement and select an annual support tier aligned with their integration needs.
Developer Integration Support Tiers
Credential Engine offers three levels of integration support designed to meet the needs of organizations at different stages of technical readiness, product development, and market scale. All tiers include a non-exclusive license to integrate Credential Registry data into applications pursuant to the Credential Engine Developer Agreement. While Registry data remains open, these tiers support the technical guidance, partnership collaboration, and infrastructure maintenance required for successful production integrations.
Tier 1 — Basic Consumption & Publishing License ($15,000 Annually)
Best for organizations that want to consume or publish Credential Registry data with minimal support requirements.
- Non-exclusive license to integrate Credential Registry data into applications
- API access and/or Registry data download capability
- Ability to publish credential data to the Registry
- Access to Credential Engine technical documentation and implementation guidance
- Email-based technical support
- Up to two technical advisory calls per year
- Guidance on use of the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL)
Tier 2 — Platform Partner License ($25,000 annually)
Best for organizations integrating Credential Registry data into a commercial platform, application, or technology product. This tier provides ongoing technical collaboration and alignment with Credential Engine technologies and data standards, including the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL) and the Credential Registry.
- Includes all Tier 1 services
- Quarterly strategy and technical alignment meetings
- Basic data mapping review for Registry publishing or data consumption
- Sandbox integration guidance and feedback on implementation approaches
- Technical consultation regarding Registry data structures and use cases
- Joint marketing opportunities, such as case studies, webinars, blog posts, or conference presentations, upon verification of CTDL technical integration and capabilities, including completion of the Credential Transparency Description Language Vendor Assessment Tool (CTDL-VAT)
- Information and guidance regarding relevant RFI/RFP opportunities involving credential transparency; structured, open, linked, interoperable, durable data (SOLID); and adoption of the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL)
Tier 3 — Enterprise / Strategic Integration ($50,000 annually)
This tier is designed for organizations whose platforms depend on large-scale or mission-critical integrations with the Credential Registry and that benefit from deeper technical collaboration and strategic alignment with Credential Engine.
- Includes all Tier 2 service
- Dedicated Credential Engine technical contact
- Structured integration planning, including review of how Credential Registry data is incorporated
into the organization’s platform architecture - Customized data mapping review and sandbox implementation guidance
- Priority support for production integration issues, including coordinated communication and
support during major Credential Registry updates, releases, or outages - Coordinated communication regarding major Registry updates or outages
- Twice-yearly executive strategy meetings with Credential Engine leadership
- Strategic guidance on scaling Registry integrations across markets or geographies
Tier Comparison Chart
The following table summarizes the differences between Developer Integration Support Tiers
| Feature | Tier 1 Basic License | Tier 2 Platform Partner | Tier 3 Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $15,000 | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| API / Data Access | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Integration License | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Email Technical Support | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Technical Advisory Calls | 2 per year | 2 per year | 2 per year |
| Data Mapping Review | — | Basic | Customized |
| Sandbox Integration Guidance | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Quarterly Strategy / Technical Meetings | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| RFI / RFP Opportunity Guidance | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Joint Marketing Opportunities | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dedicated CE Technical Contact | — | — | ✔ |
| Executive Strategy Meetings | — | — | ✔ |
| Priority Production Support | — | — | ✔ |
Additional Services
Credential Engine may provide customized services beyond the standard integration tiers where additional technical or strategic support is required.
These services are scoped separately and may include:
Advanced data mapping and schema consulting
Integration architecture planning
Implementation consulting and technical advisory services
Customized Registry integrations or data workflows
Pricing and Terms
Developer Integration Program tiers are billed annually and renew each year unless terminated in accordance with the Credential Engine Developer Agreement. Selected tiers and payment terms are defined within the agreement.
Annual service tiers support the ongoing maintenance and development of Credential Engine technologies, including the Credential Registry infrastructure, CTDL schema development, and technical guidance supporting successful integrations across the credential transparency ecosystem.
Get in Touch
Our team of experts is ready to help you embark your credential transparency journey. Whether you have questions about our technologies, services, or don’t know how to get started, we’re here to assist.