Thirteen Tosa digital skills certifications are officially approved on the Texas 2025–2030 Industry-Based Certifications (IBC) list, giving Texas high schools a powerful, TEA-aligned way to validate career-ready skills. Approved certifications span seven career clusters: Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications; Business, Marketing, and Finance; Information Technology; Architecture and Construction; Engineering; Manufacturing; and Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources.
Download the Texas IBC List +The Official Approved List
About the Texas IBC Program — In TEA's Words
"The purpose of the IBC list is to identify certifications that prepare students for success in the workforce, military, or postsecondary education. Texas Education Code §39.053 requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to account for high school students who earn an industry-based certification as one indicator within the student achievement domain of the state's public school accountability system."
— Texas Education Agency (TEA), Industry-Based Certifications
IBCs on this list must demonstrate strong alignment with Texas CTE Programs of Study, be industry-recognized, meet labor market relevance criteria, and support measurable student outcomes contributing to College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) goals.
List Overview Page +
Eligible Schools and Grades
The Texas IBC program is designed for high school students participating in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
| Category | Texas Eligibility |
|---|---|
| School Types | Texas public school districts and public charter schools |
| Primary Grade Levels | High School | Grades 9–12 |
| Program Participation | Students enrolled in TEA-approved CTE Programs of Study aligned to the approved certification |
Note: To generate accountability credit, certifications must be earned by students enrolled in an eligible CTE Program of Study at a Texas public school or public charter school, and results must be reported through PEIMS before the applicable submission deadline.
Tier Structure
The Texas IBC list uses a three-tier classification system.
Tier 1
Certifications with the strongest alignment to high-demand, high-wage occupations and demonstrated, significant labor market value. Highest accountability weight.
Tier 2
Industry-recognized certifications aligned with CTE Programs of Study and workforce needs, with solid labor market relevance. Broad applicability across career pathways.
Tier 3
Certifications that provide useful, foundational, or emerging skills but may have lower current workforce demand indicators. Still eligible for accountability credit.
Of the 13 Tosa certifications approved on the 2025–2030 Texas IBC list, 12 are classified as Tier 2 and one is classified as Tier 3. Each tier reflects the certification's demonstrated industry recognition, its alignment with Texas CTE Programs of Study, and its relevance to workforce demand for digital-skills occupations.
Approved Tosa Certifications
Thirteen (13) Tosa certifications are approved on the Texas 2025–2030 IBC List. The table below shows each certification, its TEA IBC ID, tier, aligned career cluster, aligned Programs of Study, and illustrative TEKS courses by Program of Study. Certifications are grouped by career cluster.
| Tosa Certification | Tier | Career Cluster | Aligned Programs of Study | Illustrative TEKS Courses by Program of Study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications
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Tosa for Adobe Illustrator IBC ID 1295 |
Tier 2 | Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications | Digital Communications Graphic Design and Interactive Media Printing and Imaging |
Digital Communications:
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Tosa for Adobe InDesign IBC ID 1296 |
Tier 2 | Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications | Digital Communications Graphic Design and Interactive Media Printing and Imaging |
Digital Communications:
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Tosa for Adobe Photoshop IBC ID 1297 |
Tier 2 | Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications | Digital Communications Graphic Design and Interactive Media Printing and Imaging |
Digital Communications:
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Tosa for Adobe Premiere IBC ID 1298 |
Tier 2 | Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications | Digital Communications Graphic Design and Interactive Media Printing and Imaging |
Digital Communications:
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Architecture and Construction · Engineering · Manufacturing
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Tosa for Autodesk AutoCAD IBC ID 1299 |
Tier 2 | Architecture and Construction Engineering Manufacturing |
Architectural Drafting and Design Civil Engineering Electrical Engineering Electronics Technology Engineering Foundations Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering |
Architectural Drafting and Design:
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Business, Marketing, and Finance
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Tosa Certified User for Google Workspace Professional level · IBC ID 1301 |
Tier 2 | Business, Marketing, and Finance | Business Management | Business Management:
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Tosa Certified User for Microsoft Office Professional level · IBC ID 1302 |
Tier 2 | Business, Marketing, and Finance | Business Management | Business Management:
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Tosa Google Sheets IBC ID 1303 |
Tier 3 | Business, Marketing, and Finance | Business Management | Business Management:
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Tosa Microsoft Excel IBC ID 1305 |
Tier 2 | Business, Marketing, and Finance | Accounting and Financial Services Business Management |
Accounting and Financial Services:
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| Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources | ||||
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Tosa Microsoft Excel IBC ID 1305 |
Tier 2 | Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources | Agriculture Business, Leadership, and Communications | Agriculture Business, Leadership, and Communications:
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Information Technology
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Tosa CyberCitizen IBC ID 1300 |
Tier 2 | Information Technology | Information Technology Support and Services | Information Technology Support and Services:
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Tosa JavaScript IBC ID 1304 |
Tier 2 | Information Technology | Cybersecurity Programming and Software Development Web Development |
Cybersecurity:
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Tosa Python IBC ID 1306 |
Tier 2 | Information Technology | Programming and Software Development | Programming and Software Development:
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Tosa Web Developer IBC ID 1307 |
Tier 2 | Information Technology | Web Development | Web Development:
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About the minimum score: Tosa certifications are scored on a 1–1,000 scale. A minimum score of 726 is required for a result to count toward IBC accountability credit. This corresponds to the Advanced proficiency level.
Accountability Mechanism and Reporting
How IBCs Count Toward Accountability
In Texas, approved IBCs contribute directly to the College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) indicators within the Texas Public School Accountability System. CCMR is a primary component of the Student Achievement Domain — one of the three domains in the statewide accountability framework used to rate campuses and districts.
When a high school student earns an approved IBC, the campus and district receive accountability credit for that student's CCMR status. This credit strengthens the campus's overall performance rating and counts toward the district's annual school report card.
Reporting Process
| Reporting Element | Texas Details |
|---|---|
| Reporting System | Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) — TEA's official data reporting platform for Texas public schools |
| Submission Window | Summer PEIMS submission or Extended Year PEIMS submission, depending on when the certification was earned during the school year |
| Who Reports | Campus and district CTE coordinators, in coordination with the district's PEIMS data coordinator |
| What Is Submitted | Certifying entity, TEA IBC ID, student identifier, and certification result (pass/score). All fields must be accurate for credit to be awarded. |
| Accountability Effect | Earned and reported certifications generate a CCMR indicator credit, contributing to the Student Achievement Domain score used in campus and district ratings |
⚠ Important: Certifications not reported through PEIMS within the applicable submission window will not count toward accountability, even if the student legitimately earned the certification. Schools should establish a clear internal process to track earned certifications and submit results on time.
Official PEIMS reporting guidance: TEA Data Submission page
Funding
Texas provides several pathways for schools and districts to fund Tosa certification exams. Beginning in the 2025–2026 school year, state reimbursement rules were updated to expand student access to certified credentials.
| Funding Source | Texas Details |
|---|---|
| State Reimbursement (Primary) | Districts may receive reimbursement for the first two certification exam attempts per student with a cost greater than $0, including any required background checks or fingerprinting. Results must be reported through PEIMS. Available to students at public schools and public charter schools. |
| Perkins V (Federal CTE Funding) | Federal Career and Technical Education funds under the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) may be used to support certification programs, exam purchases, and related CTE program costs. |
| Local District / CTE Budget | District CTE budgets and local program funds may be used to purchase certification exams and support campus-level implementation. |
| Grants and Workforce Partnerships | Additional funding may be available through workforce development initiatives, regional Education Service Centers (ESCs), or grant programs targeting CTE outcomes and career readiness. |
Key Criteria for State Reimbursement
Texas provides several pathways for schools and districts to fund Tosa certification exams. Beginning in the 2025–2026 school year, state reimbursement rules were updated to expand student access to certified credentials.
- The certification must appear on the current TEA-approved IBC list
- The student must be enrolled in an eligible CTE program at a Texas public school or public charter school
- Results must be reported accurately and on time through PEIMS
- Reimbursement is available for up to two exam attempts per student per certification
For detailed guidance: Districts should refer to TEA's official funding guidance and contact their regional Education Service Center (ESC) for support on certification reimbursement and eligible costs.
Bring Texas-Approved Tosa Certifications to Your School
Empower your students with state-recognized, industry-valued digital credentials and give your CTE programs a competitive edge in Texas's accountability system.
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