TOSA Certifications — 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 +

High school students working in a classroom

Students working at computers in a classroom

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.

All 13 Tosa certifications approved on the 2025 Texas IBC list are classified as Tier 2, reflecting their strong industry recognition, alignment with Texas CTE career pathways, and meaningful workforce relevance for digital skills occupations.

Approved Tosa Certifications

Thirteen (13) Tosa certifications are approved on the Texas 2025 IBC List. The table below shows each certification, its TEA IBC ID, aligned career cluster, TEKS courses, tier, and the minimum score required for accountability credit. Certifications are grouped by career cluster.

Tosa Certification	IBC ID	Career Cluster	Aligned TEKS Courses	Tier	Min. Score
Arts, Audio/Visual Technology, and Communications
Tosa Adobe Illustrator	1295	Arts, A/V Technology & Communications	Animation II; Animation II Lab; Digital Art and Animation	Tier 2	726 / 1000 — Advanced
Tosa Adobe InDesign	1296	Arts, A/V Technology & Communications	Animation II; Animation II Lab; Digital Art and Animation; Printing & Imaging Tech II & Lab	Tier 2	726 / 1000 — Advanced
Tosa Adobe Photoshop	1298	Arts, A/V Technology & Communications	Animation II; Animation II Lab; Commercial Photography II & Lab; Digital Art and Animation	Tier 2	726 / 1000 — Advanced
Tosa Adobe Premiere Pro	1297	Arts, A/V Technology & Communications	Audio/Video Production II; Audio/Video Production II Lab	Tier 2	726 / 1000 — Advanced
Architecture and Construction
Tosa for Autodesk AutoCAD	1299	Architecture and Construction	Architectural Design II	Tier 2	726 / 1000 — Advanced
Business, Marketing, and Finance
Tosa Certified User for Google Workspace	1302	Business, Marketing, and Finance	Accounting II; Financial Analysis	Tier 2	726 / 1000 — Advanced
Tosa Certified User for Microsoft Office	1303	Business, Marketing, and Finance	Accounting II; Financial Analysis	Tier 2	726 / 1000 — Advanced
Tosa Google Sheets	1305	Business, Marketing, and Finance	Accounting II; Financial Analysis	Tier 2	726 / 1000 — Advanced
Tosa Microsoft Excel	1301	Business, Marketing, and Finance	Accounting II; Financial Analysis	Tier 2	726 / 1000 — Advanced
Information Technology
Tosa CyberCitizen	1300	Information Technology	CyberSecurity Capstone	Tier 2	726 / 1000 — Advanced
Tosa JavaScript	1304	Information Technology	Computer Science II	Tier 2	726 / 1000 — Advanced
Tosa Python	1306	Information Technology	Computer Science II; Computer Science III	Tier 2	726 / 1000 — Advanced
Tosa Web Developer	1307	Information Technology	Computer Science II; Web Design	Tier 2	726 / 1000 — Advanced

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.

Students working on laptops in a classroom

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

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.

Educators discussing funding around a table

Texas IBC List