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Washington IRC List

  • Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
  • 10 Approved Certifications
  • Last updated: May 26, 2026

Ten Tosa digital skills certifications are officially approved on the Washington State-Approved Industry Recognized Credentials (IRC) List, giving Washington secondary CTE programs an OSPI-aligned way to validate career-ready digital skills. Approved certifications span two career clusters: Business Management & Administration and Information Technology.

Download the Washington IRC List (Appendix AK) +

The Official Approved List

About Washington's IRC Program — In OSPI's Words

"CTE promotes and supports locally-based middle and high school programs that provide 21st-century, academic and technical skills for all students. CTE classes can often fulfill academic credits required for high school graduation and some classes are even good for tuition-free college credit."

— Washington OSPI, CTE Resources & Essentials

Washington evaluates industry-recognized credentials for approval based on three criteria: they are attainable by high school students; they are recognized by industry, professional, or government entities; and they are valued by employers as evidence of workforce readiness or advancement skills.

OSPI CTE Resources & Essentials +
High school students working in a classroom
Students working at computers in a classroom

Eligible Schools and Grades

Washington's IRC program serves middle school and high school students through local district CTE programs.

CategoryWashington Eligibility
School TypesTraditional public school districts; State-Tribal Education Compact Schools
Primary Grade LevelsGrades 9–12 (secondary CTE programs); some middle school programs may be eligible
Program ParticipationStudents enrolled in OSPI-approved CTE programs aligned to the credential's career cluster and CTE program area

Key note: IRC results must be reported through CEDARS using the correct data elements (E15 and H31) and the valid IRC code from the current Appendix AK. Results submitted with invalid or outdated codes will not be counted.

How Tosa Certifications Appear in Appendix AK

Washington's IRC list groups certifications under umbrella names. For example, Adobe Certified Associate Certifications (Various Certs) covers all individual Adobe Tosa certifications. Each certification row below shows the individual Tosa cert name alongside its umbrella IRC code and OSPI name used for CEDARS reporting.

⚠ Important: IRC codes and valid values are updated annually. Using a code removed or changed in a new Appendix AK version will cause a CEDARS reporting error. Always cross-reference submissions against the current Appendix AK before the submission window closes.

Approved Tosa Certifications

All 10 Tosa certifications are approved on the Washington 2025–26 IRC List across two career clusters. The table below shows each certification with its OSPI IRC code, umbrella credential name from Appendix AK, career cluster, CTE program area, and required proficiency level.

Tosa CertificationIRC CodeOSPI Credential Name (Umbrella)Career ClusterCTE Program AreaRequired Level & Min. Score
Business Management and Administration
Tosa Google Docs 90 Google Workspace Certification (formerly G-Suite) Business Management & Administration Business & Marketing Basic · min. 351 / 1,000
Tosa Google Sheets 90 Google Workspace Certification (formerly G-Suite) Business Management & Administration Business & Marketing Basic · min. 351 / 1,000
Tosa Google Slides 90 Google Workspace Certification (formerly G-Suite) Business Management & Administration Business & Marketing Basic · min. 351 / 1,000
Information Technology
Tosa Adobe Illustrator 19 Adobe Certified Associate Certifications (Various Certs) Information Technology Business & Marketing Productive · min. 551 / 1,000
Tosa Adobe InDesign 19 Adobe Certified Associate Certifications (Various Certs) Information Technology Business & Marketing Productive · min. 551 / 1,000
Tosa Adobe Photoshop 19 Adobe Certified Associate Certifications (Various Certs) Information Technology Business & Marketing Productive · min. 551 / 1,000
Tosa Adobe Premiere Pro 19 Adobe Certified Associate Certifications (Various Certs) Information Technology Business & Marketing Productive · min. 551 / 1,000
Tosa WordPress 113 WordPress (Certified Developer, Certified Administrator, Elementor Specialist, WooCommerce Specialist) Information Technology Business & Marketing Productive · min. 551 / 1,000
Tosa JavaScript 93 Javascript/Java Programming Certification (Various Certs) Information Technology Business & Marketing Productive · min. 551 / 1,000
Tosa Python 101 Python Coding Certification (Various Certs) Information Technology Business & Marketing Productive · min. 551 / 1,000

About the required level & score: All Tosa certifications are scored on a 1–1,000 scale. Washington applies Tosa's standard cut scores for each proficiency level.

Accountability Mechanism and Reporting

How IRCs Count Toward Accountability

In Washington, approved IRCs count toward student CTE completion records and district-level reporting on workforce readiness. Earned credentials support Perkins V secondary performance indicators and inform statewide CTE program quality measures.

Districts that actively report IRC completions demonstrate stronger CTE program outcomes, supporting continued Perkins V funding allocations and state CTE investment decisions.

Students working on laptops in a classroom
Reporting dashboard on a tablet

Reporting Process

Reporting ElementWashington Details
Reporting SystemCEDARS (Comprehensive Education Data and Research System) — OSPI's statewide K–12 data platform
Key Data ElementsD17 — IRCs Offered · E15 — IRCs Earned (student level) · H31 — IRCs Earned (district level)
Valid IRC CodesCodes must match the current Appendix AK for the applicable school year. OSPI updates valid values annually in the CEDARS Data Manual.
Submission WindowFollows OSPI's annual CEDARS data calendar. Confirm current-year deadlines with OSPI or your regional ESD.
Who ReportsDistrict CTE directors and CEDARS data coordinators
Accountability EffectReported IRC completions count toward CTE program outcome data, Perkins V secondary performance indicators, and district CTE completion rates

CEDARS Data Manual & reporting guidance: OSPI CTE Resources & Essentials

Funding

Washington provides multiple pathways to fund industry-recognized credential exams. The state has made dedicated legislative investments in credential access that can be combined with federal Perkins V funds and local CTE budgets.

Funding SourceWashington Details
State Investment (Primary)OSPI and the Washington Legislature have proposed and funded approximately $200 per certification to expand student access to industry-recognized credentials statewide. This funding is tied to OSPI's legislative budget requests supporting CTE credential attainment goals.
Perkins V (Federal CTE Funding)Federal CTE funds under Perkins V may be used for IRC exam purchases, program support, and related CTE costs for secondary programs.
Local District / CTE BudgetDistrict CTE budgets and local program funds can be used to purchase certification exams and support campus-level implementation.
CTE Enhancement GrantsFunding may be available through OSPI CTE enhancement grants, Career Connect Washington initiatives, workforce readiness programs, and regional ESD partnerships.
Dual Credit / Career Pathway ExpansionFunding tied to dual credit and career pathway expansion programs may support credential attainment where IRC completion aligns with course credit frameworks.

Key Criteria for State Funding

  • The certification must appear on the current OSPI-approved IRC list (Appendix AK for the applicable school year)
  • The student must be enrolled in an OSPI-approved CTE program aligned to the credential's career cluster and CTE program area
  • Results must be reported accurately through CEDARS using the correct data elements (E15, H31) and valid IRC codes
  • State per-certification investment (~$200) is subject to legislative appropriation; confirm current-year amounts with OSPI or your regional ESD

For detailed guidance: Districts should contact their OSPI Regional CTE Specialist or regional Educational Service District (ESD) for support on IRC funding, CEDARS reporting, and credential program implementation.

Educators discussing funding around a table
Student smiling with a laptop

Bring Washington-Approved Tosa Certifications to Your School

Empower your students with OSPI-recognized, industry-valued digital credentials and strengthen your CTE program's outcomes across Business and Technology pathways.

Talk to a Washington Education Specialist +

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