California launches pilot for ‘Career Passport’ digital workforce tool

California officials on Wednesday launched the pilot phase of the state’s Career Passport, a new digital credentialing tool designed to help workers showcase skills and qualifications gained through education, military service, job training and work experience, regardless of whether they hold a four-year degree.

The pilot aims to give workers a portable, verified record of their competencies while helping employers identify qualified candidates based on demonstrated skills rather than traditional degree requirements.

According to the governor’s office, the tool will connect job seekers with employment opportunities by combining academic records with verified credentials, licenses, apprenticeships, military experience and other workforce training achievements. The effort builds on California’s broader push to modernize workforce development and reduce barriers to state employment for workers without bachelor’s degrees.

“We’re working to connect qualified Californians to employment opportunities they may have otherwise been overlooked for,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in the announcement. “California’s Career Passport will be a win-win for our workforce, ensuring that relevant skills, credentials and real-world experience are recognized, and that capable workers are not being filtered out simply because they lack a four-year degree.”

State planning documents from March outlined a phased implementation for the pilot, beginning with testing the platform among a cohort of colleges and employer partners before expanding statewide. According to the report, the state plans to expand the platform following pilot testing and user feedback, with broader implementation expected in the coming years.

The program’s launch follows more than a year of planning by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, and the Office of Cradle-to-Career Data, which published early-career datasets last year that show how the state’s education systems shape its workforce across different communities and demographics.

Officials say that Career Passport could eventually help workers translate nontraditional learning experiences into recognized credentials while providing employers with a more complete picture of applicants’ capabilities.

“California is committed to ensuring every person has access to family sustaining careers by building a workforce system that starts with the realities of workers, no matter where they begin,” California Labor and Workforce Development Agency Secretary Stewart Knox said in the release.