Technical Skill Attainment, CIP & SOC Codes

Technical Skills Attainment

Technical Skill Attainment (TSA) is an initiative adopted by the system which originated in the Carl Perkins IV legislation. The System Office’s role is to manage this initiative and support the implementation of assessments for over 349 programs. WTCS programs will assess the attainment of program outcomes to ensure graduates have the technical skills needed by employers. The assessments are collaboratively developed by instructors within the WTCS, industry stakeholders and WIDS. This initiative is supported by employers, approved by the System Office and implemented by districts. They meet state criteria including validity, reliability, and fairness.

Programs with approved Phase I and/or Phase II’s can be found in the WTCS Portal, which can be accessed from here by scrolling down to “Links for Districts” and click on the “Link to WTCS Portal.” Once inside the Portal, go to “Instructional Reports-All Active Programs,” and generate report PGM300 (VE701300).

See Chapter 9 of the Educational Services Manual for additional TSA information.

CIP Codes

The Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) provides a taxonomic scheme that supports the accurate tracking and reporting of fields of study and program completions activity. CIP was originally developed by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in 1980, with revisions occurring in 1985, 1990, and 2000.

In the Wisconsin Technical College System, CIP Codes are aligned to programs through a collaborative process between college staff and System Office Education Directors, in consultation with the Institutional Research Committee. CIP code assignments can be found through WTCS reports. For more information on CIP codes, visit the IPEDS CIP User Site.

SOC Codes

The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system is used by federal agencies to classify workers into occupational categories for the purpose of collecting, calculating, and disseminating data. SOC codes are used by various federal and state agencies to collect and report data on employment, wages, and job duties. This information is crucial for workforce development, policy making, and educational program alignment. Browse SOC codes on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website and see Department of Labor’s O*NET site for detailed occupational information.

View the WTCS Program to SOC Crosswalk (viewable excel spreadsheet in Onedrive).

WTCS Guidance on CIP & SOC Codes for Programs

When submitting a new program for WTCS approval, colleges should follow the structured protocol (select the blue button to view the pdf) to ensure accurate identification of the appropriate SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) and CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) codes. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please reach out to the WTCS Director for the program’s instructional area and Hilary Barker, State Director for CTE (hilary.barker@wtcsystem.edu).