The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
- (1) Career Cluster--Commissioner-approved organizing unit that is the basis for the development of programs of study.
- (2) Coordinating Board--The agency known as the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, including agency staff.
- (3) Commissioner--The Texas Commissioner of Higher Education.
- (4) Credential--A grouping of subject matter courses or demonstrated mastery of specified content which entitles a student to documentary evidence of completion. This term encompasses certificate programs, degree programs, and other kinds of formal recognition such as short-term workforce credentials or a combination thereof.
- (5) Equivalent Course Credit--Credit awarded to a student, in recognition that a course from one two-year institution is comparable to a course at another two-year institution, that allows the student to fulfill credential completion requirements.
- (6) Program of Study Curriculum--The block of courses that progress in content specificity by beginning with all aspects of a career cluster, including career and technical education standards, which address relevant career and technical education content and that incorporate entry and exit points.
- (7) Program of Study Foundation Courses--A set of core career and technical education courses that compose the Program of Study Curriculum in a Level 1 Certificate.
- (8) Program of Study Level 1 Certificate--The credential conferred to a student upon successful completion of the Program of Study Curriculum. A Program of Study Level 1 Certificate consists of at least 15 semester credit hours and no more than 42 semester credit hours and is designed for a student to complete in one calendar year or less.
- (9) Public Two-Year Institution--Any community, technical, or state college as defined in Texas Education Code, §61.003.
- (10) Workforce Education Course Manual--An online database composed of the Coordinating Board's statewide inventory of approved career and technical education courses available for institutions to use in industry-recognized credentials, certificates, and applied associate degree programs.
Source Note:The provisions of this §4.251 adopted to be effective November 13, 2025, 50 TexReg 7239.