Prior learning assessment and competency-based education in advanced manufacturing

The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded Renton Technical College $996,276 on August 1, 2026, under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) to develop prior-learning assessment and competency-based education pathways in advanced manufacturing.

Renton Technical College will implement prior-learning assessment standards including transcript review, portfolios, and competency-based skills assessment to accelerate students' progression toward aerospace advanced manufacturing careers. The college will revise curriculum to focus on competency-based education outcomes and establish work-based learning opportunities that count toward certificate and degree completion. These initiatives target credentialed machinists, mechatronics technicians, and welders needed to address workforce shortages in Washington state's aerospace manufacturing sector, enabling incumbent workers and students with prior experience to upskill without repeating known content.

The award runs through July 31, 2029, with place of performance in Renton, Washington.

Abstract

Across the united states, the state of washington exports more aerospace products than the next seven aerospace manufacturing states combined. As aerospace continues to grow in the state of washington, the demand for skilled technicians in advanced manufacturing is high and urgent. Due to the rapid growth of manufacturing, the aerospace manufacturing sector is struggling to meet the demand for new technicians and employees with the necessary qualifications. Credentialed machinists, mechatronics technicians, and welders are a subset of essential employees needed to support the growing demand in the aerospace advanced manufacturing sector. Shortening the timeline of the academic training and certification pathway and reducing related costs would be critical to addressing workforce shortages and sustaining regional economic growth. This project will enable renton technical college to utilize strategies to accelerate students' educational journey towards employment. Renton community college will provide support to connect students to work-based learning opportunities that will count toward certificate/degree completion and provide experiential education. This project will thus provide accessible, supportive academic pathways to high-wage, high-demand aerospace advanced manufacturing careers. Access to well-paying jobs as part of the skilled technician workforce is an opportunity to advance the US economy and well-being of communities. To rapidly train technicians for these high-technology areas, renton technical college will adopt standards for prior-learning assessment including transcript review, portfolios, and competency-based skills assessment to ensure students with prior learning and incumbent workers are able to upskill quickly without repeating content they already know. Faculty will revise curriculum to focus on competency-based education outcomes that allow for open entry/open exit courses that let students to progress at their own pace. The evaluation plan will make use of both formative and summative components to assess the fidelity and effectiveness of the program. This project is funded by the advanced technological education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.