Miami Dade College Ranks #1 for Third Year in a Row for Students Earning Industry Certifications

College received more than $1.5 million in performance funding to support student and academic success

Miami, Sept. 19, 2022 – Miami Dade College (MDC) once again ranks number one in the Florida College System (FCS) for reporting the most students earning industry certifications during the 2022 state reporting year. The College achieved the top spot for the third year in a row and the fourth time in five years, reporting 1,568 certifications in the areas of technology, nursing, health sciences, justice, and wellness. This is an especially significant accomplishment because testing centers have been operating at a limited capacity throughout the pandemic.

“We are committed to supporting our students and the community to obtain the necessary credentials to be successful in the current job market,” said MDC President Madeline Pumariega. “This recognition is a testament to the work we are doing behind the scenes to grow the local workforce and boost the economy.”

The performance funding for more than $1.5 million will be used to increase the number of students who earn industry certifications by focusing on current and new initiatives, including offering new industry credentials aligned with curriculum. MDC allocates these funds to increase industry certifications and advance other priorities that support student and academic success. Many of the courses aligned with an industry certification include vouchers to take certification exams for free or students receive reimbursement after passing an eligible industry certification exam. In addition, students can also earn credits at MDC if they have active industry certifications that align with courses toward an Associate in Science or baccalaureate programs.

An industry certification is a credential recognized by business and industry. It is earned through an assessment administered and recognized by an industry third-party or governing board. They are valuable to employers because they measure competency and validate knowledge of skills in a particular industry, giving students an added advantage in a competitive job market.

Over the past five years, Antonio Delgado, Vice President of Innovation and Technology Partnerships, and Silvio Rodriguez, Director of Assessment, Evaluation, and Testing have led the industry certification initiative at MDC. Their leadership and collaboration with multiple areas have contributed to the College securing more than $6.5 million in performance funding to support thousands of students in completing their college education.

Learn more about industry certifications offered at MDC at www.mdc.edu/industrycertifications.