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California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a new framework for the Master Plan for Career Education, a statewide initiative aimed at expanding career pathways, enhancing hands-on learning, and promoting access to well-paying jobs. The plan seeks to create a more comprehensive skill-building system that aligns with the state’s diverse workforce needs. The final version of the Master Plan is expected to be released early next year, with funding allocated in the upcoming state budget.
The plan emphasizes the value of both four-year college degrees and non-college pathways, aiming to equip Californians with the skills necessary for career-sustaining jobs. Newsom stated, “Every Californian deserves the opportunity to build real-life skills and pursue a fulfilling career — including those that don’t require college degrees.”
One major feature of the plan is the introduction of Career Passports, a digital tool to help workers document their skills and experience. This tool will combine academic records with verified skills obtained through job training, military service, and volunteer work. Employers can use Career Passports to evaluate potential hires based on demonstrated skills rather than degrees alone.
The initiative builds on the state’s push for earn-and-learn apprenticeships. Since 2019, over 190,000 Californians have completed apprenticeship programs. To further expand these opportunities, the state invested $221 million last fiscal year, aiming to support 500,000 apprentices by 2029.
A $100 million budget allocation will expand California’s Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) system. This effort will enable veterans and other workers to convert real-world experience into college credits, which could significantly reduce education costs. Currently, some colleges offer this option, but the plan aims to establish a statewide system, benefiting an estimated 250,000 Californians, including 30,000 veterans. Veterans could save an average of $26,115 in education costs and gain $161,115 in lifetime benefits, generating long-term economic benefits of $28.8 billion over 20 years.
The plan includes the creation of a statewide coordinating body to connect education systems, workforce development providers, and employers. The goal is to assess labor market shifts, streamline funding, and prepare workers for high-demand fields. At the regional level, the plan calls for partnerships with local employers to identify critical skills, expand paid internships, and make funding more accessible.
In line with the Governor’s Freedom to Succeed Executive Order, California has removed degree requirements for nearly 30,000 state jobs, with a goal to double that number next year. The California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) is reviewing state job classifications to eliminate degree requirements where possible. The effort aims to modernize the hiring process and remove unnecessary barriers to public service jobs.
The Master Plan for Career Education builds on California’s 1960s Master Plan for Higher Education, which established a structure for community colleges, CSU, and UC systems. As technological advances and automation reshape the labor market, the new plan seeks to address the evolving workforce landscape.
The announcement was made in Redding, as part of the North State Regional Plan — one of 13 regional plans developed through input from over 10,000 community members and experts. The statewide effort is backed by a public-private partnership with philanthropic support. Alongside the plan, the state is expected to allocate $120 million for regional job-creating projects over the next three years.
The final Master Plan for Career Education and the complete Economic Blueprint are scheduled for release early next year.
