Credential Transparency Description Language Release History

This page displays the release history for the Credential Transparency Description Language schema. Each release contains a set of changes, which are documented below. Each change describes what was changed, why, and links to one or more relevant Github issues.

September 2026 CTDL Release (20260927) (Current Release)

This is the September 2026 CTDL release.

View Terms | Jump to Mapping Changes

ceterms:Format View Term History: JSON Turtle

Change:

rdfs:label: Added
en-US Format
vs:term_status: Added vs:unstable
rdfs:comment: Added
en-US Types of file format, based on MIME types.

Reason:

en-US Allow notes containing supplementary information that does not fit well in the description.

https://github.com/CredentialEngine/Schema-Development/issues/1081

ceterms:hasPrimaryPathway View Term History: JSON Turtle

Change:

rdfs:subPropertyOf: Added ceterms:hasPathway
schema:rangeIncludes: Added ceterms:Pathway
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:PathwaySet
rdfs:comment: Added
en-US Required, recommended or most commonly taken pathway in a set.
rdfs:label: Added
en-US Has Primary Pathway
vs:term_status: Added vs:unstable

Reason:

en-US Clarify how pathway sets may show multiple destination options, e.g. off-ramps from a program.

https://github.com/CredentialEngine/Schema-Development/issues/1059

ceterms:pathwaySetType View Term History: JSON Turtle

Change:

vann:usageNote: Added
en-US Recommended best practice for is to select from an existing concept scheme, such as the ceterms:PathwayType value vocabulary.
meta:targetScheme: Added ceterms:PathwayType
vs:term_status: Added vs:unstable
schema:rangeIncludes: Added skos:Concept
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:PathwaySet
rdfs:comment: Added
en-US Type of pathway set indicating the purpose and nature of the collection of pathways.
rdfs:label: Added
en-US Pathway Set Type

Reason:

en-US Clarify how pathway sets may show multiple destination options, e.g. off-ramps from a program.

https://github.com/CredentialEngine/Schema-Development/issues/1059

ceterms:PathwayType View Term History: JSON Turtle

Change:

rdfs:comment: Added
en-US Types of pathway sets used to indicate the purpose and nature of the collection of pathways.
vs:term_status: Added vs:unstable
rdfs:label: Added
en-US Pathway Type

Reason:

en-US Clarify how pathway sets may show multiple destination options, e.g. off-ramps from a program.

https://github.com/CredentialEngine/Schema-Development/issues/1059

ceterms:prerequisite View Term History: JSON Turtle

Change:

rdfs:comment: Added
en-US Course requirements that are prior conditions to this course.
vann:usageNote: Added
en-US Conditions of entry into Programs can be specified with entryCondition.
schema:rangeIncludes: Added ceterms:ConditionProfile
vann:usageNote: Removed
en-US Conditions of entry into Programs can be specified with entryCondition; requirements for Courses other than prerequisite Courses (e.g., Competencies) can be specified with requires.
rdfs:comment: Removed Course that is required as a prior condition to this course.

Reason:

en-US Allow Conditions on course prerequisites.

https://github.com/CredentialEngine/Schema-Development/issues/1086

costType:StandaloneAssessment View Term History: JSON Turtle

Change:

skos:prefLabel: Added
en-US Standalone Assessment
skos:prefLabel: Removed
en-US Standalone/Extra Assessment

Reason:

en-US Align property label with name.

https://github.com/CredentialEngine/Schema-Development/issues/1085

elm:additionalNote View Term History: JSON Turtle

Change:

schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:AssessmentProfile
rdfs:label: Added
en-US additional note
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:LearningProgram
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:PostBaccalaureateCertificate
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:GeneralEducationLevel2Certificate
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:AcademicCertificate
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:ApprenticeshipCertificate
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:Certificate
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:AssociateOfAppliedScienceDegree
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:ResearchDoctorate
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:HigherEducationLevel1Certificate
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:GeneralEducationDevelopment
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:CertificateOfCompletion
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:Diploma
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:QualityAssuranceCredential
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:Certification
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:MicroCredential
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:ProfessionalDoctorate
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:Course
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:MasterOfScienceDegree
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:ProficiencyCertificate
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:SpecialistDegree
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:HigherEducationLevel2Certificate
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:TechnicalLevel2Certificate
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:CertificateOfParticipation
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:BachelorOfScienceDegree
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:OpenBadge
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:CredentialType
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:JourneymanCertificate
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:BachelorDegree
schema:rangeIncludes: Added elm:Note
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:MasterDegree
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:TechnicalLevel1Certificate
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:Badge
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:AssociateOfAppliedArtsDegree
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:GeneralEducationLevel1Certificate
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:BachelorOfArtsDegree
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:ProfessionalCertificate
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:AssociateOfScienceDegree
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:MasterCertificate
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:AssociateDegree
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:DoctoralDegree
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:PreApprenticeshipCertificate
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:DigitalBadge
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:AssociateOfArtsDegre
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:SecondarySchoolDiploma
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:MasterOfArtsDegree
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:PostMasterCertificate
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:WorkBasedLearningCertificate
rdfs:comment: Added
en-US Further information about an object or topic supplied as free text.
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:License
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:TechnicalLevel3Certificate
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:SecondaryEducationCertificate
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:BasicTechnicalCertificate
vs:term_status: Added vs:unstable
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:Degree
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:LearningOpportunityProfile
schema:domainIncludes: Added ceterms:Credential

Reason:

en-US Allow notes containing supplementary information that does not fit well in the description.

https://github.com/CredentialEngine/Schema-Development/issues/1081

elm:Note View Term History: JSON Turtle

Change:

rdfs:label: Added
en-US Note
rdfs:comment: Added
en-US A formatted character string (i.e., a finite set of characters) generally in the form of words of a language. The character string is passed/included in, and can be represented as, a (formatted) document fragment (formatted) according to a given mimetype (e.g., text/plain, text/html, etc.).
vs:term_status: Added vs:unstable

Reason:

en-US Allow notes containing supplementary information that does not fit well in the description.

https://github.com/CredentialEngine/Schema-Development/issues/1081

elm:noteFormat View Term History: JSON Turtle

Change:

rdfs:label: Added
en-US note format
vs:term_status: Added vs:unstable
schema:domainIncludes: Added elm:Note
rdfs:comment: Added
en-US The format of the note.
schema:rangeIncludes: Added skos:Concept

Reason:

en-US Allow notes containing supplementary information that does not fit well in the description.

https://github.com/CredentialEngine/Schema-Development/issues/1081

elm:noteLiteral View Term History: JSON Turtle

Change:

vs:term_status: Added vs:unstable
rdfs:comment: Added
en-US The textual content of further information about an object or topic supplied as free text.
rdfs:label: Added
en-US note literal
schema:rangeIncludes: Added rdfs:langString
schema:domainIncludes: Added elm:Note

Reason:

en-US Allow notes containing supplementary information that does not fit well in the description.

https://github.com/CredentialEngine/Schema-Development/issues/1081

format:plainText View Term History: JSON Turtle

Change:

vs:term_status: Added vs:unstable
skos:topConceptOf: Added ceterms:Format
skos:definition: Added
en-US Plain text, equivalent to the text/plain MIME type.
skos:prefLabel: Added
en-US Plain Text
skos:inScheme: Added ceterms:Format

Reason:

en-US Allow notes containing supplementary information that does not fit well in the description.

https://github.com/CredentialEngine/Schema-Development/issues/1081

pathwayType:CommonDestination View Term History: JSON Turtle

Change:

skos:definition: Added
en-US The pathways in the set share the same destination.
skos:prefLabel: Added
en-US Common Destination
vs:term_status: Added vs:unstable
skos:topConceptOf: Added ceterms:PathwayType
skos:inScheme: Added ceterms:PathwayType
vann:usageNote: Added
en-US May be useful for describing different ways of achieving an outcome depending on the individuals current situation.

Reason:

en-US Clarify how pathway sets may show multiple destination options, e.g. off-ramps from a program.

https://github.com/CredentialEngine/Schema-Development/issues/1059

pathwayType:CommonOrigin View Term History: JSON Turtle

Change:

vann:usageNote: Added
en-US May be useful for describing different outcomes that may be reached after starting a learning opportunity or career pathway.
skos:topConceptOf: Added ceterms:PathwayType
vs:term_status: Added vs:unstable
skos:inScheme: Added ceterms:PathwayType
skos:definition: Added
en-US The pathways in the set share the same origin.
skos:prefLabel: Added
en-US Common Origin

Reason:

en-US Clarify how pathway sets may show multiple destination options, e.g. off-ramps from a program.

https://github.com/CredentialEngine/Schema-Development/issues/1059

pathwayType:MultipleDestinations View Term History: JSON Turtle

Change:

vs:term_status: Added vs:unstable
skos:prefLabel: Added
en-US Multiple Destinations
skos:inScheme: Added ceterms:PathwayType
vann:usageNote: Added
en-US May be useful for describing different outcomes that may be reached after starting a learning opportunity or career pathway.
skos:topConceptOf: Added ceterms:PathwayType
skos:definition: Added
en-US The pathways in the set reach different destinations.

Reason:

en-US Clarify how pathway sets may show multiple destination options, e.g. off-ramps from a program.

https://github.com/CredentialEngine/Schema-Development/issues/1059

pathwayType:MultipleOrigins View Term History: JSON Turtle

Change:

vs:term_status: Added vs:unstable
skos:prefLabel: Added
en-US Multiple Origins
vann:usageNote: Added
en-US May be useful for describing different ways of achieving an outcome depending on the individuals current situation.
skos:definition: Added
en-US The pathways in the set start from different origins.
skos:inScheme: Added ceterms:PathwayType
skos:topConceptOf: Added ceterms:PathwayType