# 119-hr-1446: Validate Prior Learning to Accelerate Employment Act

119-hr-1446, Validate Prior Learning to Accelerate Employment Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12] (R-GA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1446
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-1446
- Congress: 119
- Title: Validate Prior Learning to Accelerate Employment Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-02-21
- Sponsor: Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12] (R-GA)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Labor and Employment
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Competency-based assessments** would be added to state and local workforce programs to validate adults' prior learning and speed placement into in-demand jobs. The bill would amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to let states identify or build assessments that lead to credentials, credit, clearer job matches, and skills-based resumes. - Workers and jobseekers: Adults and dislocated workers could earn a recognized postsecondary credential or credit based on validated skills, helping them move into in-demand occupations faster. - Employers: States would support employers, including small and mid-sized firms, with technical assistance to validate assessments and create skills-based job descriptions so hiring can focus on demonstrated skills instead of degrees. - Local workforce and training systems: One-stop centers, local boards, training providers, and colleges would use competency-based assessments at initial skill checks and after training, and would share which employers and institutions recognize the validated skills.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21] (R-NY), 2025-04-08T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Job skills tests count toward credentials: benefit, low. If enacted, states would set up tests to measure what adults and dislocated workers already know and can do. The tests would be built with employers, colleges, training providers, and local workforce boards. You could use results to earn a recognized credential or get credit toward one in an in-dem…
- Help for employers using skills-based hiring: benefit, low. If enacted, states would help employers shift to skills-based hiring. Employers could get help to use and validate job assessments and to write skills-based job descriptions. States would share which assessments and credentials are recognized and how people can access them through one-stop job cent…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-833: Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
- 119-hr-987: Fair Access to Banking Act
- 119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
- 119-hr-7: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-1446 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1446)

## Related
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-833: Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-833)
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [119-hr-987: Fair Access to Banking Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-987)
- [119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage A…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-842)
- [119-hr-7: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1446 (as of 2026-04-21).