A study was conducted in summer 1982 by Project REA to provide employment skill training operators and educators in Illinois with information about the reactions, attitudes, and beliefs of employers toward various forms of accreditation of training, i.e., academic credit, nonacademic credit, certificates, degrees, diplomas, and licenses. The study population included 1,000 randomly selected Illinois employers drawn equally from Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) counties (i.e., urban areas) and non-SMSA counties (i.e., rural areas). Study findings, based on responses from 6.8% of the SMSA employers and 7.8% of the non-SMSA employers, included the following: (1) 96% of the respondents represented small businesses; (2) 79% felt that prior job experience was more important than formal training; (3) 76% of the entry-level jobs mentioned by the respondents required a high school diploma or General Education Development certificate; (4) employers generally had a positive attitude towards academic credit, competency-based certificates, and certificates of completion, and a negative attitude toward certificates of attendance and nonacademic credit; (5) 51% of the respondents felt that recorded credentials made an applicant more employable, while 45% said they did not; and (6) urban and rural employers differed in their perceptions of the importance of recorded credentials, credit leading to a degree, and competency-based certificates. Data tables and the survey instrument are appended. (DAB)