NATIONAL CAREER READINESS CERTIFICATE

1

• NATIONAL CAREER READINESS CERTIFICATE
• NCRC

2
Overview of ACT, Inc.

• Founded in 1959 as American College Testing
  Now ACT
• Mission Driven Helping People Achieve Education
  and Workplace Success
• 501(c)(3) not-for-profit
• Known for the ACT Test
• WorkKeys gaining rapid awareness

3
Overview of ACT, Inc.

• ACT is Divided into Divisions
• Education
• WorkForce Development

4
Overview of ACT, Inc.

• Education
• Discover
• Explore for 8th Graders
• Plan for 10th Graders
• ACT for 11-12th Graders
• Compass Post High School

5
Overview of ACT, Inc.

• WorkForce Development
• Sales and Marketing
• WorkKeys
• National Career Readiness Certification
• Professional Development Services
• Certification and Licensure
• Test Development
• Test Administration

6
Overview of ACT, Inc.

• WorkKeys System
• Job Skills Documentation
• Profiling, Skill Map, Estimator
• Foundational Skills Assessments
• 9 Cognitive Assessments
• Personal Skills Assessments
• Performance, Talent, Fit
• Training
• National Career Readiness Certificate System

7

• THE WORKKEYS SYSTEM

8
The Most Comprehensive Assessment of Workplace
Skills

• Problem Solving
• Applied Mathematics
• Applied Technology
• Locating Information
• Observation
• Interpersonal Skills
• Teamwork

• Communication
• Business Writing
• Listening
• Reading for Information
• Writing
• NEW!
• Personal Skills
• Performance
• Talent
• Fit

9
The Three Components of the System

• Job Analysis
• What skills and skill levels are needed in
  todays jobs/occupations?
• Assessment / WorkKeysWhat work skills and
  skill levels does the individual currently have?
• Training / WIN / KeyTrain
• How can skill gaps be addressed in training
  programs?

10
Job Analysis

• Job Profiling
• Customized Job Task and Skill Levels
• SkillMapTM
• Online service linked to ONET Tasks
• Job/skill specific
• WorkKeys EstimatorTM
• Fast Efficient Process
• Uses Occ Profiles and ONET Titles

The process of Job Analysis sets the bar and
gives you concrete information about the skills
required in each of your positions.
11
The Assessments

• Assessments include
• Reading for Information
• Applied Math
• Applied Technology
• Locating Information
• Business Writing
• Writing
• Listening
• Observation
• Teamwork
• Personal Skills
• Performance
• Talent
• Fit

Testing gives you reliable information about your
applicants and employees skills and how they
compare to skill levels required for jobs.
12
Training

• Content
• Designed to fill gaps identified during WorkKeys
  assessment
• Target training dollars effectively
• WIN
• KeyTrain

Gap analysis shows how the applicant or employee
performed relative to the bar. Training is
available to close any gap.
13
GROWTH OF WORKKEYS

• In the early years 400,000/yr
• In the early 2000s 750,000/yr
• 2004-2007 1,000,000/yr
• Projected for 2008 1,500,000/yr

14
GROWTH OF BUSINESSES USING WORKKEYS

• In the early years Very Few
• In the early 2000s 500-1000
• 2004-2007 1500-2000
• Projected for 2008 3000

15
GROWTH OF STATEPROGRAMS CRCS

• In the early years
• 1992 2000 No Programs

16
GROWTH OF STATEPROGRAMS CRCS

• In the early 2000s 3 Programs
• Kentucky Jan 2003
• Louisiana Feb 2003
• Virginia Oct 2004

17
GROWTH OF STATE CRC PROGRAMS

• 2005-2007 14 More Programs
• Tennessee Oct 2005
• North Carolina Oct 2005
• Indiana Oct 2005
• West Virginia Jan 2006
• New Mexico July 2006
• Alabama Aug 2006
• Georgia Aug 2006
• Oklahoma Oct 2006
• Florida Apr 2007
• Michigan May 2007
• South Carolina July 2007
• Kansas July 2007
• Ohio Sept 2007
• Missouri Oct 2007

18
GROWTH OF STATE CRC PROGRAMS

• Projected for 2008 10 More Programs
• Arkansas Jan 2008
• Alaska April 2008
• Connecticut April 2008
• Oregon May 2008
• Wyoming May 2008
• Iowa June 2008
• Colorado June 2008
• Mississippi August 2008
• Connecticut Summer 08 Pilot
• Vermont Summer 08 Pilot

19

20

• NATIONAL CAREER READINESS CERTIFICATE
• NCRC

21
WHY THE NCRC

• Growth of WorkKeys Assessments
• Growth of Business use
• Growth of State Programs
• Need for a Nationally Portable Work Related
  Credential

22
The power of an idea

• In the 1950s, ACT created a nationally
  recognized, standardized resource for college
  entrance. Now, were doing the same thing for the
  workforce.
• Richard L. Ferguson
• CEO and chairman of ACT, Inc.

23
NCRC

• A WorkKeys Powered Credential
• Registered by ACT
• May Be Authenticated On Line
• A Nationally Portable Standard

24
The National Career Readiness System

• Promoting a common language for employers,
  individuals, educators
• Providing a system of standardized measurements
  for comparing workplace skills
• Integrating workforce initiatives at the state,
  regional, national levels
• Connecting hiring needs of employers with skilled
  individuals seeking careers

25
NCRC

• Reading for Information
• Applied Mathematics
• Locating Information

85 of ALL profiled occupations utilize these
skills
26
NCRC Principles

• Based on 3 WorkKeys Foundational Assessments
• Applied Mathematics
• Reading For Information
• Locating Information
• 3 Skill levels
• Bronze
• Silver
• Gold

27
NCRC Principles

• Performance standards
• All 3s or Above
• All 4s or Above
• All 5s or Above
• Scores not printed on certificate.
• No additional endorsements or training listed on
  the Certificate
• Tests administered under a proctored secure
  environment

28
Certificate Levels
Core employability skills for approximately 35
of jobs Core employability skills for
approximately 65 of jobs Core employability
skills for approximately 90 of jobs

29
(No Transcript)
30
Shared Benefits
Employers get meaningful evidence of skills that
lead to performance Educators receive clear
picture of employer expectations on
skills Individuals gain rewards for achieving
precise levels of skills that lead to jobs
31
Individual Benefits

• Distinguish Individual as a qualified applicant
• Identify individual skill gaps and train to close
  those gaps
• Rank above other job applicants or incumbents for
  job placement or promotion

10-Nov-06
32
Educator Benefits

• Focus Training Curricula on identified skill gaps
• Allows Educators to demonstrate student progress
• Linking academic achievement to career planning
  and job opportunities
• Offers a common language with Employers
• Increase Student employability

33
Employer Benefits

• Identifies key job skill requirements
• Identify pool of skilled job applicants
• Matches Employee Skills with Job Requirements
• Align Training for Incumbent Worker to specific
  job skill requirements
• Communicate effectively with Educators
• Improves Employee Retention and Performance

34
NCRC- Healthcare
35
Higher Skills Higher Pay
Sources Bureau of Labor Statistics, ACT data
36
WorkKeys Help

• Help Desk 1-800-WorkKeys 800-867-5539
• ACT WebSite www.act.org
• NCRC www.NationalCareerReadiness.com
• NCRC www.myworkkeys.com