The National Career Readiness Certificate

Career Readiness Certificates, the Concept

The idea of Career Readiness Certificates (CRC) has become popular nationwide as a system for certifying the basic skills necessary for success in typical jobs. A Certificate gives specific information about a person's ability to perform common tasks that all employers require. Over 35 states have or are implementing or are in the process of implementing programs affiliated with ACT's National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) or at least using the same model based on ACT's WorkKeys^® assessments.

The National Career Readiness Certificate^TM

ACT's nationwide credentialing initiative identifies job seekers who have the essential foundational skills to succeed in the workplace. For current employees, it identifies the skills needed for promotions and greater productivity.

The basis of the National Career Readiness System is ACT's WorkKeys job skill assessments, which examine the essential foundational skills needed for virtually every occupation. For nearly two decades, WorkKeys has been used by more than 2,500 organizations for employee hiring and development. Companies that have used WorkKeys have seen reduced turnover among employees, as well as improved productivity and training efficiency.

By earning a National Career Readiness Certificate, individuals can demonstrate that they possess key foundational job skills that are needed for virtually every job. This gives the job seeker an advantage when applying for jobs, a complement to a diploma and resume. For employees already on the job, a certificate can demonstrate skills needed for a promotion or for training that leads to greater productivity and effectiveness.

For more information on the National Career Readiness Certificate click here.

Statewide Career Readiness Certificates

The NCRC (or WorkKeys-based) certificate model currently is in operation in states across the nation including Alabama, Alaska, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee   Virginia, West Virginia . These states have affiliated with the National Career Readiness Certificate System. The certificate acts as a portable credential that is recognizable by businesses across the country. It can also help economic developers by highlighting residents' skills in each region.

Information for:

• Job Seekers
• Employers
• Workforce Development Professionals
• Links to Additional Information

For Job Seekers

Why do I need a Certificate?

The NCRC/CRC demonstrates to employers what your basic skills levels are in three specific areas that are common to most jobs. Whatever job you do, you are likely to be using your abilities in these specific areas the most.

Once an employer knows your skills levels, they can determine whether or not you are qualified to be a good candidate for their job openings. This increases the likelihood that you will be successful in a particular job.

I already have my High School Diploma - do I still need a Certificate?

Yes. Your diploma demonstrates your achievements in the academic world. A NCRC/CRC demonstrates your ability to perform tasks in the world of work.

Plus, it's portable. Like your diploma, you can take it with you wherever you go. Employers across the nation are relying on the NCRC/CRC as well as diplomas and other credentials to hire the best people for their jobs.

How do I earn the Certificate?

By taking the WorkKeys assessment in Reading for Information, Applied Mathematics, and Locating Information. If you score at least a Level 3 in each one, you will earn the Bronze certificate. If you score at least Level 4 in each, you will earn the Silver. And if you score 5 or higher in each level, you will receive the Gold certificate.  Recently, ACT announced the Platinum Level of the Certificate, which requires at least a 6 in each of the assessments.

If I don't earn the NCRC/CRC the first time, will I have an opportunity to try again?

Absolutely. One of the best things about the Certificate is that you can continue to improve your skills through the KeyTrain^® curriculum by completing computer-based lessons. This also allows you to work toward earning a Gold or Platinum certificate if you first obtain a Silver or Bronze one.

Continuing to improve your basic job skills-- and proving to employers that you are motivated enough to work on them-- demonstrates that you are motivated to move up in the world, improving your chances of moving into higher-paying jobs.

For Employers

What is a National Career Readiness Certificate?

A National Career Readiness Certificate is a portable credential based upon the WorkKeys® jobs skills assessment system. The Certificate confirms to employers that an individual possesses the basic workplace skills required for the 21st century jobs. While WorkKeys tests and measures skills in several areas, the Career Readiness Certificate focuses on three targeted skills:

Applied Mathematics
Reading for Information
Locating Information

These skill areas were determined because they were the most utilized assessments in the Occupational Profile database at ACT, which contains about 10,000 job profiles.

What are the levels of Career Readiness Certificates?

Three levels of certificates standardize skills that indicate the certificate holder is job ready. The four levels allow an individual to advance his/her skill level in order to qualify for more jobs.

• Bronze Level - Indicates the certificate holder possesses core employability skills for approximately 30% of the profiled jobs.
• Silver Level - Indicates the certificate holder possesses core employability skills for approximately 65% of the profiled jobs.
• Gold Level - Indicates the certificate holder possesses core employability skills for approximately 90% of the profiled jobs.
• Platinum - Indicates the certificate holder possesses core employability skills for approximately 99% of the profiled jobs.

For individuals who do not initially achieve the Certificate, assessment results will indicate the targeted training needed to achieve the skill level(s) necessary to obtain the certificate. Many One-Stop centers and community colleges nationwide will assist those individuals in increasing their skills levels through the use of KeyTrain software. Contact KeyTrain at 877-842-6205 or to find participating agencies in your area.

How does it benefit me and my company?

Benefits to business and industry include:
Provides better quality job applicants
Reduces hiring expenses
Reduces attrition
Develops business driven systems
Supports legally defensible hiring decisions for job classifications that have been profiled

For Workforce Development Professionals

What states are currently using the Certificate?

How can I learn more about the Certificate, or learn how to start a program in my area?

For more detailed information about the Certificate, including steps to starting a NCRC/CRC program in your area, request a copy of our white paper by calling 877-842-6205.

More specific information is available on these initiatives upon request. Call Thinking Media at 1-877-842-6205.

Also refer to ACT's website at:

     http://www.act.org/certificate/index.html