Career Readiness Certificates

Career Readiness Certificates (CRC) have 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 interested in implementing programs using the CRC.

The National Career Readiness Certificate^TM

ACT recently launched the nationwide credentialing initiative, which 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 certificate model currently is in operation in ten states: Alabama, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Virginia. These statesplus New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginiahave already affiliated with the National Career Readiness 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. More than 50,000 people have already qualified for a certificate, through regional initiatives.

Information for:

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

For Job Seekers

Why do I need a Career Readiness Certificate?

The 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 will be a good "fit" into their job openings. This increases the likelihood that you will like the job you do and that you will be successful in it.

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

Yes. Your diploma demonstrates your achievements in the academic world. A 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 CRC as well as diplomas and other credentials to hire the best people for their jobs.

How do I earn the CRC?

By taking the WorkKeys® assessment in Reading, Math, 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. (These scores and certificate names are the ones most commonly used across the U. S. Some states may vary slightly.)

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

Absolutely. One of the best things about the CRC 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 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 Career Readiness Certificate?

A 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 three 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.

For individuals who do not initially achieve the Career Readiness 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 email us to find participating agencies in your area.

How does it benefit me and my company?

Benefits to business and industry include:
Guarantees a better quality job applicant
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 Career Readiness 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 Career Readiness Certificate, including steps to starting a CRC program in your area, request a copy of our white paper by calling 877-842-6205.

How can I contact other professionals who are developing Certificates?

The Career Readiness Certificate Consortium is a group of state-level officials who are actively working to develop CRC programs. The member states of the Consortium are shown in the table above. For information on how to contact the Consortium, please call us at 877-842-6205 or go to http://www.crcconsortium.org/.

Links to Additional Information

Career Readiness Certificate Consortium: A multi-state initiative that has regional meetings to energize each other in the adoption of the statewide initiatives. Contact Dr. Barbara Bolin, Director, Career Readiness Certificate Consortium, , 804-310-2552.

     http://www.crcconsortium.org/

Virginia: Career Readiness Certificate: The Governor's Initiative created a new Career Readiness Certificate that informs all employers that the Certificate holder has reached an employer-recognized level of workforce literacy. This certificate is based on the WorkKeys skills. Contact Gloria Westerman, Virginia Community College System, 804-819-4950.

     http://www.vec.virginia.gov/vecportal/vwc/

     http://www.knowhowvirginia.org/crc/

Louisiana: Work-Ready! Certificate: This is a certificate that employers are now encouraged to recognize. It is a certificate based on WorkKeys scores - Gold, Silver and Bronze indicating appropriate levels that indicate basic skills individuals possess. The governor endorsed this program. This program has received full government support and was put together by an interagency group including: Governor's Workforce Commission, Board of Regents, Dept. of Labor, Dept. of Education (Adult Ed and Secondary), WIA, Corrections, Employers. Contact Chris Weaver, Governor's Workforce Commission, (225) 342-2462.

     http://www.laworkforce.net/WorkReady/

Kentucky: Kentucky Employability Certificate: Similar to the Louisiana model. This program was initiated by KCTCS Ð Community and Technical Colleges. It has support from Dept. of Education and employers. This program has been well received by these groups and students in adult education are now getting the certificates. The governor endorsed this program. Contact Cindy Fiorella, Owensboro Community College (largest college), (270) 687-7255 or Donna Davis, KCTCS (859) 246-3146.

     http://adulted.state.ky.us/WorkKeys_KEC.doc

     http://kctcs.edu/kec/

Michigan: Career Readiness Certificate: The state adopted a portable credential based on WorkKeys to signify to a potential employer that an individual has acceptable basic foundational skills. There is also the Michigan Merit Award High where school students can receive $2,500 to be used at an approved postsecondary educational institution if they score certain levels on the WorkKeys assessments. Contact: Michigan Department of Career Development - 866-MY-GOALS (694-6257)

     http://www.michigancrc.org/

     http://www.michigan.gov/mdcd/0,1607,7-122-1678_43625_49063---,00.html

Indiana: The state legislature passed resolution for the use of WorkKeys for all one stops in WIA. The WorkKeys assessment will be a requirement for all those participating. Contact Brett Wineinger, Department of Workforce Development, Phone 317-233-5514 or Pat Vercauteren, Ivy Tech and former Deputy Commissioner of Policy & Evaluation, (317) 921-4773.

     http://www.state.in.us/dwd/inatwork/

Tennessee: The Southeast Tennessee Career Center has begun an initiative for the nine-county region surrounding Chattanooga. This initiative has the support of the Center, in addition to regional Chambers of Commerce, Chattanooga State Technical Community College, and many other agencies. For information, call us at 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/workkeys/initiatives/