 Career Readiness Certificates are fairly
new to Arkansas. You will be tested in three different area's in the CRC
WorkKeys: Reading for Information, Applied Mathematics and Locating Information.
There is a two part process to the CRC. The first part to CRC is the
KeyTrain pretest. The pretest is composed of 20 question test for each area.
Each area can be taken at different times or all together. Once a section
is complete a score will appear. That will tell if you are able to move on
and take the CRC test or if you will need to take some refresher work.
It is required that you take the pretests before you can take the CRC WorkKeys
test. Once your pretest shows a score that is equivalent to a Bronze,
Silver or Gold then you can schedule a date and time to take the CRC WorkKeys
test. Please call for more information at (870) 222-5360. More Career
Readiness Certificate information has been provided below.
What is a Arkansas Career Readiness Certificate (CRC)?
An Arkansas CRC is a portable credential based upon the
WorkKeys® assessments that demonstrates to employers that an individual
possesses the basic workplace skills required for 21st century jobs.
Getting a CRC will allow an individual to show prospective
employers that he or she possesses the basic skills they are looking for.
Even if a job seeker has a GED, high school diploma or post
secondary degree, the Arkansas CRC further verifies that he can handle tasks
such as finding information, reading instructions and directions, and working
with numbers – that are common in today’s workplaces.
What is KeyTrain®?
A product of Thinking Media, KeyTrain® is the first step
toward achieving an Arkansas CRC. KeyTrain® is a targeted curriculum written
specifically to help people master the applied workplace skills as defined by
WorkKeys®. As an ACT Level 1 publisher, KeyTrain® provides curriculum that is
based on the WorkKeys® targets for instruction and meets ACT’s quality
standards.
KeyTrain® includes instruction for all levels of WorkKeys®
and pre-WorkKeys® skills. It is available via the Internet, CD, or print
versions. The Internet and CD versions include a powerful management and student
tracking system that allows for easy administration and detailed reporting of
students’ progress in the program. The KeyTrain® curriculum aligns with all 9 of
the ACT WorkKeys® assessments and also has 200 lessons for pre-employment
workplace career or soft skills instruction.
KeyTrain® and WorkKeys® are "workforce development tools" to
ensure "no worker is left behind."
What is WorkKeys®?
The WorkKeys® job skills assessment system is a product of
ACT, Inc., the developer of the ACT assessment that is commonly used for college
entrance testing. The WorkKeys® employment system is a comprehensive procedure
for measuring, communicating and improving the common skills required for
success in the workplace. WorkKeys® measures foundational skills in the
following areas:
What are the Target Areas and Levels of an Arkansas Career
Readiness Certificate?
The Arkansas CRC focuses on three targeted skills:
Reading for Information—comprehending work-related
reading materials, from memos and bulletins to policy manuals and governmental
regulations.
Applied Mathematics—applying mathematical reasoning to
work-related problems.
Locating Information—using information from such
materials as diagrams, floor plans, tables, forms, graphs, and charts.
What are the requirements for successfully completing the
assessments?
Most areas require a score of 4 in Applied Mathematics, 4 in
Reading for Information and 4 in Locating Information. WorkKeys® scores are not related to grade-level
equivalents or any other scoring system.
How can the AR CRC help meet the needs of employers?
The Arkansas CRC program uses results from the WorkKeys®
assessments to award certificates in three categories: Gold level
signifies an individual has
scored at least a level 5 in each of the three core areas (Reading for
Information, Applied Mathematics, and Locating Information) and has the
necessary skills for 90 percent of the 14,000 jobs profiled in the WorkKeys® database.
Silver level signifies an individual has
scored at least a level 4 in each of the three core areas and has the necessary
skills for 65 percent of the jobs
in the WorkKeys® database. Bronze
level signifies an individual has scored at least a level 3 in each of the
three core areas and has the necessary skills for 35 percent of the jobs in the WorkKeys®
database. The Department of Workforce Services will provide the client with a
certificate that includes the Governor’s and Director’s of ADWS and AWIB
signature. Additionally, the client will receive a wallet size certificate. The
certificate is a portable credential, allowing employees to use it anywhere in
the nation. The certificate can complement diplomas, degrees, and resumes, and gives job seekers an
advantage in the interview process.
What do we do if students test below the minimum WorkKeys Skill Levels?
For individuals who do not initially achieve the Arkansas
CRC, assessment results will indicate the targeted training needed to achieve
the skill levels necessary to obtain a certificate. The Department of Workforce
Education/Adult Ed will offer developmental courses for the clients who do not
successfully reach the required level in KeyTrain® instruction and/or WorkKeys®
assessments.
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