01/11/12 - A new initiative in Texas has officially received funding. This initiative has been launched to offer the NCRC to over 1,500 high school students and recent graduates. The goal of this project is to help the youth of Texas gain a certificate to show employers that they have critical workplace skills and are prepared to be gainfully employed. The Institute recognizes the NCRC as the base certification in the NAM-Endorsed Skills Certification System (SCS).
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Students across the region have a new resource which will show employers what their skills are whether listed on a resume or verbally communicated during an interview.
Through a grant from the Texas Workforce Commission, Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas along with four other Texas areas (totaling 75 counties) has received funding through August 2012 to offer 1,500+ juniors, seniors, and out-of-school youth an opportunity to earn a National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) which was developed by the internationally recognized assessment organization American College Testing (ACT). Testing for this certificate is being coordinated through schools, organizations, and on an individual basis. Another important objective of the grant is to obtain letters of commitment from employers stating they will recognize and promote the certificate in their interview, hiring, and/or promotion processes. The services provided through the grant are focused on creating work-ready communities and continuing to build regional capacity for meeting the current and future workforce needs.
The NCRC provides fair and objective measurement of workplace skills and can be accepted nationwide. This credential is also used across all sectors of the economy at all levels. The NCRC is comprised of three assessments in the following areas: math, reading, and locating information which tap into the youth’s problem-solving and communication skills. When ACT profiled 6,000 jobs over five years they found that 77% of the jobs utilized these skills.
Along with students earning career readiness certificates, there is also a focus on educating employers about the certificate and gaining their support in recognizing applicants/incumbents who obtain this credential. The certificate is intended to help employers make informed decisions in the screening and selection process, training and development, and succession planning. Employers throughout the region are being asked to sign a letter of commitment stating they will recognize and promote the NCRC as a valuable credential and take it into account during their interview, hiring, and/or promotion processes.
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