Career Readiness Certification
GH Mission implements strategies that help students develop skills employers require for workplace success.
GH Misson instills in students the same set of skills and habits employers document as essential for successful employment, including critical thinking, adaptability, problem solving, oral and written communications, collaboration, and teamwork. GH Mission helps to ensure students develop these skills as they learn the content—both theory and application—within their chosen program, applying academic knowledge to authentic situations.
This integration results in graduates who develop a deeper understanding of their class material through the following:
- Reading and understanding technical terminology, including manuals
- Writing required communications that are easily understood by the intended audience
- Listening carefully and speaking clearly, using language appropriate for the audience
- Efficiently organizing time, tasks, and information
- Solving complex problems by organizing information, questioning, seeking creative answers, and suggesting solutions
- Working effectively with supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates
- Collaborating on projects and participating in work teams
Lifelong learning is essential in order to grow and change with the times. Employees must continually build their skills in order to be successful in today’s market. Preparing for and achieving career readiness certification is an effective way to build skills and gain a nationally recognized credential that acts as proof of that skill.
Career readiness certification was developed by ACT, Inc to help employees gain skills and to help employers make better decisions during the hiring process. The state of North Carolina issues career readiness certificates to individuals who have taken the WorkKeys tests and tested at or above the third WorkKeys level on all three tests. In North Carolina, there are three career readiness certification levels: bronze, silver and gold.
Career Readiness Certification in North Carolina
Bronze
The bronze level signifies that, based on the individual’s scores on the WorkKeys test, the recipient of the of the certification possesses skills for approximately 30% of jobs that have been profiled by WorkKeys in three specific skill areas: applied mathematics, locating information and reading for information (source). To obtain a bronze level certification, the student must achieve the third WorkKeys level on all three WorkKeys tests.
Details of Bronze Level Skills
Silver
The silver level signifies that, based on the individual’s scores on the WorkKeys test, the recipient of the of the certification possesses skills for approximately 65% of jobs that have been profiled by WorkKeys in three specific skill areas: applied mathematics, locating information and reading for information (source). To obtain a silver level certification, the student must achieve the fourth WorkKeys level on all three WorkKeys tests.
Details of Silver Level Skills
Gold
The gold level signifies that, based on the individual’s scores on the WorkKeys test, the recipient of the of the certification possesses skills for approximately 85% of jobs that have been profiled by WorkKeys in three specific skill areas: applied mathematics, locating information and reading for information (source). To obtain a gold level certification, the student must achieve the fifth WorkKeys level on all three WorkKeys tests.
Benefits of North Carolina Career Readiness Certification
Since North Carolina began conferring career readiness certifications, employers have said that training time has decreased, recruiting time has decreased and surveys of employees have found that employees are more satisfied. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College has contributed to this success by being a leader in the state on the number of certifications issued.
What are the benefits for an individual?
- CRC increases your chances for employment and promotion.
- CRC focuses on employment-related competencies needed in any career.
- CRC provides training to help you obtain certification.
- CRC is a portable credential recognized by employers.
- CRC builds confidence that skills meet the needs of local employers.
- What are the benefits for employers?
- CRC increases your bottom line through your employees.
- CRC simplifies hiring by streamlining the application process.
- CRC reduces turnover, overtime, and waste while increasing morale.
- CRC takes the guesswork out of your selection decisions.
- CRC establishes legal defensibility in your selection process.
- CRC assists you to meet ISO 9000 standards and ensure quality business practices.
- CRC gets the most efficiency from your training practices.
- CRC improves the effectiveness of your training dollars.
- What are the benefits for the community?
- CRC encourages businesses to stay in the community.
- CRC keeps employers from moving entry-level jobs to other cities, states or countries.
- CRC increases the tax base through more profitable business partners.
- CRC decreases unemployment rates.
- CRC improves the quality of life for community residents.
- CRC encourages new businesses to locate to the community.
Read more about the Career Readiness Certification. Contact us for more information about receiving tutoring for these certifications.
