Careers 101: Career Readiness Certificate
Careers 101: Career Readiness Certificate
The Career Readiness Certificate (CRC), a portable national credential supported by the state’s community college system, is a tool that helps match the right person to the right job.
The CRC is a uniform way for employers, job seekers and employees to measure job preparedness. Employers can use it to determine the proficiency of their employees and job candidates. Job seekers can use it to prove they have the real-world skills to qualify for specific positions.
Employers from all over the state, including companies in the Triad such as Unilin Flooring and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, recognize the CRC.
A person earns the certificate by taking a series of WorkKeys tests, a nationally recognized job-skills assessment developed by ACT Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides educational and workplace measurement and research services.
The assessment focuses on three areas that have been determined to be essential in most jobs: applied mathematics, reading for information and locating information. Bronze-, silver- or gold-level CRCs are issued based on the total score after testing in the three areas. Different jobs require different levels of proficiency. Test-takers who don’t score high enough at first may take the test again until the desired achievement level is attained.
The certificate itself documents that a person has attained a particular level of proficiency, an added benefit in a competitive job market. But the benefits of the CRC go even further than that. Educators are finding that the CRC can improve placement scores for individuals seeking a college education, according to
ACT. Also, North Carolina maintains a database of all CRC recipients. Because industries are attracted to areas with a skilled work force, business developers hope more companies will choose to operate within the state if the database indicates that the work force has the skill sets necessary to perform the jobs companies need to operate effectively.
The CRC is valid for five years and is signed by the governor.
A grant from the Northwest Piedmont Workforce Development Board supports the CRC initiative for the unemployed and underemployed in the Rockingham community. For others the cost is $10 to take each part of the test, for a total of $30. Those interested may also go to their local JobLink Career Center to begin the process. Skill Upgrade Labs that help people study for the test also are free to the unemployed and underemployed.
Helen Pokrzywa is program coordinator for the Community and Workforce Education Division at Rockingham Community College. She can be reached at 342-4261, ext. 2177, or PokrzywaH@rockinghamcc.edu.
Career Readiness Certificate
Career Readiness Certificate
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
To learn more about the CRC, visit www.crcnc.org.
In Guilford County, JobLink centers offer weekly CRC orientation and training sessions and testing:
■ In Greensboro, 1 to 3 p.m. Monday and 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at 303 N. Raleigh St. Call 373-5922.
■ In High Point, 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday at 901 S. Main St. Call 885-8826.
In Rockingham County, Rockingham Community College hosts a Career Readiness Lab from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Testing is located in the Bishopric Lifelong Learning Center, Room 206. Currently, testing is conducted from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month. For more information, contact one of the following individuals at Rockingham Community College: Helen Pokrzywa, 342-4261, ext. 2177; Robert Justus, ext. 2151; or Carolyn Loftis, ext. 2206.
