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Career Readiness Certificate Adds Extra Value to NPC Education

More and more employers are using the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) as a measure of a potential employee’s basic skills related to reading, applied mathematics and locating information. Individuals earn one of four levels, based on their assessment results, demonstrating they actually have basic employability skills and are trainable for specific jobs.

Launched in 2006, today more than 2.3 million certificates have been issued, offering employers an efficient tool for matching talent with work for employees.

Northland Pioneer College began administering the NCRC assessments in the spring 2014 semester to students enrolled in Industrial Maintenance and Operations, Mechatronics and Welding as part of an Arizona Sun Corridor Get Into Energy federal grant. Plans are to expand the testing to other technical education programs in the future.

NPC has administered the NCRC assessment to 210 students, with 42 achieving Gold level, 122 Silver and 37 Bronze. Platinum is the highest level testers can achieve. NPC students benefit from having this certification when they compete for employment. Thousands of companies in the United States and state and federal agencies use the NCRC assessment when considering job applicants.

PacifiCorp, a major energy producer in the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest, prefers applicants who have an NCRC for certain entry-level positions. In some jobs, an NCRC is required.

The NCRC is just one of the tools employers will use to evaluate job applicants, noted NPC Career Coach John Spadaccini. Applicants must still demonstrate they have the skills required for the position, but having the NCRC certification puts NPC graduates a step ahead of those without it.

– Everett Robinson

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