FAQ

Why is the certificate based on the Applied Mathematics, Reading for Information, and Locating Information skills?
How does this relate to the statewide WorkKeys initiatives already under way?
Which businesses will accept a career readiness certificate?
What makes the National Career Readiness Certificate unique?
What is the National Career Readiness Certificate seal?

Why is the certificate based on the Applied Mathematics, Reading for Information, and Locating Information skills?

ACT has profiled more than 12,000 individual jobs across the country to determine the skills and skill levels needed to succeed in them. According to our findings, three skills are highly important to most jobs.

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.

A solid foundation of these three skills is essential for a well-qualified workforce.

A recent American Management Association survey found that 38 percent of job applicants taking employer-administered tests lacked the reading and math skills needed in the jobs for which they applied.

Information retrieval and problem-solving skills—what the Locating Information test measures—are highly relevant in our information-based business culture.

How does this relate to the statewide WorkKeys career readiness certificate initiatives already under way?

Job candidates can place the official National Career Readiness Certificate seal onto the state-issued certificate. You can order National Career Readiness Certificate seals online. States that want to affiliate with the National Career Readiness Certificate should contact us at 1-800/WORKKEY (967-5539).

Which businesses will accept a career readiness certificate?

ACT will be partnering with affiliated states to let businesses know about the national certificate, what it signifies, and how it can be used to find skilled workers. Several companies are already accepting certificates from statewide or regional WorkKeys-powered certificate programs. Businesses that currently accept career readiness certificates include Citigroup, Morningstar Foods, Northrop Grumman, Rockwell Collins, and Unilever.

What makes the National Career Readiness Certificate unique?

The National Career Readiness Certificate is based on well-established WorkKeys tests that are documented as making a difference for employers. WorkKeys has been in use for nearly two decades and is already widely accepted by thousands of companies all over the world.

The National Career Readiness Certificate is a proven, successful system. Career readiness certificates have been used for more than two years at the state- and community-wide level.

Also, WorkKeys exams are compliant with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regulations.

Because WorkKeys assesses essential foundational skills, they are applicable to and necessary for virtually every job. "Soft skills" are important, but essential foundational skills such as reading, math, and locating information are the bedrock of training for just about every job.

What is the National Career Readiness Certificate seal?

Individuals who have a state career readiness certificate based on the WorkKeys system are eligible for a National Career Readiness Certificate seal. Seals are to be affixed onto the state-issued certificate. Individuals who are seeking employment outside of their current state of residence can demonstrate a credential recognized across the country. Seals are only valid if placed on a state-level certificate.