National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC™)
National Career Readiness Certificate Plus (NCRC Plus)
International Career Readiness Certificate (ICRC)
Year Introduced
Intended Users
Job seekers, employers, public workforce systems, state government agencies, K–12 and postsecondary education, industry and trade associations, community-based organizations
Purpose/Description
Career readiness certificates issued by ACT are portable, evidence-based credentials of foundational workplace skills. They are based on WorkKeys® skills assessments and job analysis data that link scores to the ability to perform actual job tasks. They document these work-related skills:
- Problem solving
- Critical thinking
- Reading and using work-related text
- Applying information from workplace documents to solve problems
- Applying mathematical reasoning to work-related problems
- Setting up and performing work-related mathematical calculations
- Locating, synthesizing, and applying information presented graphically
- Comparing, summarizing, and analyzing information in multiple graphics
Volume/Number of Users
- More than 1.2 million certificates are currently registered with ACT; an estimated 2 million WorkKeys-based credentials are in circulation
- Registered credentials are distributed statewide or regionally in 42 states
Additional Facts
ACT issues career readiness certificates to individuals who earn scores of Level 3 or higher on these WorkKeys assessments:
- Applied Mathematics
- Locating Information
- Reading for Information
Certificates are issued at four levels based on the WorkKeys scores achieved:
- Platinum: Scores of Level 6 or higher on all three exams
- Gold: Scores of Level 5 or higher on all three exams
- Silver: Scores of Level 4 or higher on all three exams
- Bronze: Scores of Level 3 or higher on all three exams
Individuals who earn the NCRC and achieve qualifying scores on the WorkKeys Talent assessment can earn the NCRC Plus, which rates soft skills that contribute to performance in four work-related areas:
- Work Discipline: dependability and productivity
- Teamwork: tolerance, communication, and attitude
- Customer Service Orientation: interpersonal skills and perseverance
- Managerial Potential: persuasion, enthusiasm, and problem solving
Each of the three assessments required for the NCRC and ICRC include 33–38 questions that can be completed in about an hour. The Talent assessment required for the NCRC Plus can be completed in about 30 minutes.
Every credential issued by ACT includes a unique registration code, enabling prospective employers to verify its authenticity.
