For Immediate Release: February 7, 2013
Contact: Bob Becker
Telephone:(712) 262-1971 x 126
Printer Friendly PDF VersionNational Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) testing offered to Iowa Residents
Iowa Works in conjunction with Iowa Lakes Community College and Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is partnering to promote and offer free National Career Readiness Certification (NCRC) credentialing to Iowa residents. Information on NCRC will be available at several upcoming events. Individuals can learn more and arrange assessment times at those events and locations.
• Monday, March 11, at the Nursing & Healthcare Job Fair at Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg from 9 a.m. to Noon.
• Tuesday, March 12, at the All Career Job Fair at Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg from 9:30 a.m. to Noon
• Wednesday, March 13, at the All Career Job Fair at Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville 9:30 a.m. to Noon
Between Feb. 21 and May 31, Iowa Lakes Community College will promote a drawing for a free IPad for any job seeker taking the NCRC assessment at one of its campuses. Drawing to be held on or after May 31, 2013.
To assist in providing access to the NCRC, Iowa Lakes Community College has scheduled the following dates for the assessment. Those interested in taking the NCRC are asked to schedule a time to ensure that a computer will be available for the free testing.
• Friday, Feb. 22, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Spencer Campus
• Friday, March 15, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Estherville Campus
• Saturday, April 27, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Spencer Campus
• Monday, May 6, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Spirit Lake Campus
Contact Shauna Donovan at (712) 336-6572 or sdonovan@iowalakes.edu to schedule a time for an assessment.
Interested individuals will be administered three computerized credential assessments which measure world of work skills. This is part of a broader Skilled Iowa Communities initiative by Governor Terry Branstad.
The Skilled Iowa Communities Initiative will improve the job training and marketability of Iowa’s workforce and drive future economic growth for the state. Similar initiatives throughout the country have changed the landscape of local economies through programs that incorporate this nationally recognized work-ready assessment system developed by ACT® to measure individual workers’ skills in the areas of applied mathematics, reading for information and locating information.
“The Skilled Iowa Initiative is a critical step in improving the quality of the workforce in Iowa,” said Governor Terry Branstad when the initiative was announced in June of 2012.
The program uses a universal testing system that rates the skills and abilities of those in Iowa’s workforce, awarding a National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC), a portable certification for the potential job seeker, upon completion of the program. The NCRC is an effective measure of foundational skills and will help businesses confidently hire workers who are right for the job. It will help businesses evaluate an individual worker’s abilities, allowing for a more accurate matching of skill sets with those required by the job. There is no cost to Iowa businesses to use NCRC assessments as part of their hiring process. Additionally, there is no cost to potential job seekers (residents of Iowa) wishing to take the assessments.
To schedule an assessment time, contact Shauna Donovan at Iowa Lakes Community College at (712) 336-6564 or email: sdonovan@iowalakes.edu. To find out how this can help area business and industry identify and attract the best job applicants, contact Bob Becker at (712) 262-1971 x 126 or Robert.Becker@iwd.iowa.gov or Joanne Follon at Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation 1-800-765-1428 or jfollon@lakescorridor.com. More information about National Career Readiness Certification can also be found on line at: www.SkilledIowa.org.
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