Sheldon - National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) testing offered to Iowa Residents

For Immediate Release: February 7, 2013
Contact: Bob Becker
Telephone:(712) 262-1971 x 126

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National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) testing offered to Iowa Residents

Iowa Works in conjunction with Northwest Iowa Community College is partnering to promote and offer free National Career Readiness Certification (NCRC) credentialing to Iowa residents. Information on NCRC will be available and individuals can learn more and arrange assessment times on March 2, 2013 at the 2013 Sheldon Home & Design Expo at the Life Long Learning Center on the Northwest Iowa Community College Campus from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Once they have scheduled an appointment, interested individuals will be administered three computerized credential assessments which measure 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, which is 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 also 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 Sarah Breems-Diekevers at Northwest Iowa Community College at 1-800-352-4907 ext. 137 or email: sbreems-diekevers@nwicc.edu. To find out how this can help area business and industry identify the best job applicants, contact Bob Becker at (712) 262-1971 x 126 or Robert.Becker@iwd.iowa.gov.

More information about National Career Readiness Certification can also be found on line at: www.SkilledIowa.org.

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