Press Release
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While test taking may not be on the top 10 “favorites” list for students, every year thousands of Oklahoma CareerTech graduates apply lessons learned and earn credentials for skills through competency testing and assessments. The results of these tests not only benefit the student, but also impact Oklahoma’s economy. CareerTech tests are developed to industry standards. This provides a valid system to measure occupational competencies of students and industry workers to meet the evolving certification needs of Oklahoma and select national groups, according to Kimberly Sadler, instructional systems coordinator at the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education “Whenever possible standards are adopted from industry groups such as ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) for auto technology education, NIMS (National Incident Management System) for machining and AWS (American Welding Society) for welding,” Sadler said. “Assessments are then developed by industry representatives and instructors working together to align with these standards.” For nearly a quarter of a century, when testing and assessment became part of the state agency, CareerTech has provided measures which ultimately aid in better hiring decisions. “This experience base has positioned CareerTech’s Testing Center to not only meet certification needs for Career Tech students,” Sadler said, “but also the needs for several industry certification entities in the state of Oklahoma. “The certification of competencies helps link the right employee with the right employment opportunity whether it’s a high school student, an adult entering the workforce or an employer training employees,” Sadler said. “And, the better the fit, the lower the turnover rate, which ultimately impacts the company bottom line andOklahoma’s economy.” Since 1982 when the first 2,000 students launched CareerTech’s competency testing, thousands of Oklahomans have found the jobs they want and employers, the right “fit” for the jobs they have open. “That first year students were tested in three traditional areas: Child Care, Auto Mechanics and Administrative Assistant,” according to Jennifer Nuttle, CareerTech assessment manager. “We still test in those three areas, plus more than 100 other occupational areas. Last year we saw a 25 percent jump in testing over the previous year, testing more than 70,000 high school and adult students.” Today CareerTech testing in traditional occupations ranges from Early Care and Education and Precision Machining to Meat and Poultry Processing, Surgical Technologist and Media Production. Through partnerships with agencies such as the Oklahoma State Department of Health and Oklahoma Board of Nursing, CareerTech provides testing services for high stakes certifications. “High stakes tests are those that must be passed prior to an individual being hired or passing a course,” Nuttle said. “For example, all of our tests for OBN and OSDH are high stakes. A person has to pass the long-term care nurse aide or micropigmentation or other tests prior to being able to seek employment in those fields.” Five years ago testing was added for CareerTech student organization competitive events. “This testing service saves schools travel time and resources by allowing them to take regional qualifying exams,” Nuttle said. “Oklahoma’s testing service is also now being used by CareerTech student organizations in Texas, Wisconsin, South Carolina and Illinois. “As high stakes testing and industry endorsement continue to increase in importance. We expect the work of the CareerTech Testing Center to also increase in both volume and importance,” Nuttle said. For more information about CareerTech testing and assessment contact: ksadl@okcareertech.org 405-743-5410 Related Link
Posted January 11, 2007 |