{"id":65,"date":"2014-04-15T16:46:47","date_gmt":"2014-04-15T20:46:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gaston.edu\/economic-workforce-development\/certification-licensure\/career-readiness-certificate\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T13:36:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T17:36:40","slug":"career-readiness-certificate","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.gaston.edu\/economic-workforce-development\/career-readiness-certificate\/","title":{"rendered":"National Career Readiness Certificate"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Development is KEY<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-2282\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gaston.edu\/economic-workforce-development\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2014\/04\/CRC.png\" alt=\"An image of a lock and key\" width=\"211\" height=\"291\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gaston.edu\/economic-workforce-development\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2014\/04\/CRC.png 277w, https:\/\/www.gaston.edu\/economic-workforce-development\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2014\/04\/CRC-217x300.png 217w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 211px) 100vw, 211px\" \/>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.act.org\/content\/act\/en\/products-and-services\/workforce-solutions\/act-national-career-readiness-certificate\/about-act-national-career-readiness-certificate.html\">National Career Readiness Certificate<\/a>&nbsp;is a portable record of work skills. Training and testing of abilities in reading, locating information in charts and graphs, and math can help:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Find the best job match.<\/li>\n<li>Increase the opportunities to be hired<\/li>\n<li>Improve skills and flexibility to meet the demands of the changing workplace.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The <strong>National&nbsp;Career Readiness Certification (NCRC)<\/strong> documents skill achievement in Workplace Documents, Graphic Literacy, and Applied Math at four levels-Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center\"><span class=\"Gaston-Green\">National Career Readiness Certification Levels<\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span class=\"Gaston-Green\"><strong>Bronze&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Silver&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gold&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Platinum<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>National Career Readiness Training<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Tools: WorkKeys, WorkKeys Curriculum, and Career Skills<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The <strong>National&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>Career Readiness Certification<\/strong> uses the <strong>WorkKeys Curriculum<\/strong> system* to determine the skills needed for success in the workplace. Workplace Documents, Graphic Literacy, and Applied Math are the target skills for certification because these skills are required in over 85% of jobs. Using the <strong>WorkKeys Curriculum<\/strong> system, current skill levels are determined in these three areas. Training helps close the gap between current skills and desired certification level.<\/p>\n<p>Training helps develop the skills needed to meet the job requirements. <strong>WorkKeys Curriculum<\/strong> is the pre-test and training tool for increasing skills. In a classroom with an instructor, learning is self-paced. <strong>WorkKeys Curriculum<\/strong> is a very easy to use Internet-based course.<\/p>\n<p>*The WorkKeys system is a three pronged workforce development tool consisting of job profiling, skill assessment, and training. Contact Â鶹ÊÓƵ HRD Department for more information.<\/p>\n<p>To view WorkKeys sample questions,&nbsp;click here for&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.act.org\/content\/act\/en\/products-and-services\/workforce-solutions\/act-workkeys\/test-preparation.html\">SAMPLE QUESTIONS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>To find a WorkKeys Testing Site near you, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.act.org\/content\/act\/en\/products-and-services\/workforce-solutions\/act-workkeys\/act-workkeys-test-sites.html\">TESTING SITE<\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gaston.edu\/economic-workforce-development\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/04\/Employer-NCRC-Requirements-043020.pdf\">Employers NCRC Requirements<\/a><\/h2>\n<hr>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><span class=\"Gaston-Green\">&nbsp;<span class=\"Gaston-Blue\">Employer&#8217;s responses to our NCRC program<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gaston.edu\/economic-workforce-development\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/04\/2026-NCRC-Summer-Information_042426.pdf\"><em><strong>NCRC 2026 Summer Semester Testing Schedule<\/strong><\/em><em><strong><br \/>\nand WorkKeys Price List<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/1Av9h9YF-c1HNsvXSCZYdYyOszG_D_jsDNxUxFC-A_zg\/viewform?pli=1&amp;pli=1&amp;edit_requested=true\"><strong>Click Here to Register for NCRC<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\">National Career Readiness Certification:<br \/>\nAdvantages for Everyone<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Employees have the skills to be confident and successful in the workplace.<\/li>\n<li>Employees train more quickly in a new job. They are ready for promotion or new responsibilities.<\/li>\n<li>The NCRC is recognized by employers across the state and across the nation.<\/li>\n<li>Training is low-cost, free, or may be paid by employers.<\/li>\n<li>Area companies want to hire workers with the skills that match the jobs.<\/li>\n<li>Well-trained workers in Gaston and Lincoln Counties make our area very attractive for businesses to start up and grow.<\/li>\n<li>More businesses-more jobs. Better skills-better jobs.<\/li>\n<li>NCRC Plus offers the WorkKeys Career Skills curriculum to provide &#8220;soft skills&#8221; training employers want and need.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">To obtain a National Career Readiness Certificate, or for more information on other WorkKeys Assessments needed for employment credentials, email <a href=\"mailto:NCRC@gaston.edu\">NCRC@gaston.edu<\/a> or phone 704.922.6347.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Development is KEY The National Career Readiness Certificate&nbsp;is a portable record of work skills. Training and testing of abilities in reading, locating information in charts and graphs, and math can help: Find the best job match. Increase the opportunities to be hired Improve skills and flexibility to meet the demands of the changing workplace. 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