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Video Streaming Session #8

School Counselor Advisement: Industry Credentials

Virginia Department of EducationJoseph WharffSchool Counseling Career Connections

November 6, 2014 March 13, 2014

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2011-2012 Video Streaming Training Sessions for Career and Technical Education (CTE) AdministratorsAgenda 

Welcome The Value of Industry Credentials Types of Industry Credentials Standard Diploma Requirement and Scenarios Advising Students on Appropriate Industry

Credentials Academic and Career Planning & Industry

Credentialing Wrap Up and Announcements

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Value of Credentialing

• Workplace Value

• Postsecondary Education Value

• Exposure to External Industry Testing

• Proof of Skills

• Standard Diploma Graduation Requirement

• Student-Selected Verified Credit

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Types of Credentials

The Virginia Board of Education has approved for student-selected verified credit over 350 industry certification exams, licensures, and occupational competency assessments. The various credentials are defined as:

State-Issued Professional License Full Industry Certification Pathway Industry Certification Occupational competency skill

assessment

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Types of Credentials, continued

State-Issued Professional License, required for entry into a specific occupation as determined by a Virginia state licensing agency;

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Examination FAA Private Pilot Written Test Cosmetology Examination Real Estate Salesperson Examination

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Types of Credentials, continued

Full Industry Certification, from a recognized industry, trade, or professional association validating essential skills of a particular occupation. An important “first step” in exploring job related skill sets while working toward advanced certification levels and/or other credentials

A+ CompTIA, Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) Virginia Pharmacy Technician Fundamental Marketing Concepts Certification

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Types of Credentials, continued

Pathway Industry Certification, which may consist of entry-level exams as a component of a suite of exams in an industry certification program leading toward full certification.

Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) A+/CompTIA Certification Examination (A+ Essentials) Heating, Electrical, Air Conditioning Technology (HEAT)

Examination (HVAC Excellence)

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Types of Credentials, continued

Occupational competency skill assessment, a national standardized assessment of skills/knowledge in a specific career and/or technical area

NOCTI/Skills USA Production Agriculture Assessment Accounting—Basic Administrative Assisting Assessment Early Childhood Care and Education Assessment

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What Is Important To Know About Credentialing Types

Many credentials are developed specifically for the workplace, not designed around technical skill courses (but target competencies, etc.).

Occupational competency skill assessments are designed for the student learner in CTE programs/courses.

Some credentials are “stackable” exams in a program of examinations.

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Board Of Education’s List Of Credentials Approved On April 24, 2014

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Board of Education criteria for a Student-Selected verified credit

• Designed to prepare students for an occupation or occupational area.

• Knowledge-based; however, the credential may contain a performance-based component.

• In a CTE field that confers a credential from a recognized industry, trade, or professional association or entity.

• Administered on a multi-state or international basis

• Standardized and graded independent of the school in which the test is given.

A credential must be one that is:

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Standard Diploma

Discipline AreaStandard Units of Credit

RequiredVerified Credits

RequiredEnglish   4 2Mathematics1 3 1Laboratory Science 2,6 3 1History and Social Sciences3, 6 3 1Health and Physical Education 2Foreign Language, Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education 7

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Economics and Personal Finance 1Electives4 4Student Selected Test5 1Total 22 6

5 A student may utilize additional tests for earning verified credit in computer science, technology, career and technical education, economics, or other areas as prescribed by the board in 8 VAC 20-131-110. 6 Students who complete a career and technical education program sequence and pass an examination or occupational competency assessment in a career and technical education field that confers certification or an occupational competency credential from a recognized industry, or trade or professional association or acquires a professional license in a career and technical education field from the Commonwealth of Virginia may substitute the certification, competency credential, or license for (i) the student selected verified credit and (ii) either a science or history and social science verified credit when the certification, license, or credential confers more than one verified credit. The examination or occupational competency assessment must be approved by the Board of Education as an additional test to verify student achievement.

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Students who complete a career and technical education program concentration sequence (a sequence of two or more 36 week courses or combinations of 18 and/or 36 week courses that are equivalent to two 36 week courses) AND pass a Board-approved credentialing test may substitute the credential for (1) the student selected verified credit (see FN 5) and (2) either a science or history and social science verified credit when the credential confers more than one verified credit. (see FN6)

Source: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/boe/accreditation/index.shtml

Standard Diploma

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Earning Student-Selected Verified Credit: Source: Guidance Document Governing Certain Provisions of the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia (8 VAC 20-131)

One student-selected verified credit will be awarded for passing each certification or licensure examination that meets all of the criteria and the student earns one standard unit of credit only in the career and technical education concentration or specialization. Two student-selected verified credits will be awarded for passing each certification or licensure examination that meets all of the criteria; and The student meets the career and technical education

concentration or specialization course requirements for program completer.

The student earns at least two standard units of credit in the career and technical education concentration or specialization.

The student may substitute one of these verified credits for a verified credit in either science or history and social science.

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Diploma Changes8VAC20-131-50.B. Requirements for graduation

A student must earn a career and technical education credential that has been approved by the Board of Education to graduate with a Standard Diploma.  The credential could include, but not be limited to, the successful completion of an industry certification, a state licensure examination, a national occupational competency assessment, or the Virginia workplace readiness skills assessment; 

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Scenario 1

CTE Sequence: Accounting (6320/36 weeks) Accounting, Advanced (6321/36 weeks)

Industry Credentialing Exam: Basic Accounting- NOCTI (Passed) Advanced Accounting- NOCTI (Passed)

Earned: Industry Credential for graduation- Yes Program Concentration Sequence- Yes Eligible for one student-selected verified credit AND one

verified credit in either a science or history and social science- Yes

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Scenario 2

CTE Sequence:• Design, Multimedia, and Web Technologies (6630/36 weeks)• Design, Multimedia, and Web Technologies, Advanced

(6631/36 weeks) Industry Credentialing Exam:

• Interactive Media Assessment (NOCTI)- (Passed)• Apple Certified Pro Examination– (Passed)

Earned:• Industry Credential for graduation- Yes• Program Concentration Sequence- Yes• Eligible for one student-selected verified credit AND one verified

credit in either a science or history and social science- Yes

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Scenario 3

CTE Sequence: Office Specialist I (6740/36 weeks) Office Specialist II (6741/36 weeks)

Industry Credentialing Exam: Fundamental Business Concepts- A*S*K* (Passed) Microsoft Word- MOS/Certiport (Passed)

Earned: Industry Credential for graduation- Yes Program Sequence Completer- Yes Eligible for one student-selected verified credit AND one

verified credit in either a science or history and social science- Yes

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Scenario 4

CTE Sequence: VA Teachers for Tomorrow I (9062/36 weeks) VA Teachers for Tomorrow II (9072/36 weeks)- did

not pass

Industry Credentialing Exam: Early Childhood Education (AAFCS)- Did not pass Workplace Readiness Skills for the

Commonwealth Examination- Passed Earned:

Industry Credential for graduation- Yes Program Sequence Completer- No Eligible for one student-selected verified credit- Yes

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Scenario 5

Economics and Personal Finance (EPF) - Graduation Requirement

(BUS6120, Finance 6121, 18 weeks, Economics, 18 weeks, History and Social Science 2801, Virtual Virginia Economics and Personal Finance course, other).

Industry Credentialing Exam: WISE Financial Literacy- Did not pass Workplace Readiness Skills for the Commonwealth

Examination- Passed

Earned: Industry Credential for graduation- Yes Program Sequence Completer- No Eligible for one student-selected verified credit- Yes/No?

NO- EPF course not part of a CTE concentration

Scenario 6

Course: Microsoft IT Academy Virtual Course

Industry Credentialing Exam: Microsoft Word- MOS/Certiport (Passed)

Earned: Industry Credential for graduation- Yes Program Sequence Completer- No Eligible for one student-selected verified credit- Yes/No?

NO- virtual course is not a CTE state-approved course

Student Advisement- www.cteresource.org

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24 Facts Sheets Now Found in APG

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Know What CTE courses are offered in your school

Know the Business and Industry and Labor Market needs in your community

VA Education Wizard Local Newspaper CTE Advisory Committee VA Employment Commission

Collaborate with CTE Teachers Make resources available to students for all

postsecondary options Look at student assessment results and plan

accordingly

Academic and Career Planning & Industry Credentialing

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W!SE Financial Literacy Certification Workplace Readiness Skills for the

Commonwealth Examination Virginia Career Readiness Certificate

(ACT) Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) National Professional Certification in

Customer Service NRA: ServSafe Certification Nurse Aide Examination

Know What Credentials Are Most Successful

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CTE Performance Trends

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Virginia’s Credentialing Initiative

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Virginia’s Credentialing Initiative

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2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014

Total Number Test Takers 20,742 34,750 39,705

Total Number Test Takers Passed:

13,122 21,315 28,349

Total Test Takers Not Passed

7,620 13,435 11,356

Total Percentage Passing

63.26% 61.33% 71.40%

Mean Score 74.94% 74.33% 76.96%

Workplace Readiness Skills for the Commonwealth Examination

Data Source: Career and Technical Education Consortium of States

(Eighty two school divisions participated in 2012, 107 in 2013, and 109 in 2014.)

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Counseling and Credentials That Count!

Counsel students on testing using those credentials that have the highest “market place” and/or “career pathway” value even though some credentials may not have comparatively high passing rates.

To improve student job seeking resumes and improve postsecondary outcomes, advise all CTE students to take a technical skills exam and/or a across-the-board assessment.

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Thank You!

Next Video Streaming, Session 9 – November 13, 2014,“The 2015-2016 CTE Local Plan and Budget Submission, including Federal Program Monitoring Self-Assessment”

Note: Please complete the evaluation

Contact Information:

Virginia Department of Education

Office of Career and Technical Education Services

CTE@doe.virginia.gov

804-225-3370