Industry Certifications For Your Students (and You!)

1. Industry CertificationsFor Your Students (and You!) July 2013

2. So Many Options • Thousands of certifications available in the United States with a variety of purposes • Some industry certifications are too robust to be completed at the secondary level • Most programs have an entry point examination that is a significant stepping stone toward completion of the certification program • Other types of examinations verify industry standard knowledge and can be taught as a part of a secondary level Career and Technical Education program

3. Three Types to Consider • Complete certification • Pathway examinations • State licensures

4. Complete Certification Program • A complete industry certification program • Examination leading to a nationally recognized industry certification from a specific testing entity • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) • Some certification entities may refer to their examinations as complete certifications • Part of a formal certification track which requires multiple examinations for full program certification • Microsoft Office SpecialistMicrosoftCertified Systems Engineer

5. Pathway Examinations • Exams constitute one or more entry level exams in a specific industry certification • Automotive Service Excellence • A+/CompTIA • Important students understand that obtaining an entry-level certification is a first step in exploring job related skill sets while working toward achieving more advanced certification levels

6. State Licensure • A state-issued professional license • required state examination before entry into a specific occupation • usually requires additional training and credentialing • normally represents validation of the essential skills needed for a specific job as determined by a state licensing agency • Many other state issued licensures are beyond the scope of secondary-level coursework • Pharmacy Technician, Licensed Practical Nurse

7. Cluster Examples • Health Science • Certified Nursing Assistant • Medical Administration • Hospitality & Tourism • ServSafe • ProStart Program Certification • Human Services • First Aid/CPR • Information Technology • A+ CompTIA Certification • Microsoft Office Specialist • Manufacturing • Certified Welder • Marketing • Fundamental Marketing Concepts • STEM • Electronics Systems Associate • Transportation, Distribution & Logistics • Automotive Service Excellence • AFNR • Beef Quality Assurance Certification • Certified Welder (AWS) • Commercial Applicator Certification • Architecture & Construction • Certified SolidWorks Associate • Drafter Certification • OSHA Safety Certification • Arts, AV Technology & Communication • Adobe Certified Associate • HTML Developer • Java Developer • Business Management & Administration • Concepts of Finance • Fundamental Business Concepts • Education & Training • First Aid/CPR • Finance • Concepts of Finance

8. Information Technology • A+/CompTIA Certification (A+ Essentials) • Adobe Certified Associate • C-Tech Home Professionals • C-Tech Network Cabling Specialists • C-Tech Voice Communications Professionals • Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician • Cisco Certified Network Associate • HTML Developer • JavaScript Developer • Microsoft Office Specialist • Project Management Professional

9. National Career Readiness Certificate • A portable credential that demonstrates achievement and a certain level of workplace employability skills • Applied Mathematics • Locating Information • Reading for Information • Measures real world skills that employers believe are critical to job success • Test questions are based on situations in the everyday work world • Measures work-related behaviors—or soft skills • Prediction about an individual's success at work or in training • Will be required of all South Dakota Students in 2014-15

10. Benefits of Certification for Students • Guarantees a minimum skill level commensurate with current industry demand through a process that realistically and reliably tests competencies • Added value to a transcript for higher education purposes or obtaining an entry-level position in the technical job market and increased opportunities for advancement in a chosen career path • Enhanced self-esteem for students through achieving national occupational competency standards recognized by business and industry

11. Benefits of Certification for Local CTE Programs • Positive publicity within the community and among local businesses • Assures a standard minimum level of competency for quality service • Provides an opportunity for ongoing professional development

12. How can I include an industry certification in my class(es)? • Ask the following: • Are there any specific curricular requirements of the industry certification? • Are there any required qualifications for the instructor? • Does the student have to meet any specific qualifications or pre-requisite courses before taking the exam? • How long is the certification good for? • Are there multiple tests the students has to take? • Does the exam have to be proctored off site? • How much does the exam cost? • Can the exam be re-taken? • Align curriculum to industry standards • Educate students about the value of the certification and corresponding opportunities

13. Challenges of Including Industry Certifications • Industry certifications do not guarantee entry into a specific occupation • Certification exams can be expensive

14. How can I get certified?

15. Variety of Vendors Offer Certification Exams

16. Corporate Training at SD Technical Institutes

17. Mitchell Technical Institute • Energy Industry • CETP: Certified Employee Training Program • Continuing education for those in the Propane Industry • Pole Climbing/Pole Top Rescue Certification • Powerline and telecom industry participants • Tower Climbing Certification • wind industry, tower-erectors, tower service technicians • Underground locating and marking • City, counties, electricians • Apprenticeship Curriculum and Management • MTI students • Municipal energy workers • Northwestern Energy

18. Mitchell Technical Institute • Construction/Manufacturing Industry • HERs: Home Energy Rater Certification • Building Construction and Heating/Cooling  technicians • Electric Code Training for license renewal • Electrical Workers – (apprentice, journeyman, Contractors, inspectors) • OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 certification • Construction and General industry workers • Arc Flash/LOTO • EPA required ESCO certifications • Heating/Cooling Technicians or those working with refrigerants • NATE Certification • training approved by North American Technician Excellence for continuing education to maintain credentials for HVACR certification • CDL: Commercial Driver Licensing • training, testing and preparation for licensure of truck drivers • AWS Welder Certification and Welder qualification for most welding processes (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW) • ServSafe – Culinary Students and Industry Participants

19. Mitchell Technical Institute • Technology Related Certifications • CCNA: Cisco Certified Network Administrator • Training, testing and preparation for those who want to become a CCNA • Certification test center • Microsoft applications • CompTIA • Pearson Vue Testing Center • NREMT • GED • Pan Testing Center • USPS • TSA • FBI • Serv Safe

20. Questions? • Erin Larsen • Career Cluster Specialist • SD DOE • Phone: 605-773-2533 • Erin.Larsen@state.sd.us • Doug Greenway • Director of Corporate Education • Mitchell Technical Institute • Phone: 605-995-3056 • Doug.greenway@mitchelltech.edu