Student Testing/ NOCTI
National Occupational Competency Testing Institute /NOCTI
PDE requires all secondary concentrators who are anticipated to graduate in approved career and technical education programs over 600 hours, for which there is a test available, to take a state-approved occupational competency test in order to meet the requirements of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 and Chapter 4 of Title 22. All concentrators who participated in the PSSA/ Keystone testing are expected to also participate in the student occupational competency testing.
NOCTI Assessments are composed of two sections – written and performance. All NOCTI written tests are required to be taken online.
The tests used in this testing program are based on state, national and/or industry-based standards. NOCTI tests are designed around criteria for job readiness. Pennsylvania has developed statewide cutoff scores to establish a competency standard which reflects those skills employers expect from entry-level workers.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA 04) and the Improving America's Schools Act mandate that students with disabilities be included in state- and district-wide assessments. If a student with an IEP participates in the PSSA and Keystones statewide testing, then that student will also participate in this occupational competency testing program. Allowable accommodations for all students are described in the PSSA and PSSA-M Accommodations Guidelines. Students who take the PASA are exempted from participating in the NOCTI testing program.
The following criteria are used to determine who receives the Pennsylvania Skills Certificate:
|
Test Portion 1 |
Test Portion 2 |
Pennsylvania Certificate Level Achieved |
Certificate Earned |
|
Advanced |
Advanced |
Advanced Level |
PA Skills Certificate |
|
Advanced |
Competent |
Competent Level |
Competent Certificate |
|
Competent |
Competent |
Competent Level |
Competent Certificate |
|
Competent |
Basic |
Basic Level |
No Certificate |
|
Basic |
Basic |
Basic Level |
No Certificate |
|
Advanced |
Basic |
Basic Level |
No Certificate |
NOCTI collaborated with the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) to evaluate several of its assessments. Experienced industry experts and professors evaluated the rigor of the NOCTI assessments to translate the content into college credit equivalencies. Students must meet a 70% benchmark on an approved NOCTI multiple-choice assessment to be eligible.
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