The Virginia governor’s office launched the Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) initiative in 2004. Business and industry leaders called upon the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) and other key stakeholders to implement the statewide employability certificate that connects the goal of all Virginia stakeholders to advance the state’s workforce development interest and facilitate a quality of life and economic development movement.
Career Readiness Certificates (CRCs) are graded at three levels – Gold, Silver and Bronze – depending on WorkKeys exam scores. Upon the CRCs first anniversary in October 2005, the Commonwealth of Virginia had awarded over 7,000 CRCs. For many of those recipients, the CRC award represents the first such certification of “academic” achievement.
The CRC provides a workplace skills certification that businesses can directly connect to productivity, quality, business processes, and profitability. The CRC in Virginia is supported by the Virginia Workforce Council, Chamber of Commerce, AFL-CIO and the Virginia Manufacturers Association. It is a useful economic development tool in cities and counties where skill-levels of incumbent, dislocated workers are inadequate, and thus, discourage business development.
The CRC process not only encourages self-motivation, but also drives skill improvement through training software directly related to WorkKeys workplace skills. The result is that employers get applicants who have taken initiative to improve their potential worth to the company. It is truly a win-win process. It is designed to raise community workforce competencies by identifying and improving the weakest and often the least visible tier.