North Carolina’s Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) is designed to meet the needs of both employers and job seekers in this transitioning economy.
For employers, the CRC offers a reliable means of determining whether a potential employee has the necessary literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills to be “job ready.”
For job seekers, the CRC serves as a portable credential that can be more meaningful to employers than a high school degree or a résumé citing experience in a different job setting.
The CRC is based upon WorkKeys, a nationally recognized, skills-assessment tool developed by ACT, Inc. Individuals can earn three levels of CRCs based on their test performance in applied mathematics, locating information, and reading comprehension. The different levels earned – bronze, silver and gold – signify increasing levels of difficulty in each area.
To earn a CRC, contact the Columbus County NCWorks Career Center at (910) 642-7141, ext. 261. You can arrange to take the WorkKeys assessment, take pre-assessments to determine your skill levels and/or use computer-based software to improve your skills.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is the nation’s principal workforce development legislation, providing funds to address the employment and training needs of dislocated workers, and low-income adults and youth.
Funding for WIOA comes from the U.S. Department of Labor and is administered by the N.C. Division of Workforce Development and the Cape Fear Council of Governments for Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover and Pender Counties.
WIOA provides support to participants to increase their education, training, employment, earnings and job retention. The ultimate goal is to improve the quality of the workforce, reduce welfare dependency and enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the nation.
Primary consideration for enrollment is given based on individual work history, current education and skill levels as well as abilities to fully complete and benefit from a short-term (up to two years) vocational training program in an occupation, based on the local labor market.
If you qualify and are accepted for enrollment in WIA, our trained workforce specialist will:
You must apply for WIOA in the county where you live. For Columbus County, you should apply at the Columbus County NCWorks Career Center, located in A-Building at Southeastern Community College.
The OJT program, funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, provides incentives for business to help defray the cost of training eligible new employees. The program also provides training opportunities in the local business community to adults and dislocated workers.
Services to the employers include:
NCWorks Career Center staff handles the majority of the paper work. For more information contact the center at (910) 642-7141, ext. 261.
The Human Resources Development (HRD) program is designed to provide assessment services, employability training, and career development counseling to unemployed and underemployed individuals. It is operated at every community college in North Carolina, providing HRD instruction and support necessary to serve unemployed and dislocated workers. Unemployed, underemployed and dislocated customers may be eligible for fee waivers of training classes developed and operated within the HRD program guidelines.
HRD provides skill assessment services, employability skills training, and career development counseling to unemployed and underemployed adults. HRD courses shall address six core components as follows:
For more information about HRD classes, contact the Columbus County NCWorks Career Center.
Program Licensure Disclosure – Career Readiness Certificate
Program Licensure Disclosure – Working Smart