WorkKeys is an ACT assessment that is administered to all North Carolina Career and Technical Education Concentrators the year that they will graduate high school.  A CTE Concentrator is a student who has completed a career pathway program of study through their high school or Career and College Promise courses. 

The ACT WorkKeys assesses a student’s career readiness by measuring employability skills that are critical to job success. These skills are essential to any occupation, skilled or professional, at any level of education and in any industry.  The score achieved will help the student understand their level of employability, the areas in which they are proficient, and the areas where improvement needs to be made. The three components of the WorkKeys test are:

• Workplace Documents

  • • Assesses the ability to read, interpret, and use written materials.       Ex: emails, contracts, minutes, and sales agreements.

• Applied Mathematics

  • • Assesses numerical reasoning and problem-solving techniques required in the workplace. Ex: payroll, acreage seeding, and medical dosages.

• Graphic Literacy

  • • Assesses the ability to comprehend, incorporate, and apply information presented in graphical material. Ex: pie graphs, flow charts, and infographics.

By taking the WorkKeys tests, students can earn a National Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) and a National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC). CRC's and NCRC's are awarded at four different levels: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. For questions on whether your child is eligible to take the WorkKeys test, please contact your school's Career Development Coordinator or Building-Level Test Coordinator.

After completing the ACT WorkKeys, students can gain access to their CRC by visiting:  ACT Workkeys Quick Start Guide.