WorkKeys

Wyoming Department of Education > For Parents & Students > WorkKeys

About the Program

The WorkKeys® job skill assessment system was created in the late 1980s by ACT Inc. ACT Inc. is the nonprofit company responsible for the ACT test. Businesses use WorkKeys to measure workplace skills of employees and job applicants. Schools and colleges also use WorkKeys to prepare students for the workplace.

In 2006, WorkKeys® was introduced in legislation as an alternative test to qualify for the Hathaway Provisional Opportunity Scholarship. Since then, the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) has teamed up with the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (DWS) to combine efforts in order to meet similar objectives.

The National Career Readiness Certificate is a national program designed to foster economic and workforce development in the state of Wyoming. The National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC), powered by WorkKeys™a product of ACT, Inc., is a nationally-recognized credential which denotes that the holder possesses the fundamental skills required to achieve success in the workplace and become a productive, valuable employee.

A National Career Readiness Certificate is earned by completing the three WorkKeys Assessments

  • Applied Math
  • Workplace Documents
  • Graphic Literacy

Students who take the WorkKeys® on the WorkKeys® state test day may be eligible to receive an NCRC on top of qualifying for a Hathaway Provisional Opportunity Scholarship.

How To Understand Scores For The Test

A WorkKeys Score Report may show a score of “<3”. This means that the student has scored 2,1, or 0 points on this particular test. For purposes of the Hathaway Scholarship, a “<3” is equivalent to a “no score” or zero points.

For example: a student score report may show:

  • Applied Mathematics: 4
  • Graphic Literacy: 5
  • Workplace Documents: <3

The student’s cumulative score would be 9.

Note: This student would not be eligible for the Hathaway Provisional Opportunity Scholarship. 

For assessment information click here.