The document discusses the importance of certification for high school and post-secondary students, highlighting declining job opportunities and the necessity of employability skills. It provides various statistics and studies indicating that certified individuals fare better in the job market, showing increased wages and employability. The text emphasizes the need for career and technical education programs to integrate certifications that enhance students' readiness for the workforce.

1. WHY CERTIFY?
Dave Hansen

2. TOPICS OF DISCUSSION
The Uphill Climb for Your Students
Integrating Skills & Validation – Why? How?
Top Secondary/Post-Secondary Certification
Recommendations
How to Get Started

3. 70% OF DROPOUTS ARE BORED IN SCHOOL

4. YOUR STUDENTS STRUGGLE TO FIND JOBS
"Proportionally, more kids
have lost jobs in the past
few years than the entire
country lost in the Great
Depression."
- Andrew Sum in Time
Magazine
Jan 18, 2010
"Only one in four U.S.
teenagers held a job in
2011, the smallest
percentage in decades
and half what it was in
1999-2000.“
- Reuters News Report
January 24, 2012

5. GOING TO COLLEGE IS GETTING HARDER
> Enrollment of older students outpacing
younger (19% vs. 10%)
Community College Avg. & Mean Age of Students
Average Age Mean Age
28 23
> Increased applications, declining admissions
> Cost of education outpacing earning
potential increase (in some fields)

6. COLLEGE GRADS STRUGGLE
TO APPLY SKILLS
IN A PRACTICALENVIRONMENT
“Young people
leave college
without the
employability
skills they are
looking for.”
- Deloitte & Touche

7. WHY FOCUS ON SKILLS?
Student A Student B
Resume Highlights: Resume Highlights:
> Typing Class – A- > Type 60 WPM
> Internet & Computing Core
> English Class – A+ Certification (IC3)Certified
> Computer Class – B+ > Microsoft Office Specialist –
> Internship with local Excel Certified
accounting firm > Internship with local
accounting firm
> Assistant Drum Major
> Assistant Drum Major
WHO GETS THE INTERVIEW?

8. HOW TO FIND IN-DEMAND SKILLS

9. WHY CERTIFY?
> Changing Trends in CTE & Vocational Ed
> Student Employability
> Student Career-Readiness
> Course Relevance Barometer
> Improved Academics
> Clear Course/Program Sequencing
> College Credit
> Better Internship Opportunities
> Enhanced Articulation Opportunities
> Funding
> Reporting & Curriculum Feedback

10. WHY CERTIFY? - GEORGETOWN UNIV.
> “…we need to revive high school career and
technical education programs as…”
 Alternative pathways to postsecondary education
and training
 To provide industry-based certificates and
certifications that make students employable
after high school
- Postsecondary Education and Training As We Know It Is Not Enough.
http://cew.georgetown.edu/uploadedfiles/412071_postsecondary_education.pdf

11. WHY CERTIFY - WA STATE (I-BEST)
> “The study identified a “tipping point” of at
least one year of college credit and a
credential as the threshold for…”
 Earning better wages
 Meeting workforce needs
 Advancing/finishing post-secondary education
- Washington SBCTC – Research Report No. 08-1
http://www.sbctc.edu/college/education/resh_rpt_08_1_student_achieve
_basic_skills_003.pdf

12. WHY CERTIFY - HARVARD UNIVERSITY
of people with post-secondary
licenses or certificates—credentials short of
an associate’s degree—earn more than the
average bachelor’s degree recipient.”
Pathways to Prosperity (Feb. 2011)
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news_events/features/2011/Pathways_to_Pr
osperity_Feb2011.pdf

13. WHY CERTIFY - CAL STATE UNIVERSITY
> “Students who earn credentials in
occupational programs can have substantial
earnings advantages over those earning
traditional academic degrees” (Emphasis
Added)
- California State University - Sacramento
http://www.csus.edu/ihelp/PDFs/R_Road_Less_Traveled_02_11.pdf

14. CTE CERT BASED PROGRAM IN NYC HS
> Lower Drop-out Rates
 NYC CTE – 4x Lower
> Increased Post-Secondary Enrollment
 NYC CTE – 92%
> Perceived Program Value
 NYC CTE –600 openings received 10,000
applications

15. IMPROVED ACADEMICS – CTE & CERT
Performance Indicator Non-CAPE CAPE, No Cert CAPE + Cert
Average GPA 2.56 2.6 3.0
Chronically Absent 17% 20% 11%
At Least One Disciplinary Action 21% 21% 11%
Dropout Rate 2% 1% 0%
12th Graders Earning Diploma 79% 88% 97%
At Least One Accelerated Course 22% 22% 33%
Bright Futures Eligible Seniors 28% 26% 44%

16. WHY CERTIFY? - STUDENT CAREER READINESS
> 80+% of entry-level information worker tasks are
performed in Microsoft Office (Not Google Docs)
From a study with 10,000+ MOS Certified participants
> 85% of supervisors report…
 More productive
 Require less supervision
> 93% Become team resources
> 89% Are more satisfied at work
 Keeping/staying with their jobs

17. HOW DO
AFFECT EMPLOYABILITY?
Certified Certified Certified
Conversion
Placement
Wages
individuals individuals individuals
are earning are placed on are converting
12% more than assignment at to full-time
non-certified a higher rate employment
individuals than the 20% more often
in their industry than non-
assignments average certified
individuals
Over 2,600 certified individuals tracked and compared
to more than 43,000 non-certified individuals

18. BUT ISN’T ALL OF THIS CERT VALUE A MYTH?
Network World and SolarWinds Survey (November 2011)
- 700 IT Professionals
- Nearly 80% said Certification made a difference
Did a certification lead to any of the following? (Check all that apply.)
Other Benefit
A Promotion
An Increase in Salary or Bonus
A New Job
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

19. NHS UK CASE STUDY:
WORKFORCE
CERTIFICATION
BACKGROUND STAFF MANAGEMENT
AND TARGETS FEEDBACK FEEDBACK
800,000 technology users 91% increase in 577% ROI - “It not only
in a varied workforce productivity saves me time but also
ensures my data is accurate
Using MOS, practice tests, 95% learned features with less chance for errors”
training, and eLearning that will assist in job
functions 542% ROI - “It has had a big
Desire to increase overall
impact on my work and has
efficiency 97% now working faster saved a lot of time which
Need to find demonstrable 71% saving at least one means I can get more
and transferrable skills hour per week done.”
London, UK

20. WHY CERTIFY? - COLLEGE CREDIT
Students can receive college credit through:

21. WHY CERTIFY? – INTERNSHIPS
> Enhanced credibility with local employers
> Employers learn value of certified employees
> Students better prepared for real-world
experience

22. USING CERTS HELP YOU ARTICULATE

23. USING CERTS FULFILLS PERKINS REQUIREMENTS
> Fulfill Perkins 2S1 Requirement

24. USING CERTS FULFILLS OTHER FUNDING REQS
$ Enhancing Education Through Technology
$ Title 1
$ Ed Tech K-12 Voucher Program (CA)
$ Specialized Secondary Program Grants (CA)
$ California Partnership Academies (CA)
$ PTA
$ Community partners/businesses
$ Tech Prep
$ DonorsChoose.org
$ Philanthropic Organizations
$ Other state/federal grants
Why Certify?

25. WHY CERTIFY? – BRAGGING RIGHTS/(CV)
STUDENTS INSTRUCTORS
Bragging rights, peer recognition, program Bragging
awareness, parent education, behavior rights, CV, professional
reinforcement, etc. development, Earn your
CTE credential*

26. Which
Are Best for My Program?

27. AVAILABLE CERTS – MOS
Largest Certification Program on the Planet
“Ideal” Candidates for Certification
Secondary CTE & College Students
Academy Program Students
Instructors and Staff
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access (SharePoint
& One Note in 2010)
- Microsoft Office 2010
- Microsoft Office 2007
- Microsoft Office 2003

28. AVAILABLE CERTS – MOS
This is what to expect -
Performance-based exam
50 minute length
20-30 test items with one or more tasks
Score required to pass varies with exam
(65-80%)
Skills measured are posted on Microsoft and
Certiport’s websites

29. EXAMPLE LIVE-IN-THE-APP EXAM QUESTION
48:15

30. MTA – IT STARTS HERE
Master +
Architect/Consulting Skills
Deep Technical Skills
Job Role Experience
1-2 Yrs. Technology
Experience.
Beginners
Associate Level:
• No work experience required
• Fundamental concepts
• Classroom taught
• Available to academic institutions only
• Positioning students for advanced training, MCTS and entry-level positions and
internships

33. MTA EXAM CHARACTERISTICS
This is what to expect -
Multiple-choice and other select-response questions
45 minute length
35 test items
Score required to pass varies with exam
(most IT exams range from 65-80%)
Source: US Dept. of Education
Skills measured are posted on
www.certiport.com/mta

34. AVAILABLE CERTS – MTA (RESOURCES)
Developed by MS Learning, MTA Exam Review Kits are collections of 21-hour review
lessons covering the topics for each MTA exam. They are offered as a free digital
download to MTA customers
Course syllabus
• Learning objectives
• Unit scope and sequence
• Pacing chart
Instructor materials
• Lesson plans for each day of instruction
• Presentation slides for each day of instruction
• Annotated speaker notes for each slide
Content delivery resources including
• Occasional class demonstrations
• Occasional interactive whole-class sessions
• Guides for occasional discussions to foster dialogue about key topics
Student learning materials including
• In-class exercises (including the code for those exercises)
• Practical out-of-class work
• Labs as appropriate
Student assessment materials
• End-of-lesson/sub-unit questions and answers

35. AVAILABLE CERTS – MTA (RESOURCES)
MTA Student Study Guides:
Available in print ready
or study ready format
Download free of charge at: www.certiport.com/mrl

36. AVAILABLE CERTS – IC3
Digital Literacy Certified in 3 Areas
Computing Fundamentals, Key Applications, Living Online
IC3 = Foundational Certification for
Office Workers
Design Workers
IT Professionals
Appropriate Courses for Certification
Introduction to Computers
Basic Microsoft Office Courses
Internet Use Courses

37. AVAILABLE CERTS - IC3
This is what to expect -
Three separate exams (allows formative testing)
Multiple-choice, simulations and matching
questions
45 minute length
45 test items with one or more tasks
Score required to pass varies with exam
(most IT exams range from 65-80%)
Source: US Dept. of Education
Skills measured are posted on Certiport’s
website

38. • QuickBooks Setup
• QuickBooks Utilities and
General Product Knowledge
• List Management
• Items
• Sales
• Purchases

39. QUICKBOOKS CERTIFIED USER EXAM

40. Rich Media using
Flash
 Excellent, Free Student and
Teacher Resources
Video Communication
using Premiere Pro
 Blended Linear & Performance
Based Questions
Web Communication
using Dreamweaver
Visual Communication
using Photoshop

41. > Technology and Computer Hardware Basics
> Compatibility Issues and Common Errors
> Software Installation and Functions
> Security
> Green IT and Preventative Maintenance

42. Validate 2D and 3D design
skills using state-of-the-art
Autodesk® design software
Confirms students have the
skills necessary to continue
their design careers

43. RESOURCES FOR YOU – INDUSTRY RESEARCH

44. RESOURCES FOR YOU - CURRICULUM
> Publishers with certification-aligned
curriculum:
 John Wiley & Sons (Wiley)
 Cengage
 CCI Learning
 Learnkey
 Pearson
 McGraw-Hill
 Microsoft Press
 Cisco Press
 Many Others

45. RESOURCES FOR YOU – ASSESSMENTS
> MeasureUp
 Wide offering of IT and other certifications
 Microsoft Certified Practice Test Provider
 CompTIA CAQC Approved
 Robust Reporting
> Certiprep
 MOS 07/10, Live-in-the-app practice tests
> Others:
 Transcender, ExamForce, Gmetrix,
> Beware Blacklisted Practice Tests

46. REGISTER TO TEST @ WWW.CERTIPORT.COM/GO

47. RESOURCES FOR YOU
> Certiport Customer Success Team
 Helps you through the initial setup and training process
> Certiport Regional Managers & Partners
 Help you with product, program, curriculum questions
> Online Training Videos (www.certiport.com/go)
> Certiport Technical Support
 24x7 technical support if you have any setup concerns
> Social Media Peer Connections
 LinkedIn MTA Group
 LinkedIn MOS Group
 LinkedIn IC3 Group

48. THANK YOU!
Dave Hansen
MBA, MCT, MMI, MOS, IC3, CPI, AI, CompTIA Strata
Director, Product Operations – Microsoft
Toll Free: 888.999.9830
Fax: 801.492.4160
Email: dhansen@certiport.com
Twitter: @Certidave