AMERICAN FORK, Utah, September 6, 2023
YouScience®, the leading technology provider dedicated to solving the skills gap crisis for students and employers, today announced the release of five new industry-recognized career and technical education (CTE) exams available for the 2023-24 school year. In addition, 27 other CTE exams and knowledge standards were reviewed and updated to ensure that they meet the most recent industry standards.
Each academic year, the team at YouScience collaborates with industry specialists to meticulously assess and enhance YouScience® Industry Certifications. This dedicated effort guarantees that the certifications meet the current, in-demand needs of industries and employers.
“The challenges in preparing students for future careers are clear and measurable,” said Edson Barton, Founder and CEO, YouScience. “Business and industry leaders are experiencing massive disruption as they struggle to find workers who have the skills, experience, and aptitudes to do the jobs of today and tomorrow. Our Industry Certifications provide students with the experience and knowledge they need to be successful in their best-fit career.”
A new addition to YouScience’s credential offering is the Behavioral Health Introduction exam, which focuses on mental health. Despite the growing number of people experiencing mental illness, as of March 2023, 160 million Americans live in areas with mental health professional shortages, with over 8,000 more professionals needed to ensure an adequate supply.
Two new exams in the Human Services and Finance career clusters have been added: Investing and Wealth Management, and Personal and Family Finance. Both of these exams are in the pilot phase and provide insight into often overlooked but critical skills.
Significant updates were also made this year to several CTE certification exams, including: Business Law, Child Development, and Hospitality and Tourism. In addition, one partner exam from LAPSEN, Certified Protection Officer, was updated.
See the full list of new, updated, and renamed exams below:
New exams
- Behavioral Health, Introduction
- Individual and Family Relationships
- Investing and Wealth Management
- Material Science
- Personal and Family Finance
- Web Development, Advanced
Exams with updated standards and new name
- Agricultural Mechanics and Technology 1
- Agricultural Mechanics and Technology 2
- Graphic Print Design 1
- Graphic Print Design 2
- Graphic Print Design 3
Additional existing exams that were reviewed and have updated standards
- Agricultural Mechanics, Advanced
- Agricultural Biology
- Agricultural Mechanics and Technology 1
- Agricultural Mechanics and Technology 2
- Business Law
- Child Development
- Commercial Art 1
- Commercial Art 2
- Commercial Art 3
- Certified Protection Officer (LAPSEN)
- Customer Service
- Early Childhood Education 1
- Early Childhood Education 2
- Early Childhood Education 3
- General Financial Literacy (GFL)
- Graphic Print Design 1
- Graphic Print Design 2
- Graphic Print Design 3
- Health Science, Introduction
- Hospitality and Tourism
- Physical Therapy, Introduction
- Web Development 1
- Web Development 2
- Welding Technician 1
- Welding Technician 2
- Welding Technician 3
2022-23 certifications that moved out of pilot status
- Agricultural Machinery Technology
- Criminal Justice Fundamentals
- Unmanned Aerial Systems 1
2022-23 exams that remain in pilot status
- 3D Animation 2
- Algorithms and Data Structures
- Behavioral Health, Introduction
- Cloud Computing 1
- Cloud Computing 2
- Database Development
- Floriculture, Advanced
- Guide Dog Training
- Individual and Family Relationships
- Investing and Wealth Management
- Linux Fundamentals
- Material Science
- Medical Anatomy, Advanced
- Mobile Development Fundamentals
- Non-Destructive Testing
- Personal and Family Finance
- Web Development, Advanced
New partner exams
- Certified Protection Officer (LAPSEN)
Exams with a new name
- Agricultural Mechanics and Technology 1
- Agricultural Mechanics and Technology 2
- Graphic Print Design 1
- Graphic Print Design 2
- Graphic Print Design 3
YouScience creates new exams when industry needs to validate new skills. The exams are reviewed when industry requirements, products or processes, or standards change and when exam performance data indicates an exam needs updating. The pilot phase indicates a certification exam needs more testing before a cut score can be determined and a certificate can be earned.
Industry Certifications offer students entry- to mid-level certifications that act as tangible proof of their skills and knowledge. This proof helps them enter the workforce or skip entry-level college courses, gain preferred hiring status, or earn a wage increase.
Through Industry Certifications, educators can access recognized industry standards, validated exams, and data. They also gain access to ready-made tools to help prepare students for life after school and support for their programs that meet federal and state requirements.
To learn more about YouScience and its solutions, visit youscience.com
About YouScience
YouScience® is the leading technology provider dedicated to solving the skills gap crisis for students and employers. Its end-to-end platform, YouScience® Brightpath, connects education with career applications designed to help students unlock their potential for future pathways. YouScience leverages proven research, artificial intelligence, and industry input to help individuals identify their natural talents, validate their skills and knowledge, and get matched with real-world educational and career pathways in high-demand occupations. YouScience is the preferred choice of individuals, parents, educators, and counselors to guide and support educational and career pathways, currently serving more than 7,000 educational institutions and nearly one million users.