Technical Skill Assessment
New Guidelines
The Perkins Act of 2006 (Perkins IV) requires 2S1 Technical Skill Assessment (TSA) to measure the percentage of Career and Technical Education (CTE) concentrators who pass a skill assessment aligned with industry-recognized standards, if available and appropriate.
Previously, with Perkins III, it was not specified how assessments were to be given. Local Education Agencies (LEAs) used a variety of methods to assess technical skill attainment including grade point average and locally developed assessments. Perkins IV outlines more specific requirements and guidelines in the type of assessment used to measure CTE skill proficiency. (Click here to view TSAs currently approved by the Division.)
The TSA is intended to be taken after a student becomes a concentrator* and completes a program. It is not intended to be taken after every course. Eventually, all concentrators who complete a program will be expected to take a TSA. This process will be phased-in over the next three to four years.
*By definition, a concentrator is a student who has earned three or more sequential credits in any state approved CTE program grades 9-12. It is a local decision to determine the sequence; therefore, it is a local decision to determine when a student becomes a concentrator and completes a program.
The Division recognizes that many assessments are presently available, as well as new ones being developed, that would meet the Perkins IV guidelines for skill assessment. Currently, the Division has determined that assessments tools developed by National organizations such as American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS), Skills USA, and NOCTI meets the criteria established by Perkins IV. The state will continually monitor and incorporate new assessments as they become available and if appropriate.
Districts currently using an assessment they believe would qualify as an industry recognized assessment, but not administered by a National organization, should contact their Program Director at the Division for guidance.
TSAs the Division has approved:
- Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
- NOCTI
- Architecture and Construction
- Air Conditioning Certification –HVAC Excellence
- AutoCAD–Brainbench
- Carpentry, National Construction Career Test –NCCER
- Carpentry Level One National Construction Career Test -NCCER
- NOCTI
- Housing and Interior Design (Tentatively 2010)-AAFCS
- Architectural Drafting (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Carpentry (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- HVAC and Refrigeration (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Masonry (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Plumbing (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Residential Wiring (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Arts, A/V Technology and Communications
- NOCTI
- Housing and Interior Design (Tentatively 2010)-AAFCS
- Fashion, Textiles and Apparel (Tentatively 2009)-AAFCS
- Advertising Design (Tentatively 2009)-SkillsUSA
- Photography (Tentatively 2009)-SkillsUSA
- 3-D Visualization and Animation (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Audio Production (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Graphic Communications (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Screen Printing Technology (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Television Video (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Business , Management and Administration
- Certification for Legal Professionals -ALS
- Financial Literacy Security (Fall 2008)-AAFCS
- Fundamental Business Concepts –ASK Institute
- Brainbench
- Education and Training Services
- Education Careers (Tentatively 2010)-AAFCS
- Financial
- NOCTI
- Financial Literacy and Security (Fall 2008)-AAFCS
- ASK
- Health Science
- Certified Dental Assistant, Infection Control Exam (ICE) –Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.
- Certified Dental Assistant, Radiation Health & Safety Exam (RHS) –Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.
- National Health Care Foundation Skill Standard Assessment –National Consortium on Health Science and Technology Ed.
- NOCTI
- Nutrition and Food Science (Tentatively 2010)-AAFCS
- CNA- MO Division of Professional Registration
- Dental Assisting (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Medical Assisting (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Nurse Assisting (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Practical Nursing (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- CNA (certified nurse’s aide) – Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
- Practical Nursing – add MO Division of Professional Registration
- ADN- Associate Degree Nursing - MO Division of Professional Registration
- Pharmacy technicians - MO Division of Professional Registration
- Dental Hygienists - MO Division of Professional Registration
- Respiratory therapist technicians - Massage Therapists - MO Division of Professional Registration
- Hospitality and Tourism
- NOCTI
- American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA)
- ACCESS- ACF
- ProStart Program – NRAEF
- Culinary Arts (Tentatively 2009)-AAFCS
- Commercial Baking (Fall 2008)-SkillsUSA
- Culinary Arts (Tentatively 2009)-SkillsUSA
- Human Services
- NOCTI
- Early Childhood Education (Fall 2008)-AAFCS
- Broad Field FCS (Tentatively 2009)-AAFCS
- Nutrition and Food Science (Tentatively 2010)-AAFCS
- Family Services Tentatively 2009)-AAFCS
- Cosmetology-MO Division of Professional Registration
- Cosmetology (Fall 2008)-SkillsUSA
- Nail Care (Tentatively 2009)-SkillsUSA
- Massage Therapists - MO Division of Professional Registration
- Information Technology
- IC3
- NOCTI
- Adobe Certified Expert –Adobe Systems, Incorp.
- Brainbench
- Certified Computer Service Technician -ETA
- Certified Internet Web Master Assoc. –Prosoft Learning Corp
- Cisco-CCNA
- MOS
- MOUS
- Computer Maintenance Technology (Fall 2008) SkillsUSA
- Internetworking (Fall 2008) SkillsUSA
- Technical Computer Applications (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Web Design and Development (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security
- NOCTI
- Criminal Justice/CSI (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Firefighter – MO Division of Fire Safety
- Manufacturing
- SENSE Training Program Certification -AWS
- NOCTI
- Automated Manufacturing Technology (Fall 2008)-SkillsUSA
- Welding (Fall 2008)-SkillsUSA
- Robotics and Automation (Tentatively 2009)-SkillsUSA
- Major Appliance Technology (Tentatively 2009)-SkillsUSA
- Cabinetmaking (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- CNC Milling and Turning Technology (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Mechatronics (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Precision Machining Technology (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Telecommunications Cabling (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Electronics Application (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Electronics Technology (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Marketing
- NOCTI
- ASK
- National Retail Federation Foundation
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
- NOCTI
- Engineering Technology (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Marine Service Technology (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics
- NOCTI
- Automotive Technician Examination –ASE
- Automotive Youth Education Systems Exit Examination –AYES
- Collision Repair & Refinishing Tech (ASE) –NATEF
- Aviation Maintenance Technology (Tentatively 2009)-SkillsUSA
- Motorcycle Service Technology (Tentatively 2009)-SkillsUSA
- Power Equipment Technology (Tentatively 2009)-SkillsUSA
- Automotive Refinishing (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Automotive Service Technology (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Collision Repair Technology (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA
- Diesel Equipment Technology (Tentatively 2010)-SkillsUSA