Understanding NCCER Assessments and Certifications

NCCER Industrial Craft Assessments:

Craft assessments are computer based tests that are intended to access a person’s already obtained knowledge and skill level. They are not intended to be used to determine job eligibility, or to train someone who does not already have knowledge in the craft. Once a person takes and passes a craft assessment they will be considered “knowledge verified”, and will receive an NCCER card with a number that can be used to look up credentials online.

NCCER Performance Verifications (PV’s) Hands-On, Certified Plus:

If a person wishes to be certified in an industrial craft, they must first take and pass the computer based assessment. A PV may be scheduled to obtain a Certified Plus status. Currently CTC offers Boilermaker Maintenance, Pipefitter and Scaffold Builder PV’S.

NCCER Pipeline Operator Qualification (OQ) Assessments:

Pipeline assessments are computer based tests that are intended to access a person’s already obtained knowledge and skill level. They are not intended to be used to determine job eligibility, or to train someone who does not already have knowledge of pipeline operations. Pipeline tests are given by individual covered task (CT) number. The person only needs to pass the individual task to be considered qualified in that task. Once the task assessment is taken and passed, the results will automatically be sent to NCCER who will submit the task(s) to ISNetworld, which is the system that companies use to verify qualifications.

NCCER OQ Performance Verifications (PV’s) Hands-On:

If a company requires that the Operator be Performance Verified the person must first take and pass the computer based assessment for the covered task. Many companies do not require their Operators to be performance verified. Currently CTC does not offer Pipeline PV’s.

NCCER Crane, Rigging And Signal Person Assessments:

Assessments are computer based tests that are intended to access a person’s already obtained knowledge and skill level. They are not intended to be used to determine job eligibility, or to train someone who does not already have knowledge of the craft.

NCCER Crane, Rigging And Signal Person Certifications:

If a person wishes become a certified crane operator, rigger or signal person, they must first take and pass the computer based assessment. A Practical Exam (PE) must be taken and passed to obtain a certified status. Currently CTC offers Rigger PE’s & Crane PE’s (Crane PE’s must be requested by a company, administered at their qualified site and billed to the company. Once a person has taken and passed both the Computer based assessment and the practical exam they will receive a gold certification card with their picture.

Certifications for Crane, Rigging and Signal Person must be fully renewed every five years.