March 23, 2016 at 1:39 p.m.
Nicolet's Assessment Center offers the professional stamp of approval
Nicolet's Assessment Center offers the professional stamp of approval
Same goes for the dental hygienist who cleans your teeth.
How about the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) agents who check bags when you board an airplane to keep everyone safe?
All of these occupations and many, many others require certification or licensure to let the public and employers know people working in these fields have met specific professional standards.
Every year, hundreds of these individuals receive this professional stamp of approval through the Assessment Center at Nicolet College, the school said in a press release.
"What it comes down to is making sure people working in all of these fields, and many more, are competent and proficient in their chosen profession," said Tom Raykovich, chief examining officer and assessment coordinator at Nicolet.
U.S. Marshals and U.S. Border Patrol agents regularly take required certification exams at Nicolet. Other testing covers those looking to work in health care, emergency medical response, law enforcement, personal training, cosmetic dentistry, and engineering.
The Assessment Center also offers other testing services. One of the fastest growing areas is testing to receive college credit for prior learning. Right now the emphasis is on the welding and manufacturing fields.
"There are a lot of people out there who earn a high school diploma and have 10 or more years of experience working in a specific trade," he said.
"Many of these people have mastered skills that we teach here at Nicolet. If they can pass certain skills tests, our thinking is they should be able to get credit for what they already know and be able to apply those credits toward a college credential."
Raykovich added that he sees the day coming when this includes other occupations.
"Time and money are tight for many people and awarding credit for prior learning is a great way for individuals to get a good jump on college. This gives them the opportunity to earn that credential faster and at less cost in tuition so they can get that college degree or diploma that will get them father ahead in life."
In all, Raykovich estimates that between himself and his assistant Lori Vance they administer about 2,500 tests a year. Many of these are college placement and entrance exams for Nicolet and the University of Wisconsin System.
For more information about Assessment Center services or credit for prior learning testing, visit nicoletcollege.edu or call (715) 365-4900, 1-800-544-3039, ext. 4900; TTY 1-800-947-3529.
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