Alabama’s Ready to Work program provides a career pathway for adults with limited education and employment experience at 63 sites by 19 colleges. Ready to Work’s workplace environment provides trainees the entry level skills required for employment with most businesses and industries in Alabama. The training curriculum is set to standards cited by business and industry employers throughout the state, and the skills cited in the U. S. Department of Labor’s Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) Reports. The Ready-to-Work (RTW) Program is operated by the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education, Governor’s Office of Workforce Development in cooperation with the Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT). Drake State is a participating college providing training and curriculum as outlined by the program's guidelines.
The Office of Workforce Development at Drake State Technical College is responsible for coordinating the Ready to Work Program. Each session lasts eight weeks with classes held from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at the Richard Showers Center in Huntsville.
Program participants are eligible for two certificates upon successful completion of the program: a Career Readiness (WorkKeys) Certificate and the Alabama Certified Worker Certificate. Both certificates provide job seekers with an added advantage in the workforce by providing future employers with documentation of workforce specific skills and aptitudes.
To earn the Alabama Career Readiness Credential, a jobseeker must score a minimum level 3 on the following WorkKeys Assessments that test the skills required for more than 85 percent of all jobs today. The assessments are developed by ACT: (Each test takes about 1 hour)
Applied Mathematics - Measures workplace mathematical reasoning and problem solving skills from basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to multiple math functions like calculating percentage discounts and markups.
Reading for Information - Measures reading comprehension and reasoning skills when using written text on the job including memos, letters, directions, signs, notices, bulletins, policies and regulations.
Locating Information - Measures comprehension and application of workplace graphics such as charts, graphs, tables, forms, flowcharts, diagrams, floor plans, maps and instrument gauges.
The Alabama Certified Worker Credential is issued by Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT) and certifies a prospective employee has the right attitude and the initiative for the job. Essential requirements for successful certification include:
- A 95 percent attendance and punctuality rate, which must be certified by the program.
- Satisfactory achievement of work ethic, organizational skills, attitude and motivation based on observation and/or testing.
- Satisfactory achievement of problem solving skills, workplace behaviors, computer skills, job acquisition skills and manufacturing skills.
- Successful completion of the introductory computer skills training program which includes: basic operation and trouble shooting, internet and email business software applications and file management.
- A minimum level 3 score on the three WorkKeys Assessments
- A score of at least 70 percent on the written Alabama Certified Worker Examination.
Upcoming Sessions:
August 24
Transportation may be available. To register for the program or for more information, please contact Ricky Willingham, Director of Workforce Development at 256.551.5219 or 256.698.3961. Click here for more information about the Alabama Ready to Work Program.