Advanced Training/Occupational Skills Training applies to youth and means an organized program of study that provides specific vocational skills that lead to proficiency in performing actual tasks and technical functions required by certain occupational fields at entry, intermediate, or advanced levels. Such training should be outcome oriented and focused on a long-term goal as specified in the Individual Employability Plan (IEP) and result in attainment of a certificate as defined below.
Certificate/Credential means a document that is awarded in recognition of an individual's attainment of measurable technical or occupational skills necessary to gain employment or advance within an occupation. These technical or occupational skills are based on standards developed or endorsed by employers. Certificates awarded by workforce investment boards and work readiness certificates are not included in this definition. Certificates must be awarded by:
- A state education agency, or a state agency responsible for administering vocational and technical education within a state;
- An institution of higher education described in Section 102 of the Higher Education Act (20 USC 1002) that is qualified to participate in the student financial assistance programs authorized by Title IV of that Act. This includes community colleges, proprietary schools, and all other institutions of higher education that are eligible to participate in federal student financial aid programs;
- A professional, industry, or employer organization (e.g., National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence certification, National Institute for Metalworking Skills) or a product manufacturer or developer (e.g., Microsoft Certified Database Administrator, Sun Certified Java Programmer) using a valid and reliable assessment of an individual's knowledge, skills and abilities;
- A registered apprenticeship program;
- A public regulatory agency, upon an individual's fulfillment of educational, work experience or skill requirements that are legally necessary for an individual to use an occupational or professional title or to practice an occupation or profession (e.g., Federal Aviation Administration aviation mechanic certification, State-licensed Emergency Medical Technician);
- A program that has been approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs to offer education benefits to veterans and other eligible persons;
- Job Corps centers that issue certificates; and
- Institutions of higher education that are formally controlled, or have been formally sanctioned or chartered by, the governing body of an Indian tribe or tribes;
Diploma means any certificate/credential that the state education agency accepts as equivalent to a high school diploma. This term also includes post-secondary degrees such as Associate (AA and AS) and Bachelor (BA and BS) degrees.
Education means participation in secondary school, post-secondary school, adult education programs, or any other organized program of study leading to a degree or certificate.
Employer endorsement means that employers within a particular industry or cluster of industries recognize the certificate and would not impose an employment barrier because the program was completed in another state or other regional location.
Post-secondary Education means a program at an accredited degree-granting institution that leads to an academic degree (i.e., AA, AS, BA or BS).
Training Services means any WIA-funded and non-WIA funded training service. Services include: occupational skills training, including training for nontraditional employment; on-the-job training; programs that combine workplace training with related instruction, which may include cooperative education programs; training programs operated by the private sector; skill upgrading and retraining; entrepreneurial training; job readiness training; adult education and literacy activities in combination with other training; and customized training conducted with a commitment by an employer or group of employers to employ an individual upon successful completion of the training.