Guidelines fr Analysis f Credentials t be Included n COOL Relatedness Determinatin Guidelines Relatedness Determinatin (RD) refers t the identificatin f certificatins relevant t a Navy rating/designatr/ccupatin. Civilian ccupatins related t Navy ratings/designatrs/ccupatins are identified alng with relevant certificatins. Relatedness Determinatins lay the fundatin fr the rest f the data fund within a rating/designatr/ccupatin page. Initial RD data can be generated by the Naval Educatin and Training Cmmand (NETC) Learning Center r the Credentials Prgram Office. Detailed analysis f each RD is typically submitted t the NETC Learning Center respnsible fr the rating being reviewed, as well as the Enlisted Cmmunity Manager and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). An verview f the key steps taken t cnduct an RD is prvided belw. 1. Research Navy Specific Rating, Designatr, and Occupatin. The first step in the RD prcess is t better understand the duties and preparatry training s that the rating, designatr, r ccupatin can be matched t civilian jbs and credentials. Several methds are used t research the applicable rating, designatr, r ccupatin, including discussins with subject matter experts and review f: Navy Jb Task Analyses (JTA) data, if available; Navy Duty descriptins Navy Occupatinal Standards; and Navy training materials. 2. Link Civilian Jbs. Linkages between a rating, ccupatin, r designatr and a civilian jb are established thrugh the Occupatinal Infrmatin Netwrk (O*NET) civilian ccupatinal scheme. Analysts analyze available backgrund infrmatin n the rating/ccupatin/designatr (see #1 abve) and assess it against varius dimensins f the O*NET classificatin scheme. 3. Link t Civilian Credentials (Natinal Certificatins and Federal Licenses) and Make Initial Recmmendatin fr Credential Type. After civilian jbs have been linked t the rating/ccupatin/designatr, linkages are made t civilian credentials. A number f factrs must be cnsidered in making these linkages, including whether the agency and credential meet the established brad requirements fr a quality credential and what the credential type is as it relates t the specific rating/ccupatin/designatr directly related, skill related, r advanced/specialized/ther. Credentials are reviewed by the analyst fr apprpriateness, and ne f five utcmes are pssible: (1) the credential is directly related t the rating/ccupatin/designatr; (2) the credential is related t a skill btained thrugh Navy training; (3) the credential addresses an advanced/ther skill related t the rating/ccupatin/designatr (called Advanced/Specialized
and Other credentials); (4) the credential is nt related t the rating/ccupatin/designatr r underlying skills; r, (5) the credential did nt meet the verall guidelines fr inclusin (e.g., rather than being a natinally recgnized certificatin prgram, the prgram is determined t be a certificate prgram, which typically signifies nly curse cmpletin.) Credentials classified in utcmes 1 thrugh 3 will be included n the site. 4. COOL Credentialing Standards Dcumentatin. In rder t ensure a standardized prcess is fllwed, and t ensure the validity f a credentialing agency (r their certificatins/licenses), the COOL Credential Standards Dcumentatin may be submitted t the credentialing agency upn initial review and annual reviews. 5. Department f Labr (DL) and Department f Veterans Affairs (DVA). RD cnsideratin f ptential civilian credentials may als include a review f credentials recgnized by the DL and DVA. Nte: The analysis and pssible psting f credentials, civilian ccupatinal data, and ther data: Is nt cmmnly perfrmed at the request f the credentialing agency r industry May be perfrmed at the request f the DD, DN, r the service member May be perfrmed if the credential is reasnably attainable by service members in the related military ccupatin, as a direct result f existing Service training and/r duties perfrmed in the military ccupatin May be perfrmed if the credential is f best cst/best value t the Gvernment and service member Des nt imply an endrsement by the U.S. Navy r U.S. Army Des nt ensure the U.S. Navy r U.S. Army will supprt funding f the credential Is at the needs f the U.S. Navy r U.S. Army and subject t change at the needs f the Service, withut ntificatin/crdinatin f the credentialing agency COOL Credentialing Standards Dcumentatin In rder t ensure a standardized prcess is fllwed, and t ensure the validity f a credentialing agency (r their certificatins/licenses), criteria must be meet and guidelines fllwed. The COOL Credential Standards Dcumentatin may be submitted t the credentialing agency upn initial review and annual reviews. Prir t inclusin n COOL, a certifying rganizatin must meet the decisin criteria utlined in Figure 1. 2
Figure 1: Decisin Criteria fr Selecting Apprpriate Credentialing Agencies If a credential has been accredited by ne f the tw natinal accrediting bdies Natinal Cmmissin fr Certifying Agencies (NCCA) r American Natinal Standards Institute (ANSI) it is eligible t be included n the COOL web site. If a credential has been recgnized by the U.S. Department f Labr (DOL) r U.S. Department f Veterans Affairs GI Bill (as psted n VA WEAMS website), it is eligible t be included n the COOL web site. If a credential has nt been apprved by NCCA, ANSI, r DOL, VA, the fllwing criteria are used as general guidelines fr selecting credentials fr inclusin n the COOL web site (these criteria are high level criteria required by NCCA and ANSI fr accreditatin): Credential results frm an assessment prcess Credential typically requires sme amunt f prfessinal/wrk experience Awarded by a third-party, standard-setting rganizatin (credentialing rganizatin des nt require that candidates cmplete the rganizatins training/educatin prgram fr certificatin eligibility) Indicates mastery/cmpetency as measured against a defensible set f standards, usually by applicatin r exam Standards set thrugh a defensible, industry-wide prcess (e.g., jb analysis) that results in an utline f required knwledge and skills Has nging requirements in rder t maintain credential (i.e., recertificatin) Attainment r maintenance f the credential des nt require membership in the rganizatin 3
If a determinatin is made t include a certifying agency n COOL, r t cntinue t include the certifying agency n COOL, the agency may be asked t cmplete the COOL Credentialing Standards Dcumentatin (see Figure 2). Figure 2. Sample COOL Credentialing Standards Dcument 4
Name: Title / Psitin: Phne: Email: Standard / Requirement Met? Cmments / Dcumentatin 1 The credentialing bdy (CB) will nt require the candidate t have cmpleted training that is slely prvided by the CB. 2 If the CB des prvide an educatinal r training prgram, it must nt imply that it is the nly apprved prgram as a requirement fr the credential. 3 If the CB des prvide an educatinal r training prgram, thse individuals respnsible fr training must nt be affiliated with r respnsible fr the develpment f credentialing standards r the apprval prcess. 4 The credential exam fee must nt be bundled with nn-examinatin-related csts (i.e. training materials, membership cards, rganizatinal magazines, etc...). 5 The CB must dcument the specific tasks, knwledge, jb duties, and / r skills that are purprtedly being measured by the assessment prcess (e.g. exam, prtfli review, requirements review) assciated with the exam. 6 The CB must dcument the develpment f the exam r assessment, specifying psychmetric prcesses. 7 The cntent areas f the assessment r exam must be directly aligned t infrmatin gathered during a jb/task analysis, rle delineatin, and / r subject-matter expert cnsultatin. 8 Evidence regarding the validity and reliability f the assessment / exam scres must be dcumented. 9 The CB must publish all assessment / examinatin prcesses and prcedures required f the candidate. 10 The certificatin/license must be recgnized and in use by industry/rganizatins ther than the CB's rganizatin. 11 The CB must be accessible and respnsive t bth applicant and certificatin hlder (i.e. Internet, Phne, Email). 12 Membership in an assciatin affiliated with the CB will nt be required fr initial certificatin/license. 13 The certificatin/license must have a time limit r Cntinuing Educatin requirements, with ptins fr recertificatin and/r maintenance clearly utlined. 14 The credential(s) ffered must nt be tailred twards r centric t military service members. It must fulfill a need in the civilian wrkfrce. Please Nte: The intent f this dcument is NOT t change the business mdel f the CB. This is merely an assessment tl t help the U.S. Navy identify which credentials may meet their needs. This dcument shuld nt infer/imply that the U.S. Navy is directing CB's t make changes t their business mdel r practice. 5
Cmparability Analysis Identifying gaps between military training and civilian credentialing requirements alng with resurces available t fill thse gaps imprves a Sailrs ability t attain civilian credentials. This prcess is called Cmparability Analysis r Gap Analysis. Due t the prevalence f credentialing in the civilian wrk frce, it is nt uncmmn fr there t be ver 20 credentials related t a specific rating/ccupatin/designatr. Hwever, f these, typically nly five t seven are directly related t the duties perfrmed by Sailrs in the rating/ccupatin/designatr r t the underlying skills they attain thrugh military training and experience. The remainder wuld be cnsidered advanced r specialized certificatins. A key cmpnent f the COOL web site is the inclusin f the results f cmparability analyses detailing any gaps between civilian credentialing requirements and Navy training fr credentials that are determined t be mst directly related r skill related. The cmparability analyses als prvide infrmatin n hw Service members can fill these gaps either thrugh additinal educatin r training r independent study. The cmparability analysis prcess ensures the efficient cllectin f all required inputs, including civilian credentialing requirements, military training requirements, and infrmatin n prgrams available t facilitate credentialing. The prcess als allws fr cnducting cmprehensive analysis f military training against civilian credentialing requirements and the identificatin f any credentialing gaps. Finally, fr quality cntrl purpses, a review cmpnent is included t ensure that the Navy Learning Centers have an pprtunity t review and prvide feedback n the results f the analysis. Figure 1 prvides an verview f the Cmparability Analysis prcess. The numbers in parentheses crrespnd t the numbers f each activity shwn in the diagram. It includes the fllwing activities: Request Enabling and Terminal Objective (EOs/TOs) (1a) Review EOs/TOs and selected training material; Autmate Key Training Tpic Areas (as required) (1b-1c) Review ptentially relevant certificatins and autmate key requirements (as required) (2a-2b) Gather Related Infrmatin (3a-3b) Cnduct Skills Assessment (4) Pst Cmpleted Analyses n the Test Server (5) Frward fr Review/Cmments (6) Make recmmended changes and Pst t Live Site (7-9) 6
Figure 3: Cmparability Analysis Prcess Funding Business Rules Mre than 1,500 ccupatinal credentials are currently eligible fr Navy funding The Navy s Credentials Prgram Office funds fr credentials that have been mapped n Navy COOL with the Navy Bucks icn. The (Navy$) resurce icn identifies a credential that has been apprved fr Navy funding via a pre-paid vucher r pre-apprved reimbursement. The vucher cvers the cst f the examinatin, re-certificatin, r maintenance fee. Mre than 1,500 ccupatinal credentials are currently eligible fr Navy funding, based n an 80 percent r greater match t a crrespnding rating. Qualifying credentials are available fr Sailrs in every Navy rating, and are identified n the Navy Credentialing Opprtunities On-Line (COOL) web site, https://www.cl.navy.mil. Requests fr exam funding will be handled n a first cme, first served basis. Interested Sailrs shuld take advantage f funding as sn as practicable as the prgram is subject t funding cnstraints as the year prgresses. Sailrs must have a minimum f ne year remaining n their enlistment prir t receiving pre-paid vuchers r reimbursements. Additinal guidance, such as reimbursement infrmatin and eligibility guidelines, is prvided n the "Csts and Resurces" page f the Navy COOL web site. 7
Thse credentials with the Navy Bucks icn may have been mapped t Navy Jb Duty Task Analysis (JDTA) fr the particular rating at 80% r greater, r meet a critical skill f the particular rating. Thse credentials with the Navy Bucks icn may have been mapped t Navy rating training (e.g. A Schl) fr that particular rating at 80% r greater, r fill a critical training gap f that particular rating. Thse credentials meeting the 80% r greater criteria are eligible t have the exams funded. [Nte: the 80% criteria was set by the Vice Chief f Naval Operatins (CNO) Bard f Directrs in 2005] Nt all credentials displayed n Navy COOL are funded by the Navy s Credentials Prgram Office. Thse that are nt funded may display additinal funding resurces (e.g., GI Bill) available t the Sailr. Thse credentials displayed n Navy COOL withut the Navy Bucks icn may still be f value t Sailrs perfrming specialized duties within their rating, but nt t the 80% r mre degree required t meet Navy funding. Under certain circumstances, credentials that were previusly funded (i.e., had the Navy Bucks icn) are n lnger funded (i.e., the Navy Bucks icn is remved). This may happen at any time. Sme (nt all inclusive) examples are: credentialing agency changes its bjectives and n lnger meets the 80% criteria; credentialing agency changes its bjectives and nw meets the 80% criteria; a rating merger r disestablishment and nw the credential n lnger meets the 80% criteria; a rating merger r disestablishment and nw the credential meets the 80% criteria; the credentialing agency cannt meet the Navy s funding requirements, therefre we cannt fund the exam (i.e. nly takes cash at the dr frm the member r nly accepts checks); the credentialing agency nw has a means fr Navy t fund fr the exam (usually Visa, MasterCard); the Navy Learning Center r Enlisted Cmmunity Manager changes its recmmendatin fr funding, r nt funding, the credential; Navy training has changed and n lnger meets the 80% criteria; Navy training fr the rating has changed and nw meets the 80% criteria; the credentialing agency bundles training with the exam and is unable t, r unwilling t, unbundle the csts s the Navy pays just the exam fees; etc Nte: The funding f credentials: Is nt perfrmed at the request f the credentialing agency r industry May be perfrmed at the request f the DD, DN, r eligible service members (cnsistent with plicy and prgram business rules) May be perfrmed if the credential is reasnably attainable by service members in the related military ccupatin, as a direct result f existing Service training and/r duties perfrmed in the military ccupatin May be perfrmed if the credential is f best cst/best value t the Gvernment and service member 8
May be crss-checked against the Department f Veterans Affairs (DVA) GI Bill t ensure pricing is equal t r better than DVA recgnized csts, as well as DVA funding ptins are available t the veteran Des nt include funding f training materials, study guides, memberships, ID cards, travel expenses, seminars, and ther materials/activities Des nt imply an endrsement by the U.S. Navy r U.S. Army Des nt ensure the U.S. Navy r U.S. Army will supprt funding f the credential Is at the needs f the U.S. Navy r U.S. Army and subject t change at the needs f the Service, withut ntificatin/crdinatin f the credentialing agency 9