The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) which amended the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins IV) and was signed into law on July 31, 2018, envisions that all students will achieve challenging academic and technical standards and be prepared for high-skill, high-wage, or high-demand occupations in current or emerging professions. The Act also provides an increased focus on the academic achievement of CTE students, an emphasis on improving State and local accountability, and strengthens the connections between secondary and postsecondary education. Technical skills assessments are tools that can be used to improve State and local accountability and strengthen the connections between secondary and postsecondary education and prepare students to enter the workplace by demonstrating career readiness. The Office of Career and Technical Education and Student Transitions Services (OCTE&STS) supports the use of valid and reliable technical skill assessments. Significant effort and funding have been focused on increasing the number of students taking approved assessments and in identifying providers of technical skill assessments that can deliver reliable and usable data.

• Technical Skills Assessments Purpose and Use
• CTE Approved Industry Credentials for 2020-21
• 2023-24 CTE Certifications with Career Readiness Indicators
• 2024-25 CTE Student Reporting Guide
• Spring 2025 Technical Skills Assessments Directions PDF

Note: Below find information regarding technical skills assessments for each program and testing information. If a proctor form is needed for testing purposes, one for each school site is necessary.

Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources

OCTE Program Contact:

R. Troy Helms
803-320-1064
rthelms@clemson.edu

Program of Study Assessments:

Agricultural Mechanics and Technology, Environmental and Natural Resources, Horticulture, Plant and Animal Systems

• Clemson University Testing Information Form
• Agriculture Spring 2025 Proctor Form

Architecture & Construction

OCTE Program Contact:

Steven Watterson
803-734-8267
swatterson@ed.sc.gov

Program of Study Assessments:

Building Construction Cluster, Carpentry, Electricity, HVAC Technology, Masonry

• CTECS Testing Information Form
• CTECS Spring 2025 Test Proctor Form

Program of Study Assessments:

Cabinetmaking, Plumbing, Building Construction Cluster, Carpentry, Electricity, HVAC Technology, Masonry

• NCCER Testing Information Form

Arts, A/V Technology, & Communication

OCTE Program Contact:

B. T. Martin
803-734-3398
btmartin@ed.sc.gov

Program of Study Assessments:

Architectural Design, Mechanical Design

• CTECS Testing Information Form
• CTECS Spring 2025 Test Proctor Form

OCTE Program Contact:

CareerReadiness@ed.sc.gov

Program of Study Assessments:

Fashion Design and Apparel (Fashion, Textiles, and Apparel)

• AAFCS (Pre-Pac) Testing Information $25/test

Program of Study Assessments:

Interior Design (Interior Design Fundamentals)

• AAFCS (Pre-Pac) Testing Information $25/test

Business Management & Administration

OCTE Program Contact:

CareerReadiness@ed.sc.gov

Program of Study Assessments:

Administrative Services, Business Information Management, General Management, Human Resource Management (PILOT), Operations Management

• CTECS Testing Information Form
• CTECS Spring 2025 Test Proctor Form

Education & Training

OCTE Program Contact:

CareerReadiness@ed.sc.gov

Program of Study Assessments:

Early Childhood Education

• AAFCS (Pre-Pac) Testing Information $25/test

Program of Study:

Introduction to Teaching (Education Fundamentals)

• AAFCS (Pre-Pac) Testing Information $25/test

Finance

OCTE Program Contact:

CareerReadiness@ed.sc.gov

Program of Study Assessments:

Accounting, Business Finance

• CTECS Testing Information Form
• CTECS Spring 2025 Test Proctor Form

Government & Public Administration

OCTE Program Contact:

Steven Watterson
803-734-8267
SWatterson@ed.sc.gov

Program of Study Assessments:

Governance, Public Management and Administration

• Business Leadership I / Business Leadership II - YouScience Testing Information $20/test

Health Science

OCTE Program Contact:

Anna Snipes
803-734-0372
alsnipes@ed.sc.gov

Program of Study Assessments:

Health Science

• National Health Science Certificate Testing (NHSC) Procedures
• YouScience Testing Information
• Teacher Information
• Proctor Information

Program of Study Assessments:

Project Lead the Way Biomedical Sciences (Human Body Systems, Medical Interventions, Principles of Biomedical Sciences)

• PLTW Testing Information
• PTLW Score Interpretation Guide

Hospitality & Tourism

OCTE Program Contact:

CareerReadiness@ed.sc.gov

Program of Study Assessments:

Culinary Arts

• AAFCS (Pre-Pac) Culinary Arts Testing Information $25/test
• South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association ProStart, Level 2 Testing Information
• Instructions for Virtual Proctoring Pro Start Technical Skills Assessment

Baking and Pastry 

• CTECS Testing Information Form
• CTECS Spring 2025 Test Proctor Form

Program of Study Assessments:

Hospitality Management and Operations

• American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute: Hospitality and Tourism Specialist Certification Testing Information

Human Services

OCTE Program Contact:

CareerReadiness@ed.sc.gov

Program of Study Assessments:

Family and Consumer Sciences

• AAFCS (Pre-Pac) Broad Field Family Consumer Science Testing Information $25/test
• AAFCS (Pre-Pac) Family and Community Services Testing Information $25/test
• AAFCS (Pre-Pac) Housing and Furnishings Testing Information $25/test
• AAFCS (Pre-Pac) Leadership Essentials Testing Information $25/test
• AAFCS (Pre-Pac) Nutrition, Food, and Wellness Testing Information $25/test
• AAFCS (Pre-Pac) Personal and Family Finance Testing Information $25/test

Information Technology (IT)

OCTE Program Contact:

Andrew Cook
803-734-2828
acook@ed.sc.gov

Program of Study Assessments:

Information Support and Services, Networking Services, Programming and Software Development (using C++ or Visual Basic), Web and Digital Communications

• CTECS Testing Information Form
• CTECS Spring 2025 Test Proctor Form

Program of Study Assessments:

Informatics (Computers, Networks and Databases, Design for the Digital World, Databases in the Cloud, Developing a Cloud Presence)

• Advanced Careers by SREB Testing Information

Program of Study Assessments:

PLTW Computer Science (PLTW Computer Science A, PLTW Computer Science Essentials, PLTW Computer Science Principles, PLTW Cybersecurity)

• PLTW Testing Information
• Interpreting EOC Assessment Scores

Law, Public Safety, Corrections, & Security

OCTE Program Contact:

Steven Watterson
803-734-8267
SWatterson@ed.sc.gov

Program of Study Assessments:

Emergency and Fire Management Services

• SC Fire Academy Hazardous Materials Awareness EOC Testing Information
• SC Fire Academy Hazardous Materials Operations EOC Testing Information
• SC Firefighter I EOC Testing Information
• SC Firefighter II EOC Testing Information

Program of Study Assessments:

Law Enforcement

• Law Enforcement YouScience Testing Information form $20/Test

Manufacturing

OCTE Program Contact:

Steven Watterson
803-734-8267
SWatterson@ed.sc.gov

Program of Study Assessments:

Integrated Production Technology (Advanced Technology for Design and Production, Systems of Advanced Technology, Mechatronic Systems for Advanced Production, Design for the Production of Advanced Products)

• Advanced Careers by SREB Testing Information

Program of Study Assessments:

Mechatronics (Pilot)

• CTECS Testing Information Form
• CTECS Spring 2025 Test Proctor Form

Program of Study Assessments:

Welding Technology (Welding)

• CTECS Testing Information Form
• CTECS Fall 2024 Test Proctor Form
• NCCER Testing Information Form

Marketing

OCTE Program Contact:

CareerReadiness@ed.sc.gov

Program of Study Assessments:

Marketing Communications, Marketing Management, Merchandising

• CTECS Testing Information Form
• CTECS Spring 2025 Test Proctor Form

Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics (STEM)

OCTE Program Contact:

CareerReadiness@ed.sc.gov

Program of Study Assessments:

Food Science

• AAFCS (Pre-Pac) Food Science Fundamentals Testing Information $25/test

OCTE Program Contact:

B. T. Martin
803-734-3398
btmartin@ed.sc.gov

Program of Study Assessments:

Aerospace Engineering Technology (Fundamentals of Aerospace Technology, Advanced Aerospace Technology, Aeronautics Engineering Applications, Astronautics Engineering Applications)

• Advanced Careers by SREB Testing Information

Program of Study Assessments:

Clean Energy (Systems 1, Applications 2, Strategies 3, Innovations 4)

• Advanced Careers by SREB Testing Information

Program of Study Assessments:

Innovations in Science and Technology (Nature of Science and Technology, Application of Science and Technology, Impact of Science and Technology, Creativity and Innovation)

• Advanced Careers by SREB Testing Information

Program of Study Assessments:

PLTW Pre-Engineering (PLTW Civil Engineering and Architecture, PLTW Computer Integrated Manufacturing, PLTW Computer Science Principles, PLTW Digital Electronics, PLTW Engineering Design and Development, PLTW Engineering Essentials, PLTW Environmental Sustainability, PLTW Introduction to Engineering Design, PLTW Principles of Engineering)

• PLTW Testing Information
• PLTW Score Interpretation Guide

Transportation, Distribution, & Logistics

OCTE Program Contact:

B. T. Martin
803-734-3398
btmartin@ed.sc.gov

Program of Study Assessments:

Automotive Collision Repair Technology (Non Structural Analysis / Damage Repair (NS); Painting and Refinishing (PR))

Program of Study Assessments:

Automotive Technology (Brakes (BR) / Maintenance and Light Repair (MLR))

Program of Study Assessments:

Diesel Engine Technology (Diesel Technology Truck Brakes (TB) / Truck Suspension and Steering (TSS))

• Getting Started Overview
• 2024-25 ASE Frequently Asked Questions
• Automotive Service Excellence Student Certification Testing Information
• S.C. Purchase Order Form 2024-25 (to be used for Completers in ASE-accredited program Testing Registration)
• S.C. Purchase Order SC1A50-24-25 (to be used for Completers in Non-Accredited ASE Programs Testing Registration)

Program of Study Assessments:

Automotive Collision Repair Technology (Non Structural Analysis/Damage Repair (NS); Painting and Refinishing (PR))

• I-CAR Testing Information Pro Level 1

Program of Study Assessments:

Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management (Introduction to Logistics, Functional Areas in Logistics, Global Logistics Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management)

• Advanced Careers by SREB Testing Information