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ASVAB CEP �Information for Educators

SSG Robert Quiroz

California Army National Guard

925.404.4754

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What is ASVAB CEP

The ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP) is a comprehensive, no cost, no commitment career planning resource designed to help young people align their strengths �and interests with a post-secondary plan that works. �

Students in grades 10-12 and first/second �year post-secondary are encouraged �to participate.

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What is ASVAB CEP

Three key components:

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) - the most widely-used multiple aptitude test battery in the world measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success.

Find Your Interests (FYI) - a 90-item interest inventory designed to help students identify their work-related interests.

OCCU-Find – this career catalog contains data related to 100s of careers with activities to help students put a plan together.

The ASVAB Career Exploration Program is the only complete, federally-funded career planning program sponsored by the Department of Defense available at no cost to schools nationwide. ASVAB CEP encourages students to explore a wide variety of careers, rather than limiting their exploration by telling them what they can or should do. It

The ASVAB test is the most widely used multiple-aptitude test battery in the world. The test has proven to be a good measure of how students have developed both academic and occupational skills. It also measures aptitudes that are related to success in different jobs as well as training and education programs.

The FYI (Find Your Interests) is a 90-item interest inventory designed to help students identify their work-related interests. The FYI is based on John Holland’s widely accepted theory of career choice which identifies six basic personality types. When students complete the FYI, they will receive three Top Interest Codes to use in conjunction with the OCCU-Find for career exploration.

The OCCU-Find contains occupations grouped by the six RIASEC interest areas so students can quickly identify the occupations that match their own interests. Students use the OCCU-Find to explore careers based on their top interest codes. The OCCU-Find provides additional information on skill requirements-including the importance of verbal, math, and science and technical skills. Students can use this information to get a better sense of their own preparedness to enter training programs. The online version of the OCCU-Find contains a wealth of relevant, reliable occupational data.

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Keep Options Open

Planning and decision making will benefit students throughout their lives.

Students’ career plans are in formative stage

Career plans develop and change over time

Career Development is an

Ongoing Process

The ASVAB Career Exploration Program emphasizes the importance of planning and decision making, skills that can benefit students throughout their lives. Career development during adolescence and early adulthood is an ongoing process. Students’ career plans are in the formative stages, and these plans will continue to develop and change over time. Some career programs focus on narrowing down occupational choices for high school students. The ASVAB Program takes the opposite approach; it helps broaden a student’s career search. As more schools struggle with dropout prevention, the ASVAB Career Exploration Program helps students see the importance of high school coursework and how it relates to the “real world.”

In the next section, you’ll learn more about the specific benefits of the ASVAB Program.

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Career Exploration Pays Off

Students make decisions about college or careers before they have spent time thinking about the following key areas:

ASVAB CEP gives students the opportunity to explore a variety of careers in the context of their interests and skills through assessment components and structured activities.

Skills

Options

Interest

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Participant Intentions

The goal of the ASVAB CEP is to enable students to explore a variety of careers related to their skills and interests, rather than limit their exploration by telling them what they can or should do.

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ASVAB CEP Benefits Everyone

Students:

Explore full-spectrum of career opportunities in the context of their skills and interests to find the best fit
Those interested in the military receive a usable score for enlistment

Parents:

Provides tools for exploring and planning after-high school options
Gives students confidence to navigate decision making process

Educators & Counselors:

Easily integrates into the high school curriculum

Incorporates Career Clusters & meets American School Counselor Association National Standards

All program materials are available at no cost

Services:

Provides pre-qualified leads which saves time and money
Participating students can use their ASVAB CEP score to enlist

High school counselors, schools, and school districts also benefit in a number of ways from the ASVAB Program. Schools gain a career development program that meets the needs of today’s students, whether they plan to enter the workforce right away or pursue further education. The Program presents a full-spectrum of career opportunities to students, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, or ability level. Counselors benefit from a comprehensive program that is based on and rigorously aligned with current career development theory and practice. Counselors can use ready-to-use activities that relate high school courses to career planning.

These are the overall benefits of the Program. Let’s look in more detail at the main components of the Program to give you a better idea of how the career exploration program works.

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ASVAB CEP Benefits: You

ASVAB CEP empowers young people to know their options and choose the best course of action.

Comprehensive and completely free (sponsored by DOD and paid for by tax dollars).
Integrates easily into curriculum.
Meets many state requirements for career exploration and supplies tools to support state or school district career portfolio requirements
Students explore a full-spectrum of career opportunities in line with interests and skills, and develop an action plan to realize career goals.

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ASVAB CEP Benefits: Students

ASVAB CEP is not just about military entrance. It encourages students to:

Explore themselves and the full-spectrum of career options
Create a plan toward getting the skills and qualifications they need to meet career goals

All participants identify strength and interest areas

Students in grade 11-12 can use their scores for military entrance
10^th grade students cannot use their scores for military enlistment (regardless of age)

Students, counselors, and school districts all benefit from the ASVAB Program.

Students explore occupations in line with their interests and skills. In addition, they can compare their academic preparation against the requirements for entry into desired programs of study or occupations. In this way, they develop effective strategies to realize their career goals. The Program is easily integrated into the high school curriculum and comes with activities designed to help students identify high school courses that will increase their skills and readiness for future education or employment. Seeing the connection between their current educational planning and their future goals will help students foster a greater sense of responsibility for that planning.

The ASVAB test is not just for military entrance. It is an opportunity for students to explore the full-spectrum of career options and paths to reach their ultimate career goal.

Students in grades 10-12 can identify areas of strength and areas for potential growth

Students in grade 11-12 can use their scores for military entrance

10^th grade students cannot use their scores for military enlistment (regardless of age)

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More Educational Benefits

Generates standardized/aggregate test data

Provides an easily integrated, comprehensive career planning product that does not add to school’s workload

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The ASVAB Test & Results

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About the ASVAB

The ASVAB measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success.

The school:

Determines test date
Determines test release option(s)
Sets aside a quiet, well-lit room
Answers parent questions about ASVAB testing

ASVAB CEP personnel:

Administer and proctor the test
Arrange follow-up interpretation session

There are two versions of the ASVAB:

Traditional paper & pencil

3 hours, eight subtests, 200 total items

Computer adaptive (CEP iCAT) tailors to test takers ability level

1.5 hours, 10 subtests, 145 total items

The ASVAB test is one of the most widely used multiple-aptitude test battery in the world. The ASVAB tests in eight different areas. The test has proven to be a good measure of how students have developed both academic and occupational skills. It also measures aptitudes that are related to success in different jobs as well as training and education programs.

Schools also often wonder how they will find the time and the staff to administer the ASVAB test. First off, schools determine when and where the ASVAB will be given. In this way, they can control the test date and ensure that it does not conflict with other student testing. (The ASVAB takes about three hours.) The only other obligation of the school is to provide a quiet, well-lit room for the three-hour testing period.

Administration of the ASVAB test falls to the ASVAB program. The Program provides all test material and send proctors to administer the test. Schools must provide 1 proctors.

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ASVAB Subtests

General Science Knowledge of life science, earth and space science, and physical science	Arithmetic Reasoning Ability to solve basic arithmetic word problems
Word Knowledge Ability to understand the meaning of words through synonyms	Paragraph Comprehension Ability to obtain information from written material
Mathematics Knowledge Knowledge of mathematical concepts and applications	Electronics Information Knowledge of electrical current, circuits, devices, and electronic systems
Auto Information Knowledge of automotive maintenance and repair	Shop Information Knowledge of wood and metal shop practices
Mechanical Comprehension Knowledge of the principles of mechanical devices, structural support, and properties of materials	Assembling Objects Ability to determine how an object will look when its parts are put together

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Score Release

ASVAB results are reported to students and counselors on the ASVAB Summary Results sheet.

Each school determines whether the scores are released to the services. Participants can ‘opt in’ or ‘opt out’ of the release option chosen by your school by completing the appropriate form found online.

However, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (formerly, No Child Left Behind (NCLB)) requires the release of all school directory information to the military, regardless of ASVAB CEP participation.

Students may be contacted by a military recruiter even if they do not participate in the ASVAB CEP.

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Score Release Options

Release Option	Results to Recruiting Services
Option 1	7 days after test scores are mailed.
Option 2	60 days after test scores are mailed. No contact prior to that time.
Option 3	90 days after test scores are mailed. No contact prior to that time.
Option 4	120 days after test scores are mailed. No contact prior to that time.
Option 5	End of school year. No contact prior to that time.
Option 6	7 days after test scores are mailed. No telephone solicitations by recruiters.
Option 7	This is an administrative option used by USMEPCOM ONLY for test administration issues for individual or group tests (test abandoned, cheating, insufficient proctors, fire drills, etc.). Not valid for enlistment purposes. Results not released to Recruiting Services.
Option 8	Not released to Recruiting Services

Participation in ASVAB CEP is always voluntary. Information is collected from students who choose to participate. In order to score tests and provide appropriate results, the required student information fields include: student name, date of birth, gender, education level, and post-secondary intention. Social Security Number is not collected.

One of the ASVAB scores is the military entrance score/ Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) which your student can use to explore career options in the military. Even if your child’s scores are released to the military, by no means is your child obligated to military service.

U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command (USMEPCOM) Education Services Specialists provide services based on the school's desires. Schools may also select a "split option," where two release options are used: one option allows release of scores to recruiters and one option restricts that release to accommodate individual requests.

Note: The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (formerly, No Child Left Behind (NCLB)) requires the release of all school directory information to the military, regardless of ASVAB CEP participation. The “opt out” form does not serve as an ‘opt out’ of the release of student’s personal information to the military required by ESSA. Students may be contacted by a military recruiter even if they do not participate in the ASVAB CEP.

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The Career Workshop

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Post-test Activities

A career workshop is offered to all students who take the ASVAB test at school. The workshop takes place during a class period. It includes:

Test score interpretation
Completing the FYI
Exploring the OCCU-Find
Mapping out next steps

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Career Workshop Overview

Who Runs the Sessions?

Education Services Specialists
High school counselors

How Long do They Last?

45-90 minutes
Customized to fit your schedule

What do Students Receive?

ASVAB test results
FYI
Exploring Careers: ASVAB Career Exploration Guide
Web Access Code for Online search tool

All ASVAB Career Exploration Program services are available in print and online (except for the ASVAB test, which will be online in the near future).The interpretation session is conducted via the ASVAB Program website. Students can use access codes provided on the ASVAB Summary Results sheet to log in to the MyASVAB area and take the FYI online and take advantage of the online OCCU-Find that links to detailed occupational descriptions from O*NET and the Occupational Outlook Handbook. For students interested in military careers, the OCCU-Find also links to job descriptions on www.careersinthemilitary.com.

The heart of the ASVAB Career Exploration Program is the interpretation session. This session is run by trained Education Services Specialists or counselors. Interpretation sessions are scheduled after schools receive student ASVAB test results. These sessions are extremely important and give students time to understand their test scores. In addition, the sessions help students make the connection between their scores and career exploration. Interpretation sessions typically last between 45 and 90 minutes, or one class period. During the session, students receive their ASVAB test results as well as Exploring Careers: The ASVAB Career Exploration Guide, a career exploration booklet that includes a paper version of the FYI. The ASVAB Career Exploration Guide is a resource designed to help students:

1) Understand and use their ASVAB scores for career exploration with the OCCU-Find 2) Learn about sources of occupational information

3) Consider work-related values when making career decisions 4) Evaluate their current academic preparation for admission or entry into a program of study or an occupation 5) Learn about various educational opportunities 6) Learn planning and career decision-making skills

Key information for students, parents, educators, and counselors is also available at www.asvabprogram.com. Counselors and educators can download program materials such as The ASVAB Career Exploration Program Counselor Manual, and supplemental guided career exploration and planning activities that educators can use with students. The website also contains an interactive version of the FYI and OCCU-Find. Students need the Access Code that they receive on their ASVAB Summary Results sheet to use the online FYI and OCCU-Find.

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Interpreting Scores

Before exploring careers, students need to have a good understanding of their ASVAB Summary Results Sheet. When it comes to test results, students tend to fixate on the numbers. The interpretation session gives the counselor the opportunity to emphasize that the ASVAB is an aptitude test. It is not an absolute measure of skills and abilities nor is it a perfect predictor of success or failure. Instead, it provides estimates of general levels of developed abilities at the current point in time.

The interpretation session:

1) Provides students with an overview of the ASVAB Summary Results sheet

2) Explains to students what their scores mean

3) Explains to students the difference between standard and percentile scores

4) Encourages students discuss satisfaction or dissatisfaction with scores

5) Shows students the relevance of ASVAB test scores for career exploration

The ASVAB Summary Results sheet shows ASVAB test and career exploration scores, as well as a military entrance score. ASVAB test scores correspond to the eight ASVAB test areas. Career Exploration Scores are comprised of a combination of some of the individual ASVAB tests. The Verbal Skills score includes Word Knowledge and Reading Comprehension. The Math Skills score includes Arithmetic Reasoning and Math Knowledge. The Science and Technical Skills score includes General Science, Electronics Information, and Mechanical Comprehension.

Percentile scores indicate how well students do in relation to others in their grade. Standard scores show how well students do in relation to the average scores of others who have taken the ASVAB tests. Notice how the standard scores are displayed using gray score bands. Students need to know that test scores are never an exact measure of skills and abilities. In this example, score bands show the range that this student’s scores would probably fall in if she took the test again.

During the interpretation, students learn that ASVAB scores provide one measure of skills and abilities. This is important because ASVAB scores, combined with information about interests, achievements, and other test results, may help them select appropriate occupations for career exploration. As students explore careers, they can compare their skills with the skill requirements of occupations they are interested in.

Military entrance scores are appropriate for students wishing to explore opportunities in the Armed Services.

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Interpreting Scores

Score sheets show students’areas of strength and areas of potential growth

Schools receive roster of scores and electronic aggregate data available upon request

Career resources provide tutorials that show the relationship between test scores and occupations

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Find Your Interests (FYI)

The FYI is a 90-item interest inventory based on John Holland’s RIASEC® theory of career choice. Students indicate preference for various activities.

The FYI determines students’ resemblance to each of six work-related interest types (RIASEC types) based on their responses.

“It’s a great break-down of their types, and it links seamlessly to appropriate careers. It also interests students in careers they may not have otherwise considered.”

-- High School Counselor

The FYI (Find Your Interests) is a 90-item interest inventory, available online and in print, designed to help students identify their work-related interests. The FYI is based on John Holland’s widely accepted theory of career choice which identifies six basic personality types. When students complete the FYI, they will receive three Top Interest Codes to use in conjunction with the OCCU-Find for career exploration.

Once students understand their test scores, they can begin the process of career exploration. Students need about 10-15 minutes to take the FYI. The FYI inventory asks students respond to items by indicating a preference for the various activities presented to them. Based on the answers to these items, the FYI determines the student’s resemblance to each of six interest types (RIASEC types). Once students have taken the FYI and have their three top interest codes, the MyASVAB area on the Program website will display their top interest codes whenever they log into the site again. In this way, they can continue career exploration on their own.

Taking the FYI during the interpretation session is important. Students may skip over this step otherwise. The interpretation session helps students understand that the FYI can help them identify their work-related interests and can, in turn, help them determine career fields or occupations that are potentially satisfying. Work-related interests are also important to overall career development and enjoyment of life. Working in an occupation that interests them makes it easier to work harder and advance in a career.

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OCCU-Find

The OCCU-Find is an easy-to-navigate career catalog containing relevant, reliable occupational data. It allows students to quickly identify potentially satisfying career options related to their skills and interest.

Each occupation includes:

Job description and daily tasks
Interests
Relative importance of verbal, math, science/technical skills
Related careers
Education requirements and institutions offering that degree
Military services offering occupations, including hot jobs from each branch
Credential and licensing opportunities
Employment outlook (average earnings by state and expected growth)
Links to Career Clusters

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FYI and OCCU-Find

Reveals work-related interests types that link to career development and enjoyment of life
Exposes students to career exploration opportunities and develop a career focus
Helps students understand difference between careers and work
Validates relationship between strengths and interests
Broadens student exploration of careers vs narrowing focus

Once students understand their test scores, they can begin the process of career exploration. Students need about 10-15 minutes to take the FYI. The FYI inventory asks students respond to items by indicating a preference for the various activities presented to them. Based on the answers to these items, the FYI determines the student’s resemblance to each of six interest types (RIASEC types). Once students have taken the FYI and have their three top interest codes, the MyASVAB area on the Program website will display their top interest codes whenever they log into the site again. In this way, they can continue career exploration on their own.

Taking the FYI during the interpretation session is important. Students may skip over this step otherwise. The interpretation session helps students understand that the FYI can help them identify their work-related interests and can, in turn, help them determine career fields or occupations that are potentially satisfying. Work-related interests are also important to overall career development and enjoyment of life. Working in an occupation that interests them makes it easier to work harder and advance in a career.

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Other Career Planning Tools

My ASVAB Portfolio

Chart experiences related to work, education, test scores, achievements, skills, volunteer work, interests, values
Create a customizable resume-like portfolio to share

My Educational and Career Plan

Assess desired in an occupation
Develop “next steps” for realizing tentative career choices
Make initial career plans
Evaluate current program of study
Consider additional courses

My Coursework Planner

Map out remaining high school courses to best meet career goals

The interpretation session generally lasts one class period, about enough time for students to review ASVAB test results, take the FYI, and become familiar with the OCCU-Find.

The ASVAB Program has several additional activities and tools that can be used by counselors or teachers after the interpretation session. These tools can make the career exploration and planning process a richer experience for students. After students have identified tentative occupational choices based on their interests and skills, they are encouraged to explore these choices further, by planning the remainder of their high school courses and clarifying their post-high school goals.

My Educational and Career Plans Summary Sheet encourages students to explore occupations based on their interests, hobbies, achievements and favorite experiences. The Coursework Planner helps students determine what remaining high school courses they should take based on the requirements for occupations that interest them.

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Is ASVAB CEP right for your school?

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Bring ASVAB CEP to your school

ASVAB CEP is easily integrated into curriculum.

Allows students to explore occupations in line with interests and skills, and develop strategies to realize career goals.

The ASVAB test is not just for military entrance.

It is an opportunity for students to explore the full-spectrum of career options and paths to reach their ultimate career goal.

Participation is completely free.

All participants make the connection between their unique skills and interest and the world of work.