NOCTI (National Occupational Competency Testing Institute) delivers a battery of assessments or Standardized tests for students studying career and technical programs in high schools and technical colleges in the United States.
The assessments, based on a job and task analysis process, incorporate input from subject-matter experts (SMEs) representing regions of the United States in secondary and post-secondary education as well as business and industry. The assessments are updated on a regular basis and are aligned with O*NET, national academic standards (math, science, and language arts) as well as business and industry standards. When appropriate, customized assessments may be developed to meet the educational needs of a specific region or a state.
A number of the assessments are linked to industry certifications programs.
History
NOCTI originated in 1966 funded by a grant from the US Commissioner of Education to Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. Due to the lack of vocational technical (currently referred to as career and technical) educators, a consortium of states was identified to develop assessments that would validate knowledge and skill sets of individuals coming from the workforce working toward a degree in career and technical education. NOCTI developed both written/multiple choice and performance/practical tests to assess teacher candidates. These assessments were given in a paper/pencil format at testing sites across the nation and scored at the NOCTI headquarters.
1972 NOCTI is established as a permanent organization, including a constitution, by-laws, and operating policies.<br />
1973 NOCTI is established as a not-for-profit corporation at Educational Testing Services (ETS) in Princeton, New Jersey.<br />
1975 NOCTI becomes independent from ETS and moves to new headquarters in Albany, New York.<br />
1979 NOCTI expands its original mission of teacher candidate testing to secondary and post secondary student testing also <br /> known as SOCAT (student occupational competency assessment testing)
1983 NOCTI relocates to Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan.<br />
1985 NOCTI - Industrial assessments added to NOCTI's battery of assessments.<br />
1995 NOCTI moves to its current address at 500 N. Bronson Avenue in Big Rapids, Michigan.<br />
1999 NOCTI - The Whitener Group is established as a wholly owned subsidiary of NOCTI to address the growing demand by business <br /> and industry NOCTI type assessments and services.
2003 NOCTI develops online testing platform to allow secondary and post secondary testing to be completed via the Internet. <br /> Currently both online and paper/pencil testing are available to clientele.
2006 NOCTI aligns all standardized assessments to the national academic standards for math, science and language arts.<br />
2007 NOCTI converts all standardized assessments to Text-to-Speech technology to address assessment accommodation needs.