2022–23 Precision Exams certifications for high school students

The Precision Exams certifications for high school students 2022–23 catalog of industry-recognized certifications is available.

Every year, YouScience exam experts work with industry subject-matter experts to review and update select Precision Exams certification exams and standards. That’s how YouScience ensures Precision Exams certificates stay accurate and aligned with the skills industry needs. All exams and standards are reviewed at least once every three years – most more frequently — to make sure they are and stay current with industry needs.

2022–23 updates at-a-glance

New and updated exams of note

Perhaps the coolest of the of the year is the exam where students can prove their skills in the drone service market. That market is expected to create 100,000 new jobs by 2025.

Some of the most significant updates this year are to the six computer programming exams and standards. The exams and standards have been completely revamped for the year to ensure they stay aligned with rapidly changing technologies.

There’s also a new National Law Enforcement Certification available from LAPSEN – its first capstone certification for secondary education!

The full 2022–23 list of certifications for high school students that are new or updated

Here’s the detailed rundown of which Precision Exams certifications are new, updated, or renamed for the 2022–23 academic year.

New exams

Most new exams are released as pilot exams. What does that mean? It means the standards and exams are available, but students can’t yet earn a certification when they take the exam.

The certification isn’t available until a cut-score is set. To set the cut-score, exam specialists work with subject-matter experts (SME) input and psychometric analysis of the pilot results and other data, and a Modified-Angoff method (the most common method for determining the cut scores used for licensure and certification achievement tests).

Certifications that have been dropped and replaced

Some exams were dropped and the information they offered rolled into fully revised and updated versions of other exams.

Exams that have updated standards and a new name

Exams are sometimes renamed to better reflect the content of the standards and exam questions.

Additional existing exams that were reviewed and have updated standards

*Formerly exam number 409.

2021–22 certifications that moved out of pilot status

The following exams, which were introduced in 2021–22 or earlier, are out of pilot status and students can now earn a certification after passing the exam or if they met the exam cut score when they took the exam while in pilot.

2021–22 exams that remain in pilot status

The following exams, which were previously introduced, remain in pilot status until a cut-score is determined. Students can’t earn a certificate until an exam is out of pilot.

New partner exams

In addition to the new and updated industry certificates for the 2022–23 academic year, 6 new partner exams were introduced in 2021–22.

Exams that have a new name

These exams use the previous standards, but have been renamed to better reflect industry trends.

How are certifications updated or created?

YouScience creates new exams when industry needs to validate new skills. We review exams anytime industry requirements, products or processes, or standards change and when exam performance data indicates an exam needs updated.

The intensive multistep process starts with a review committee, consisting of YouScience exam experts, education and industry SMEs, and state or association specialists, that meets to:

• Review or modify existing exam standards.
• Build or modify an exam blueprint to define the scope of the exam. The blueprint ensures the exam and questions align to each standard. It also acts as a guide to focus the committee on a quality product.
• Review psychometric data for the exam and each item (question) to ensure proper performance.
• Review, modify, or add exam content as needed for each item in the exam.
• Based on the review and SME input, exams or individual questions on the exam are enhanced, meaning information is improved to deliver better results, deleted, or rewritten, or a new question added.
• YouScience exam experts create a draft of the updated exam.
• The committee reviews the draft at least three times to ensure it matches the blueprint before the updated or new exam is released.

What’s the benefit of Precision Exams certifications?

Certifications give students tangible proof of the skills and knowledge learned in career and technical education (CTE) courses. They get proof they can use to enter the workforce or skip entry-level college courses. And proof of the skills needed by industry.

Educators access validated industry standards, exams, and data. They get ready-made tools to help with preparing students for life after school. They also access tools to support their programs and meet federal and state requirements.

Pre- and posttests (where available) let them measure student growth, drive program improvements, adapt to local pathway needs, build stackable credentials, and easily meet and report on funding requirements. Data also lets educators increase diversity in certification programs to maximize funding.

Standards give employers and educators a common language about industry needs, which strengthens education-to-career connections.

Can colleges use Precision Exams certifications?

While Precision Exams certifications were initially developed for the secondary education sector, colleges do use Precision Exams Certifications, including Denmark Technical College.

Learn more about Precision Exams, see the certifications FAQs.

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