A: The Arizona Career Readiness Credential (ACRC) was launched through an initiative from Governor Ducey’s office partnered with Arizona @ Work, as well as Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity.  

This credential demonstrates a job seeker’s command over seven skill areas that span across all occupations, industries, and career pathways in the state of Arizona. The credential will add value to your resume by showing employers you are ready and capable of applying employment skills to your job. Several sites across Arizona will be facilitating the proctoring of the ACRC exam, and Fresh Start is now a proctored site which means you will be able to earn the ACRC on-site at Fresh Start!

A: The ACRC is divided into two sections: 1) a section that addresses career readiness within academic areas, and 2) an employability skills section. Career readiness covers three academic areas: reading for information, applied mathematics, and locating information. Employability skills covers communicating effectively, conveying professionalism, promoting teamwork/collaboration, and thinking critically/problem solving.

A: You are encouraged to prepare for the proctored exam, but it is not required. Fresh Start will provide opportunities for preparation that will be provided during in person classes covering employability skills, as well as online modules you can work on at your own pace either from home or on-site.

A: No, it will not, as long as you utilize the online modules to prepare. The modules covering applied mathematics walk you through the process step-by-step, aiding in the understanding and preparation for the proctored exam.

A: To earn the ACRC you will have to take a proctored exam at an ACRC designated site. Fresh Start is now a designated ACRC proctoring site!

A: No, it is not required, but highly encouraged.

A: There are four sections in the ACRC proctored exam. They include 1) applied mathematics, 2) locating information, 3) reading for information, and 4) employability skills sections.

A: No. At Fresh Start, you can schedule to take one section of the exam at a time.

A: If you do not get to the level of the credential that you were hoping for, plan to take 30 days to study the modules in the online practice site, as well as the in-person employability skills classes at Fresh Start, and then retake the proctored exam.

A: You can retake the exam as many times as you need.