Work Experience
Yes, in order to become certified you must have a minimum amount of work experience specific to the occupation you are being certified in. This required work experience must be completed prior to the performance evaluation.
Relevant job experience qualifies. To determine whether your experience is relevant, verify that the skills listed in the National Occupational Standard for your occupation match the tasks you perform on-the-job. Backup records (such as verification from employers) may be requested in order to confirm the records.
Yes, volunteer hours count towards your required experience if they qualify and are related to the skills defined in the National Occupational Standard for your occupation.
I have experience in an occupation that I worked in 20 (15, 10, etc.) years ago. Can I count that experience or do I need to get new experience for the occupation that I wish to be certified in?
Often experience acquired more than five years ago is not current and may not reflect the practices that are in the current National Occupational Standard for your occupation. To be properly prepared for the performance evaluation, it is important to ensure that you have current experience.
