CVE Transferable Skills Analysis & Vocational Planning 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best defines Transferable Skills Analysis (TSA) in vocational evaluation?
- A process of identifying skills acquired in past work that can be applied to other occupations (Correct answer)
- A standardized psychometric test measuring cognitive aptitudes
- A medical assessment of functional limitations for disability determination
- A situational observation of a client performing simulated job tasks
Correct answer: A process of identifying skills acquired in past work that can be applied to other occupations
TSA identifies skills from previous work history that can transfer to other occupations, particularly important when a client can no longer perform past relevant work.
Question 2: What does the abbreviation SVP stand for in the context of occupational databases used in TSA?
- Specific Vocational Preparation (Correct answer)
- Standardized Vocational Profile
- Skills Verification Protocol
- Sequential Vocational Planning
Correct answer: Specific Vocational Preparation
SVP (Specific Vocational Preparation) refers to the amount of time required by a typical worker to learn the skills needed for adequate job performance, rated on a scale of 1–9.
Question 3: Which occupational reference system has largely replaced the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) as the primary source of occupational information for vocational planners?
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) (Correct answer)
- OASYS (Occupational Access System)
- GATB (General Aptitude Test Battery)
- USES (U.S. Employment Service)
Correct answer: O*NET (Occupational Information Network)
O*NET, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, replaced the DOT as the primary online database for occupational characteristics, skills, and worker requirements.
Question 4: In the Social Security Administration's disability evaluation process, what is the primary purpose of conducting a TSA?
- To determine whether a claimant can perform other work existing in significant numbers in the national economy (Correct answer)
- To identify the claimant's most recent job and its physical demands
- To establish a medical diagnosis for the claimant's primary disability
- To calculate the claimant's expected earnings in a new occupation
Correct answer: To determine whether a claimant can perform other work existing in significant numbers in the national economy
In SSA evaluations, TSA is used at Step 5 of the sequential evaluation process to determine if a claimant's skills transfer to other jobs they can still perform despite their limitations.
Question 5: What is Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) as used in TSA and vocational planning?
- The maximum sustained level of physical and mental work activities a person can perform despite their impairments (Correct answer)
- A rating of how many transferable skills a worker has from prior employment
- An assessment score derived from standardized work sample performance
- A measurement of the number of jobs available at a given exertional level
Correct answer: The maximum sustained level of physical and mental work activities a person can perform despite their impairments
RFC represents the most a claimant can do despite functional limitations, and vocational evaluators use it to match individuals to jobs within their capacity.
Question 6: When performing TSA, which component of the DOT/O*NET describes the physical demands required to perform a job, such as lifting, standing, or pushing?
- Physical Demands (Strength) rating (Correct answer)
- Environmental Conditions rating
- Worker Functions hierarchy
- Interests and temperaments profile
Correct answer: Physical Demands (Strength) rating
The Physical Demands (Strength) rating describes exertional requirements such as sedentary, light, medium, heavy, and very heavy work levels essential for job matching in TSA.
Question 7: In vocational planning, what is the primary purpose of conducting a labor market survey?
- To verify that jobs identified through TSA actually exist in significant numbers in the local or national economy (Correct answer)
- To assess a client's interest in specific occupational fields
- To determine the client's educational qualifications for job placement
- To document the client's work history for insurance purposes
Correct answer: To verify that jobs identified through TSA actually exist in significant numbers in the local or national economy
A labor market survey validates that occupations identified during TSA have real availability in the economy, which is critical for both rehabilitation planning and SSA testimony.
CVE Transferable Skills Analysis & Vocational Planning 1
Which of the following best defines Transferable Skills Analysis (TSA) in vocational evaluation?