The assessment is a job skills evaluation used by employers, workforce boards, and educational institutions to measure workplace readiness. To earn a National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) or meet employer testing requirements, you need to take the at an approved testing location. Understanding how to find WorkKeys test locations, register for your testing session, and know what to bring on test day makes the process significantly smoother.
WorkKeys testing is administered through a network of ACT-authorized testing sites that spans community colleges, workforce development centers, public libraries, K–12 school districts, technical colleges, and some employer locations. Unlike many standardized tests that have limited testing windows, WorkKeys testing is available on a rolling basis at most sites — you do not need to wait for a national testing date to sit for the exam.
The three core — , Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents — are typically taken in a single sitting at a testing center and can be completed in under three hours total. Some candidates take individual assessments on separate days depending on the testing site's scheduling options. Your final NCRC level (Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum) is determined by the lowest score across all three assessments, making consistent preparation across all three subjects important.
Both computer-based and paper-based versions of WorkKeys are available at authorized testing sites. Most modern testing centers use the computer-based format, which delivers results faster and allows test-takers to navigate questions more efficiently. Some sites — particularly those serving populations without strong computer access — continue to offer paper-based testing. The format options available at a specific site are worth confirming during the registration process.
One common misconception about WorkKeys is that you need to be enrolled in a school or registered with a workforce program to take the exam. In reality, the ACT WorkKeys test is open to any adult who wants to earn the National Career Readiness Certificate, and many testing sites serve walk-in or self-scheduled candidates from the general public. If you are pursuing a career change, re-entering the workforce after a gap, or simply want to document your workplace skills for future opportunities, you can find a testing site and register independently without being affiliated with any employer or program.
Understanding the NCRC levels before you register helps you set a realistic preparation target. Bronze requires level 3 on all three assessments, Silver requires level 4, Gold requires level 5, and Platinum requires level 6. Most manufacturing and logistics employers that require NCRC specify Silver or Gold as the minimum. Knowing your target level before testing day allows you to focus your preparation on the score thresholds that matter for your specific employment goal rather than preparing broadly for all possible score levels.
The primary tool for finding an authorized WorkKeys testing site is the ACT WorkKeys Test Locator, available at act.org. The locator allows you to search by state, zip code, or city to identify testing sites within a specified radius. Each listing includes the site name, address, contact information, and sometimes notes about scheduling procedures.
When using the ACT test locator, note that not every listed site is available for walk-in or self-scheduled testing. Many sites require you to contact them directly to schedule a session, confirm availability, and discuss payment procedures. Some testing sites serve specific populations — for example, a community college site may prioritize enrolled students, while a workforce development center may primarily serve job seekers referred through workforce programs. Calling ahead to confirm availability and scheduling procedures saves time and avoids showing up at a site that cannot accommodate you.
Community and technical colleges: These are among the most widely available and accessible WorkKeys testing sites. Many offer testing to community members beyond enrolled students, sometimes for a fee. Community college testing centers typically operate during regular business hours and may have evening or weekend availability.
Workforce development centers: American Job Centers (formerly Workforce Investment Act centers) and state workforce development offices frequently offer WorkKeys testing at low or no cost to job seekers. These sites often have close partnerships with local employers who require NCRC certification, making them a particularly valuable resource for applicants targeting specific manufacturing, logistics, or healthcare jobs in the area.
Public libraries and schools: Some public library systems and K–12 school districts serve as WorkKeys testing sites for their communities. Library-based testing tends to have limited session availability, but the sites are often centrally located and accessible by public transit. School-based testing sites may be restricted to students and staff.
When evaluating testing sites, consider both proximity and scheduling flexibility. A testing site that is 30 miles away but offers weekend appointments may be more practical than a closer site that only tests on Tuesday mornings. Many candidates overlook the option of contacting multiple sites and comparing availability before committing to one — especially if their schedule is constrained by current employment or childcare responsibilities.
State-level workforce agency websites often maintain their own directories of WorkKeys testing sites that can supplement the ACT locator. These state directories sometimes include additional context about which sites serve specific populations, which offer the lowest fees, and which have the most testing session availability in a given region. If the ACT locator returns few results for your area, checking your state workforce agency website or calling your nearest American Job Center directly is often a faster path to scheduling a test than searching online alone.
Not all listed WorkKeys testing sites are publicly accessible or maintain regular open testing schedules. Always contact the testing site by phone or email before attempting to register or visit. Confirm: (1) whether they test the general public or specific groups only, (2) their current testing schedule and availability, (3) the fee for testing, and (4) what forms of ID are required on test day.
Many WorkKeys testing sessions are organized directly by employers or workforce programs as part of a hiring or training pipeline. If you are applying for a job at a company that requires , the employer may arrange testing as part of the application process — providing you with a testing location, date, and registration instructions rather than asking you to find your own site.
Manufacturing companies, healthcare employers, logistics firms, and government contractors frequently use WorkKeys as a pre-employment screening tool. These employer-sponsored testing sessions often take place at the employer's facility or at a contracted testing center, and the employer pays the testing fee. In this scenario, your role is simply to show up on time with valid ID and be prepared for the assessment content.
State workforce programs — including registered apprenticeship programs, Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs, and WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) funded training — sometimes include WorkKeys testing as a requirement for program participation or completion. Participants in these programs should ask their case manager or program coordinator about testing arrangements, as fees may be covered and sessions may be pre-scheduled.
For job seekers pursuing manufacturing certifications like the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) or automotive and aerospace industry certifications that incorporate NCRC requirements, contacting the certification body or training program about preferred testing sites is often the most efficient path. These programs typically have established relationships with specific testing centers that understand their particular requirements.
Candidates who are unsure whether their target employer requires WorkKeys should not assume the requirement is absent just because it was not prominently mentioned during the application process. Many employers include WorkKeys requirements in the detailed job posting language or communicate them during the initial screening call rather than upfront in the job title listing. If you are applying to manufacturing, healthcare support, or logistics positions at large employers in your area, asking specifically during your application or screening whether WorkKeys scores are required can save time and prevent surprises late in the hiring process.
Apprenticeship programs registered under the Department of Labor often include WorkKeys as a component of their entry assessments. Candidates applying for registered apprenticeships in construction, electrical, HVAC, or other skilled trades should confirm whether WorkKeys scores are part of the application scoring criteria. In programs where WorkKeys is one of several scored components, a higher NCRC level can improve your overall standing in the applicant pool even if the minimum requirement is Bronze or Silver.
ACT offers online proctored WorkKeys testing that allows candidates to take the assessment from home or another approved location using a webcam and remote proctoring software. This option eliminates the need to travel to a physical testing center and can be scheduled at times that are more convenient for working adults.
To take WorkKeys online, candidates must have a computer that meets minimum technical requirements (processor speed, RAM, operating system), a functioning webcam, a stable internet connection, and a quiet, private testing environment. The remote proctor monitors the testing session via webcam to ensure compliance with testing rules, including no unauthorized materials and no other people in the room.
Most WorkKeys testing sessions follow a consistent structure regardless of the testing site. Understanding the process from arrival through receiving your score helps reduce test-day anxiety and allows you to focus your energy on performing well on the assessments themselves.
Upon arrival, you will check in at the testing center reception desk. The proctor will verify your identity using your government-issued photo ID, confirm your registration, and explain the testing rules. You will typically be asked to store personal belongings in a designated area before entering the testing room. Many sites provide a pencil and scratch paper for calculations during the section — ask if these are not offered.
The three core — , Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents — are each timed separately. If you are taking all three in a single sitting, you will typically complete one assessment at a time with short breaks between sections. The testing software or the proctor will inform you when each assessment begins and ends. Pacing yourself within each timed section is important, as you cannot return to a previous section once time expires.
After completing all assessments, your results may be available immediately on screen (for computer-based testing) or may require processing time of a few days (for paper-based formats). Your NCRC level is determined based on your lowest score across the three assessments — earning Gold on two sections but Bronze on one results in a Bronze NCRC. When targeting a specific NCRC level for an employer or program requirement, ensure you understand both the score thresholds for each level and how the composite level is calculated.
Test anxiety is a real factor for many candidates, particularly those who have been out of a formal testing environment for years. The WorkKeys test center environment is typically quiet, organized, and less high-stakes in atmosphere than other standardized testing venues because it serves a working-adult population rather than college applicants under competitive pressure. Arriving early, completing the check-in process calmly, and reviewing what each while you wait helps reduce anxiety before the session begins.
If you need accommodations due to a disability or other documented need, contact the testing site well in advance of your appointment to discuss options. ACT WorkKeys has established accommodation procedures that include extended time, separate testing rooms, and other modifications for eligible candidates. Accommodation requests typically require documentation and advance notice — they cannot be arranged on the day of testing. Confirm the site's accommodation request timeline when you schedule your appointment so you have adequate time to gather and submit any required documentation.
Visit your nearest American Job Center — WorkKeys testing is often free or low-cost for registered job seekers. Case managers can schedule testing and may connect you to employer-specific programs.
Check with your community college, technical school, or high school career center. Many offer WorkKeys at reduced or no cost to enrolled students as part of career readiness programs.
If your employer arranged the test, follow their instructions. You will typically receive a registration code, testing location, and date. Employer-sponsored testing is usually free to the applicant.
Use the ACT WorkKeys Test Locator at act.org to find public testing sites in your area. Call to confirm availability, scheduling, fees, and ID requirements before visiting.
Finding a testing location is only part of the process — arriving prepared for the assessments is equally important. WorkKeys assessments are not knowledge tests in the traditional sense; they are skills-based evaluations that measure how effectively you can apply math, read and interpret graphics, and understand workplace documents in realistic job scenarios. Preparation focuses on building and practicing these applied skills rather than memorizing facts.
The assessment requires you to solve multi-step math problems using addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, percentages, and basic measurement conversions — all in job-related contexts like calculating materials needed, figuring out pay rates, or interpreting measurements. A basic calculator is permitted. The most effective preparation involves practicing applied math problems regularly until you can solve them efficiently within the time limit.
The Graphic Literacy assessment presents charts, graphs, diagrams, and other visual data displays that you must read and interpret to answer questions. Preparation involves exposure to a wide variety of chart types — bar graphs, line graphs, scatter plots, flow charts, and organizational diagrams — and practice identifying the specific data point or trend that answers each question accurately. Precision matters — many wrong answers on this section are plausible interpretations that differ from the correct answer by a small but testable detail.
The Workplace Documents assessment presents text-based workplace materials — instructions, policies, forms, notices, and reports — and asks you to locate, interpret, and apply information from them. Preparation involves regular reading of complex instructional and informational texts and practicing the skill of quickly finding the specific information needed to answer a question without getting distracted by surrounding text.
Official ACT materials are available through the ACT website, including sample questions for each of the three core assessments. These materials are the most reliable representation of the actual test format, question style, and difficulty level. Many workforce centers and community colleges also maintain libraries of WorkKeys preparation materials that enrolled participants or registered job seekers can access at no cost.
Practice under timed conditions as your testing date approaches. Each WorkKeys assessment is 45–55 minutes, and the pacing required to complete all questions within the time limit is a skill that improves with practice.
Candidates who prepare only by reviewing content but not by working through full sets of questions under time pressure often find that the time constraint itself — not the content difficulty — is the primary challenge on test day. Simulating the actual testing conditions, including sitting at a desk without interruptions for the full assessment duration, builds the focus and stamina that translates directly to better performance.