Pennsylvania CTE Certification Requirements
Pennsylvania uses NOCTI assessments as both pre-tests and post-tests for PDE-approved CTE programs. Wayground provides the formative practice layer that prepares students to succeed — from 11th-grade pre-test to 12th-grade post-test.
"Wayground CTE serves as a formative assessment and certification prep platform for Pennsylvania CTE programs, complementing the state's NOCTI-based assessment system. While PDE's Bureau of Career and Technical Education contracts with NOCTI for official pre-test and post-test assessments, Wayground provides ongoing practice aligned to the same competencies, helping students build readiness throughout the year rather than only at testing time."
Wayground CTE Research Brief, 2026
Pennsylvania's Structured CTE Assessment System
PDE's BCTE has one of the most structured, NOCTI-centered accountability systems in the country.
11th Grade Diagnostic
Administered in 11th grade as a formative diagnostic (Technical Assistance Program) to identify areas where students need additional instruction. Establishes the baseline before instruction intensifies in the final year.
12th Grade Summative
Summative assessments administered in 12th grade to measure end-of-program technical skill attainment. Students who meet cut scores earn NOCTI or NBS credentials. Scores of 70%+ on the online exam qualify for free college credits through the SOAR program.
Advanced Achievement Recognition
Awarded by PDE to CTE students who demonstrate advanced skill achievement in their technical programs. Requires meeting specific performance benchmarks on NOCTI assessments plus additional program requirements. Consistent practice throughout the year is the path to achieving these benchmarks.
Supported Pennsylvania Certifications
Wayground prep reinforces the same competencies measured by the aligned NOCTI assessment.
| Certification | PA Career Cluster | NOCTI Complement |
|---|---|---|
| CompTIA Tech+ (formerly ITF+) IT | Information Technology | Reinforces competencies measured by NOCTI IT assessments |
| CompTIA A+ IT | Information Technology | Reinforces NOCTI Computer Systems Technology assessment |
| OSHA 10-Hour Trades | Architecture and Construction; Manufacturing | Complements NOCTI construction and manufacturing assessments |
| NCCER Core Trades | Architecture and Construction | Aligns with NOCTI construction trades competencies |
| ServSafe Culinary | Hospitality and Tourism | Complements NOCTI culinary arts and food service assessments |
| W!SE Financial Literacy Business | Business, Finance, and Marketing | Reinforces NOCTI business/finance assessment competencies |
| Certiport E&SB Business | Business, Finance, and Marketing | Complements NOCTI business management assessments |
How Wayground Fills the NOCTI Gap
The interval between pre-test and post-test is where Wayground delivers the most value.
11th Grade — NOCTI Pre-Test
NOCTI administers the diagnostic pre-test. Results identify competency areas needing additional instruction. Use Wayground's AI generator to immediately create targeted practice sets for the gaps revealed by the pre-test.
Throughout 11th–12th Grade — Wayground Practice
Assign weekly gamified practice sessions targeting the specific NOCTI competency areas. Leaderboards and streaks maintain student engagement across the year-long interval between exams. Readiness reports surface at-risk students before it's too late.
12th Grade — NOCTI Post-Test
Students who practiced consistently with Wayground enter the post-test better prepared. Higher post-test scores mean more PA Skills Certificate recipients, more college credits through SOAR, and better Perkins V technical skill attainment metrics.
SOAR Program: 70%+ NOCTI Score = Free College Credits
Pennsylvania students who score 70% or higher on the NOCTI online exam can earn free college credits through the SOAR program. Higher NOCTI scores unlock a tangible postsecondary benefit — giving students and families a compelling reason to engage with certification prep throughout the year.
Why Pennsylvania CTE Programs Choose Wayground
The Missing Piece Between Pre-Test and Post-Test
Pennsylvania's system is well-defined at the endpoints — NOCTI handles diagnostics and summative testing. What's missing is the formative practice layer between 11th and 12th grade. Wayground fills this gap with standards-aligned, gamified certification prep that keeps students building competency year-round.
Teachers Already Know the Platform
Pennsylvania CTE teachers don't need to learn another tool. Wayground is already in use across the majority of PA schools. Adding CTE certification prep is an expansion of an existing workflow — same login, same interface, zero new training required.
Gamification Between NOCTI Windows
Students who practice consistently during the pre-to-post interval perform better on the post-test. Wayground's leaderboards, streaks, and game modes keep students engaged in practice that might otherwise feel repetitive — especially critical across a year-long gap.
25+ Accommodations for IEP/504 Compliance
Pennsylvania CTE programs serve students with diverse needs. Wayground's 25+ accommodations — read-aloud, dyslexia-friendly fonts, extended time, reduced answer choices — ensure equitable access to certification prep and support IEP/504 compliance across CTCs.
Fund Wayground with Perkins V
Pennsylvania CTCs can use Perkins V Section 135 local funds to purchase assessment tools that support technical skill attainment. Wayground qualifies. Use readiness data to document CLNA requirements for your next biennial assessment.
Read the Perkins V Funding GuideExplore More State Standards
Frequently Asked Questions
No. NOCTI is the state-mandated assessment system for Pennsylvania CTE. Wayground complements NOCTI by providing the formative practice layer that prepares students for NOCTI pre-tests and post-tests. Think of Wayground as the practice platform and NOCTI as the official exam.
Wayground crosswalks its certification prep content to the technical competencies defined in PDE-approved programs of study. Practice questions target the same competency areas measured by NOCTI assessments, ensuring alignment between daily practice and year-end testing.
Wayground provides consistent, competency-aligned practice in the critical period between the NOCTI pre-test (11th grade) and post-test (12th grade). Readiness reports identify competency gaps so teachers can target instruction, and gamification keeps students engaged in regular practice throughout the year.
Wayground's competency-aligned practice helps students build the advanced technical skills needed to achieve the benchmark scores required for the Pennsylvania Skills Certificate on NOCTI assessments.
Yes. Wayground qualifies as an allowable use of Perkins V local funds under Section 135 for assessment tools that support technical skill attainment in CTE programs.
Bridge the Gap Between NOCTI Pre-Test and Post-Test
The year between 11th and 12th grade is where NOCTI outcomes are won or lost. See how Wayground prepares Pennsylvania students throughout that critical window.
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