About MOCAC

• The Michigan Occupational Competency Assessment Center (MOCAC) was established in 1977 and administers a wide range of nationally recognized assessments to certify occupational competency. Michigan colleges and universities use the assessment results to equate valuable work experience to academic credit, to update old work experience, and also to meet teacher certification requirements for subject matter testing. Employers have used the assessment to evaluate existing employees for promotion and merit awards.
  
  In the spring of 1998, the Michigan Department of Education, Career, Curriculum, Technical, and Adult Education Services contracted with Occupational Research and Assessment, Inc. to serve as the assessment center for Michigan. ORA will continue to offer the same quality service the people of Michigan have come to expect from MOCAC.
  
  MOCAC seeks to serve all individuals experienced in skilled trades or occupations who need to present objective evidence of their occupational competence. Traditionally, successful MOCAC candidates generally become career-technical teachers and/or obtain academic credit from a participating state university.
  
  The primary role of the center has been to ensure the trade and technical competency of career teachers in Michigan through occupational competency written and performance assessments. Over the years, a broader objective of assuring high occupational knowledge and skills standards for work force development has evolved.
  
  Additionally, competency assessments are important because teacher certification rules require that all annually authorized teachers obtain their baccalaureate degree and/or full career technical certification. MOCAC was originally developed to help these individuals meet these requirements, in part, by equating their occupational skill and experience to academic credit. As of July 1995, annually authorized teaching jobs can no longer be extended beyond one year without an active professional development plan.