WAC 296-05-419 Qualification standards. Qualification standards are the criteria, used by sponsors to select applicants into an eligibility pool. These qualification standards and the procedures used to determine the standards must be specified in detail in the sponsor's equal employment opportunity plan and must:

аааа Х Identify the specific criteria and attributes used to evaluate applicants;

аааа Х Specify the acceptable scores required for each qualification standard;

аааа Х Demonstrate a direct relationship between each qualification standard, its required score and the expected job performance;

аааа Х Establish a significant statistical relationship between the score required for admission to the pool and the applicant's performance in the apprenticeship program. This statistical relationship must be based upon the procedures discussed in 41 CFR Part 60-3 (Guidelines on employee selection procedures); and

аааа Х Specify that the applicant has achieved an acceptable score on all the qualification. Unless an applicant achieves an acceptable score on all the qualification standards, the applicant will be ineligible for admission to the pool.

аааа (1) Aptitude test scores for use as qualification standards. Aptitude tests may be used as qualification standards; however, any aptitude test score used as a qualification standard must be directly related to apprenticeship job performance. To demonstrate this relationship, there must be a significant statistical relationship between the aptitude test scores required for admission to the pool and performance in the apprenticeship program. In determining this relationship, the sponsor must follow the procedures discussed in 41 CFR Part 60-3. These requirements also apply to any aptitude tests used by a program sponsor and administered either by a state employment agency or any person, agency or organization engaged in the selection or evaluation of personnel. If a national aptitude test is developed and administered by a national apprenticeship committee, it must meet these requirements before it will be approved by the United States Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Apprenticeship.

аааа (2) Educational achievements for use as qualification standards. Educational achievements can be used as qualification standards; however, all such achievements used to determine admission to a program pool must be directly related to apprenticeship job performance. This direct relationship must be demonstrated by a significant statistical relationship between the achievement scores required for admission and expected performance in the apprenticeship program. In demonstrating such a statistical relationship, the sponsor must meet the requirements of 41 CFR Part 60-3.

аааа Official school records or a certified passing grade on a general educational development (GED) test recognized by state or local public instruction officials shall be evidence of educational achievement. These education achievement requirements must be uniformly applied to all applicants.

аааа (3) Role of the interview in the applicant selection process. Interviews must not be used as a qualification standard for admission to an eligibility pool for programs using the selection methods described in WAC 296-05-417 (1) and (2). However, after an applicant is placed in a pool and before selections are made from that pool, an applicant can be interviewed. When interviews are conducted, they must:

аааа (a) Consist only of objective questions relevant to the applicant's fitness for the apprenticeship program.

аааа (b) Not include questions related to qualifications previously used to determine entrance to the pool.

аааа (c) Require each interviewer to record the questions and the general nature of the applicant's answers.

аааа (d) Require each interviewer to prepare a summary of any interview conclusions.

аааа Adequate records of the interviews must be kept including a brief summary and conclusion and how the specific factors like applicant motivation, ambition, and willingness to accept direction affected the interviewer's final decision.

аааа (4) Examples of qualification standards include:

аааа Х Standardized aptitude tests;

аааа Х School diplomas or the equivalent;

аааа Х Health requirements essential to the chosen occupation;

аааа Х Interviews conducted in a fair manner (see subsection (3) of this section);

аааа Х School grades; and

аааа Х Previous work experience.

аааа In applying these standards, the sponsor must meet the requirements of 41 CFR Part 60-3.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.04 RCW and RCW 19.285.040. 11-11-002, з 296-05-419, filed 5/4/11, effective 7/25/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.04.010, 2001 c 204, and chapter 49.04 RCW. 01-22-055, з 296-05-419, filed 10/31/01, effective 1/17/02.]