Workforce Preparation and Employment Outcomes
Licensure and Certification Pass Rates: Texas
What Is Measured?
Licensure and certification exam pass rates
Who Is Counted?
Texas Community and Technical College students who took licensure and certification exams in 2007-08
What It Tells Us
Overall, Texas Community and Technical College students taking licensure and certification exams passed at a rate of 91 percent. Pass rates were highest for students taking exams in the occupational field of legal/protective services (97 percent) and lowest for students taking exams in industrial services (83 percent).
Why It's Important
For many occupations, in particular those in health care and personal care, licensure is required to work in the field. Licensing standards vary by state and occupation, but they typically require a minimum level of education in a specified field and a passing score on a test of competence. Licensure exam pass rates indicate how well community colleges are preparing their students for future employment.
About the Data
Personal services: includes landscaping and groundskeeping; funeral service and mortuary science (general); funeral direction/service; cosmetology/cosmetologist (general); facial treatment specialist/facialist; aesthetician/esthetician and skin care specialist; nail technician/specialist and manicurist; cosmetology, barber/styling, and nail instructor; baking and pastry arts/baker/pastry chef; culinary arts/chef training; restaurant, culinary, and catering management; and sign language interpretation and translation.
Legal/protective services: includes mediation paralegal/legal assisting; court reporting/court reporter; corrections; criminal justice law studies; criminal justice/safety studies; criminal justice/political science; fire protection and safety technology/technician; and fire science/firefighting.
Industrial services: includes electrician; heating, air conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration; watchmaking and jewelrymaking; autobody/collision and repair technology; automobile/automotive mechanics technology; airframe mechanics and aircraft maintenance; aircraft powerplant technology/technician; avionics maintenance technology/technician; machine tool technology/machinist; welding technology/welder; and airline/commercial/professional pilot.
Health professions: includes dental assisting/assistant; dental hygiene/hygienist; long term health care administration; health information/medical records; medical/clinical assistant; occupational therapist assistant; pharmacy technician/assistant; physical therapist assistant; cardiovascular technology/technologist; electroneurodiagnostic/electroencephalograph; emergency medical technology/technician; nuclear medical technology/technologist; medical radiologic technology/science; respiratory care therapy/therapist; surgical technology/technologist; diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer; radiologic technology/science radiographer; clinical/medical laboratory technician; histologic technician; substance abuse/addiction counseling; psychiatric/mental health services technician; clinical gerontology; nursing - registered nurse training (RN, ASN); licensed practical/vocational nurse training; nurses aid; nurse/nursing assistant/aide and patient care; optometric technician/assistant; dietitian assistant; and massage therapy/therapeutic massage.
Other: includes veterinary/animal health technology; child development; child care and support services management; child care provider/assistant; computer and information sciences (general); web page, digital/multimedia and information; business management; hotel/motel administration/management; restaurant/food services management; and real estate.
Data include licensure and certification exam results for approved technical associate degree and certificate programs that lead to professions requiring licensure or certification. The total exam pass rate is the aggregate of all licensure and certification exams passed divided by the number taken by Texas Community and Technical College students. The total certification exam pass rate includes test takers in programs that offer certification only, or certification and licensure, but not licensure only. Similarly, the total licensure exam pass rate includes test takers in programs that offer licensure exams only, or certification and licensure, but not certification only. Estimates were calculated from the original source.