The Georgia Work Ready Program’s Work Keys Assessment is a tool many Georgia employers are utilizing to screen potential job candidates, and a new effort will enable people at Fort Gordon to take the assessment on the installation once a month.

“Some places won’t take applications until they get these assessments,” said Vivian Stewart, education department manager for the East Central Georgia Consortium, who will administer the assessments. The tests will be conducted at the Army Career and Alumni Program building on the second Tuesday of each month. Registration is required for the assessment..

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue has allocated $400,000 to pay for the assessments. There are nine assessments which can be taken, but the grant targets three basic tests – applied mathematics, reading for information and locating information.

The minimum score on each assessment is a 3 or the bronze level.

Some employers look for a 4, said Joyce Blevins, consortium director. Often employers require a higher score in order to promote an employee.

Various business sectors, including manufacturing and construction, use the assessments, said Blevins, who anticipates the demand will increase as projects such as the construction of two new reactors at Plant Vogtle in Burke County begin.

Any adult may take the assessment; the tests are also given to high school seniors. Spouses and Family members may take the assessment at the ACAP office.

Blevins and Stewart’s office is located in Thomson, Ga. and the only other local testing center is Augusta Technical College.

For those who do not meet the minimum bronze rating on their assessment or for those who’ve already been assessed but would like to move to a higher level, there is an educational component of the program to fill in the learning gaps.

To register to take the assessment, call (800) 251- 3882. For more information, visit www.gaworkready.org.