Vocational Assessments
1. Becker, R. (1981). Reading Free Vocational Interest Inventory: M F. Columbus, OH: Elbern
Publications.
2. Becker, R. (1989). Becker Work Adjustment Profile. Columbus, OH: Elbern Publications.
Elbern Publications, (614) 235-2643, Columbus, OH 43085
Measures a worker’s vocational habits, attitudes and skills in the performance of work and job-related
activities.
3. Brigance, A.H. (
Associates, Inc.
). Employability Skills Inventory. North Billerica, MA: Curriculum
Extensive criterion-referenced tool assesses basic skills and employability skills in the context of job-seeking or
employment situations:

reading grade placement

rating scales

career awareness and self-understanding

reading skills

speaking and listening
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job-seeking skills and knowledge

pre-employment writing

math skills and concepts
4. Bytes of Learning. (2001). INSIGHT Career Exploration Tool. North Billerica, MA:
Curriculum Associates, Inc.
Students think about their transition to the workplace with InSight job discovery and career planning
software. The software supports the objectives of the Workforce Investment Act and provides a wealth of
information for trade-oriented and college-bound students or adults looking at career options. More than
750 blue- and white-collar occupations, drawn from the American Dictionary of Occupational Titles
(DOT), are in the program database.
5. Chandler, S., & Czerlinsky, T. (1999).Vocational Decision-Making Interview (VDMI).
Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, Inc.

Decision-making readiness: Readiness to make vocational decisions based on occupational knowledge
and decision-making skills

Employment readiness: Desire to obtain work and motivation to make a vocational decision

Self-appraisal: Knowledge and self-perception (including interests, abilities, and needs) and history of
making vocational decisions
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6. Curriculum Associates, (2001). Job Ready: Understanding Work and Myself, Book 1;
Finding My Job and My Success, Book 2. North Billerica, MA: Curriculum Associates, Inc.
Job Ready helps students prepare to obtain and succeed in entry-level or semi-skilled employment.

the benefits of preparing for the world of work

the influence of one's interests, aptitude, and limitations on career choices

the relationship between employer and employee

the importance of positive relationships between coworkers

the standards of behavior expected in the workplace
Book 1 topics: identifying interests and strengths in order to choose the right job; opportunities for training; and
qualities and skills employers seek.
Book 2 topics: job hunting, job leads; preparing for and participating in job interviews; receiving and accepting
a job offer; and exiting a job.
7. Farr, J. (1996) Guide for Occupational Exploration (GOE) Inventory: A Self-Directed
Guide to Career, Learning, and Lifestyle Options.
Teaches career, education, and lifestyle exploration skills: an interest inventory that provides scores and is
designed to teach users how to explore career options. It provides additional occupational and lifestyle
information that most tests do not include
8. Farr, J., & Ludden, L. (2001). O*NET Career Interests Inventory (based on the "Interest
Profiler" developed by the U.S. Dept. of Labor). Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, Inc.
A self-directed career exploration assessment to help workers and students identify their work-related
interests, what they consider important on the job, and their abilities in order to explore related occupations.
9. Forest, R. ( ). Career Planner’s Portfolio: A School-to-Work Assessment Tool. North
Billerica, MA: Curriculum Associates, Inc.
Students' career plans develop and evolve over several school years. The portfolio helps track student progress
with:

a compilation of self-knowledge and career experiences

a record of job-related, decision-making events

a bridge connecting educational training with career choices

a journal detailing personal accountability in career development

a file of school-to-work information for year-to-year comparison and assessment
10. Gilliam, J.E. (1994). Work Adjustment Inventory (WAI). Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.
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The Work Adjustment Inventory (WAI), assesses work-related temperament. The WAI can be used in the
development of individual transition plans for students with disabilities (required under IDEA) and has
application for at-risk students. Six scales measure six work-related temperament traits: Activity, Empathy,
Sociability, Assertiveness, Adaptability, and Emotionality. Using a self-report format, the WAI is designed
for use with persons ages 12 to 22 who are just beginning to work.
11. Harrington, J. & Harrington, T.F. (1996). Ability Explorer. Itasca, IL: Riverside Publishing
Ability Explorer is a group-administered, self-scored assessment that measures 14 work-related abilities
relevant to the workplace. Test-takers explore their abilities as they relate to the world of work and career
and educational planning. The work-related ability areas of the Ability Explorer include artistic, clerical,
interpersonal, language, leadership, manual, musical/dramatic, numerical/mathematical, organizational,
persuasive, scientific, social, spatial, and technical/mechanical
12. Harrington, T., & O’Shea, A. (1994). Career Decision-Making System. Circle Pines, MN:
American Guidance Service.
Students and adults self-assess their abilities, work values, school subject preferences, and interests. Users are
able to:

Match abilities, interests, and values to possible career options

Identify occupational interests

Acquire specifics about education and training requirements
13. Holland, J. & Gottfredson, G. (1996). Dictionary of Holland Occupational Codes. Lutz, FL:
Psychological Assessment Resources.
The Dictionary of Holland Occupational Codes links the 12,741 occupational titles in the Dictionary of
Occupational Titles with Holland RIASEC codes. One index lists DOT jobs within Holland SDS code
groupings, while the other lists them alphabetically. Provides additional information for each job including
General Educational Development (GED) codes and Guide for Occupational Exploration (GOE) codes.
Essential reference for Self-Directed Search (SDS) users.
14. Holland, J. (1999). Self-Directed Search. Lutz, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.
15. JIST Editors, (1990). World of Work and You: An Innovative Approach to Exploring
Career Alternatives. Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, Inc.

Understanding yourself

The importance of setting career and life goals

Work values and satisfaction

The importance of education and training options

Training, education, income, and opportunities

Developing a career and education action plan
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16. JIST Works, Inc. (1993), Occupational Clues: A Career Inventory Survey. Indianapolis, IN:
JIST Works, Inc.
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Occupational interest checklists
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Work-related values checklist
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Leisure activities checklist
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Home activities checklist
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School and training subjects checklist

Work experience checklist
17. JIST Works, Inc. (2001). Job-O Enhanced:Career and Educational Planning for Middle
Through High School. Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, Inc.
A 16-page career awareness and exploration instrument that enables students to match their interests with
different education and training levels, examine career preparation options in school and community,
identify a tentative career choice, and develop an educational plan to meet their career choices. The
reusable booklet provides information on 120 major jobs, lists about 1,000 titles within clusters, and
provides details on related college majors and other training options.
18. Johansson, C.B. (1996). IDEAS: Interest, Determination, Exploration and Assessment.
Minneapolis, MN: National Computer Systems, Inc.

Assisting students develop an awareness of personal likes and dislikes that can have a bearing on career
development and direction.

Introducing students to careers and the world of work.

Assisting students in career exploration as part of a career unit.

Assisting adults who are beginning the career exploration process, entering the job market for the first time,
or contemplating a meaningful vocation upon retirement.
19. Jolin, J., Caulum, D., Lambert, R., & Cotter, D. (1994). Career Options Planner. Madison,
WI: Center on Education and Work.
This career planning program offers a comprehensive and consistent forum for students in grades 6-12 to
focus their career exploration, planning, and decision-making. From early career exploration activities, the
series progresses through late high school, when students are encouraged to update and clarify their career
plans and take appropriate action.
20. Knapp, R., & Knapp, L. (1997). Career Ability Preference System (CAPS). San Diego, CA:
EdITS
The CAPS is a comprehensive, multi-dimensional battery designed to efficiently measure abilities keyed to
entry requirements for the majority of jobs in each of 14 Occupational Clusters. The CAPS is a highly timeeffective ability battery for use in career development.

In classroom career exploration units for matching student's ability with occupational requirements.

School course selection.

Curriculum evaluation.
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
In conjunction with the COPS Interest Inventories for career development.

Employee development.
21. Knapp-Lee, L. Knapp, R., & Knapp, L. (1997). Career Occupational Preference System
(COPS). San Diego, CA: EdITS
The COPS Interest Inventory is designed for use in guiding examinees in the exploration of occupations. It is
particularly appropriate for the following applications:

In classroom group guidance units as a starting point for exploring the world of work.

As an introduction to the use of the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT), the Occupational Outlook
Handbook (OOH) and in Canada, the NOC.

As a source for examinees in exploring outside sources of information about specific occupations.

To assist students in planning their high school and college major programs.

To assist students in planning their high school training.

To help widen occupational horizons for potential dropouts by specifying occupational opportunities
available to them within their particular area of interest.
22. Liptak, J. (1996). Barriers to Employment Success Inventory (BESI)
Identify Barriers to Getting and Succeeding on a Job. Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, Inc.
 Screening: Provides a fast and effective way to identify those who need immediate intervention or special
assistance such as referrals.
 Increasing Program Effectiveness: Uncovers barriers that may be hidden in conventional screenings that
could ultimately result in unemployment and wasted program resources.
 Personal Empowerment and Motivation: Helps test-takers identify their problems and develop action
plans to overcome them
23. Liptak, J. (2001). Job Search Attitude Inventory (JSAI). Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, Inc.
Explores self-directed attitudes and possible barriers to employment.
24. Ludden, L., Maitlen, B. &7 Farr, M. (1999). Individual Service Strategy Portfolio (ISSP).
Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, Inc.
Captures essential intake information for participants in Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and other
employment programs—AND it meets current WIA data collection requirements. Helps staff quickly
evaluate 84 assets or barriers to employment, based on extensive research.
25. Parker, R. (1991). Occupational Aptitude Survey and Interest Schedule (OASIS-2). Austin,
TX: Pro-Ed.
The OASIS-2 Aptitude Survey measures six broad aptitude factors that are directly related to skills and
abilities required in more than 20,000 jobs listed in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. The Aptitude
Survey yields six scores: General Ability, Verbal Aptitude, Numerical Aptitude, Spatial Aptitude,
Perceptual Aptitude, and Manual Dexterity. The OASIS-2 Interest Schedule measures 12 interest factors
directly related to the occupations listed in the Guide of Occupational Exploration. The factors are Artistic,
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Scientific, Nature, Protective, Mechanical, Industrial, Business Detail, Selling, Accommodating,
Humanitarian, Leading Influencing, and Physical Performing.
26. Piney Mountain Press, (1999). School-to-Work Career Survey. Cleveland, GA: Piney
Mountain Press, Inc.
A self-directed survey for which students identify career options in five broad career pathways: business
and marketing; engineering and industrial; health and human services; agricultural and environmental; and
art and humanities.
27. Piney Mountain Press, Inc. (2001). Learning and Working Styles- Vocational Edition.
Cleveland, GA: Piney Mountain Press, Inc.
Based on the Hendrix-Frye Vocational Learning Styles and the C.I.T.E Academic
Learning Styles, our Inventories consider traditional styles factors, as well as
environmental and working styles critical to academic, training and job success.
28. U.S. Department of Labor, (2000). Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH). Itasca, IL:
Riverside Publishing
This reference describes 250 different jobs--the jobs held by 87% of American workers. Each
description covers:

Nature of work

Future employment outlook

Earnings

Related occupations

Training/advancement

Employment opportunities

Sources of additional information
29. Virtual Entertainment, (1997). Career IQ and Interest Test (CIQIT). Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.
The Career IQ and Interest Test (CIQIT) interactive CD-ROM may be used to assist individuals 13 years
through adulthood in identifying jobs they would likely enjoy and succeed in. The self-administering CDROM contains a vocational aptitude test and an interest test, along with a searchable database containing
the entire 1996-97 Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) published by the U.S. Department of Labor.
30. (1992) Choices. -Canada: Careerware
 Relates interests and skills to career and education options
 Provides comprehensive occupation, education, training, and financial aid databases
 Links occupations, majors and schools
 Connects to job banks and college Web sites
 Documents career plans with the Electronic Planner and Portfolio
 Offers Career Pathways and suggested high school course plans
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Publisher/Ordering Information
JIST Publishing
PR0-ED
8902 Otis Avenue
87700 Shoal Creek Blvd.
Indianapolis, IN 46216-1033
1-800-648-5478
www.jist.com
Austin, TX 78588
1-800-897-3202
www.proedinc.com
Center on Education and Work
1025 W. Johnson St. Rm. 964
Madison, WI 53706-1796
1- 800- 466-0399
www.cew.wisc.edu/
Curriculum Associates, Inc.
5 Esquire Rd., P.O. Box 2001
North Billerica, MA 01862-0901
1-800-225-0248
www.curriculumassociates.com/
Piney Mountain, Inc.
P.O. Box 333
Cleveland, GA, 30528
1-800-255-3127
www.pineymountain.com/
American Guidance Service (AGS)
4201 Woodland Rd.
Circle Pines, MN 55014-1796
1-800-328-2560
http://www.agsnet.com/
* on-line assessments for fee
Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc.
16204 N. Florida Ave.
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Riverside Publishing
425 Spring Lake Dr.
7
Lutz, FL 33549
813.968.3003
www.parinc.com/
* on-line assessments for fee
Itasca, IL 60143
1-800-323-9540
www.riverpub.com/
* on-line assessments for fee
CareerWare
1-800-267-1544
www.careerware.com/
* on-line assessments for fee
EdITS
P.O. Box 77234
San Diego, CA 92167
1-800-416-1666
www.edits.net/
National Computer Systems, Inc.
P.O. Box 1416
Minneapolis, MN 55440
1-800-627-7271
www.ncs.com/
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