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Pages 32-45

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From page 32...
... 32 Qualification System Design, Program Rules, and Management of Training and Qualification Information Progression of Rail Vehicle Technician Qualifications The National Rail Vehicle Technician Qualification Program contains three levels of qualifications, built on the foundation of the transit industry's national training standards as well as the Rail Vehicle Technician Apprenticeship as approved by the U.S. Department of Labor: • 100 level leading to Qualified Rail Vehicle Apprentice Technician • 200 level leading to Qualified Rail Vehicle Journeyperson Technician • 300 level leading to Qualified Rail Vehicle Master Technician The qualification flowchart (see Figure 12)
From page 33...
... 33 Note: Craft titles used are for the national qualification program only. Actual local craft titles will be determined by local collective bargaining agreements.
From page 34...
... 34 be no question of demoting or otherwise penalizing incumbent workers who have been performing in their jobs for fail­ ure to reach new standards of formal qualification through assessments. Details of grandparenting will be decided at the local level.
From page 35...
... 35 Components since training and assessments in this area tend to be agency specific. Candidates who successfully complete the pair of written and hands­on assessments for a topic will be granted status as a Qualified Rail Vehicle Technician in that area, for example, Qualified Rail Vehicle Technician in Couplers.
From page 36...
... 36 Question Format The written assessment questions are all in multiple­choice format with a single correct answer and three distracters. In the context of the required knowledge and skills for the different maintenance subject areas, the questions seek to test different types of cognitive behavior, including applying a rule or principle, showing understanding of cause and effect, or identifying reasoning behind a particular action.
From page 37...
... 37 (Appendix P: Sample Written Assessment Tutorials can be found by searching for TCRP Report 170 on the TRB website.) The 100­level written assessment may not be taken with any 200­level assessments.
From page 38...
... 38 Scoring Based on the pilot experience and other considerations, in particular the emphasis on demonstration of hands­on skills, the National Rail Vehicle Training Standards Committee estab­ lished a passing score of 75 percent for 100­ and 200­level written assessments and 85 percent for 200­level, hands­on assessments. For 300­level hands­on assessments, more diffi­ cult scenarios or additional check points will be used with the same passing score of 85 percent.
From page 39...
... 39 of standardized national assessments, and achievement of national qualification status by rail vehicle technicians. This credential management system is accessible by Transportation Learning Center staff, local training coordinators, and technicians with different permission levels and interfaces.
From page 40...
... 40 individual candidate training records. Candidates will be able to view local training course offerings at their employer agencies.
From page 41...
... 41 Figure 16. Screenshot of credential manager -- local training course directory.
From page 42...
... 42 Figure 18. Screenshot of credential manager -- detailed assessment results.
From page 43...
... 43 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Total Transit Railcar Mechanic Count* 6,280 6,280 6,280 6,280 6,280 6,280 6,280 6,280 6,280 6,280 Participating Mechanics Existing Mechanics Participating - as % of Population*
From page 44...
... 44 Table 13. Economic analysis of rail vehicle technician qualification program -- high-participation estimate.
From page 45...
... 45 maintenance apprentice. Table 12 represents a low­participation estimate for existing mechanics at 3 percent of current popu­ lation of 6,280 and Table 13 represents high participation at 5 percent.

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