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Workforce Professional Development Program (WPDP)
The Professional Development Program (PDP) is a series of study guides and examinations designed to reassure knowledge of employment and training programs and to provide recognition to those who complete the process successfully. Created in 1988 and updated periodically, WPDP provides members and others working with the system an opportunity to learn more about their profession and to enhance career growth. It has been incorporated in some state Employment Security agency training programs, and recognized as an excellent cross-training tool. Currently available are: Generalist, Employment Services, Unemployment Insurance and Labor Market Information resource guides and exams
(WPDP) The Workforce Professional Development Program “An Opportunity to Learn for Employment and Training Professionals”
Hello to all Employment Department Staff and Employment and Training Professionals. As your Workforce Professional Development Program Chairperson, I am excited to talk about this program. The WPDP might be a program that many of you have heard about before or this could be your first time hearing of it. Either way, I would like to cover some basic information about this incredible resource in hopes that you will access it as a way to become a more successful professional.
Let’s begin by explaining what the program is as well as its intent. The Workforce Professional Development Program is a series of self-study resource guides covering information about the employment and training system. There are four resource guides with four respective areas of focus:
Module 1.2 – The History of Workforce Development
This module is the historical foundation module. It details the systems current components, basic operations and funding mechanisms, program evolution, and partnerships. Here are some excerpts from the Table of Contents:
Basic Funding for UI and ES 2 FUTA: The Bucket Effect 3 The DOL Directive System 16 The Great Depression – A Hope for Economic Recovery 24 The Wagner-Peysner Act of 1933 40 The 1960’s – Refocusing on the Disadvantaged 44 The `80s – ES Fights to Survive 49 JTPA Refocusing the Labor Exchange 54 Welfare Reform and Welfare to Work 67 Workforce Investment Act 68 Job Training Programs in the U.S. 72 JOBS – Job Opportunity and Basic Skills Program 98 NAFTA – North American Free Trade Act of 1993 101 Connecting Future Generations to the Workplace 106 The Veterans’ Employment and Training Administration 129 Acronyms and Abbreviations 155
Module 2.2 – Business and Job Seeker Specialist
This module covers Workforce Development, Customers and Job Seekers, Serving the Employer Community, Tools and Technology, and more.
Module 3.2 – Unemployment Insurance Specialist
This module covers Unemployment Insurance, Taxation, Benefits, The Claims Process, and more.
Module 4.2 – Labor Market Information Specialist
This module covers LMI Concepts an Measures, Projection Models, Covered Employment and Wages Program, Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program, Mass Layoff Statistics Program, and more.
If it is not obvious by noting some of the content within the program, the design of the WPDP is to educate workforce professionals about their own system. There is no doubt that along with a good attitude and passion for what you do, knowing what it is that you do and doing it well is paramount. This program is exactly the tool you need to advance your knowledge and help you be more successful in your career.
Some of you might be wondering how to get started, what fees are involved, and the payoff of enrollment so I have outlined the enrollment process and fees below. As far as payoff to you, there are many. The first is knowledge – a priceless gift you give to yourself. Imagine being in a meeting and as a question regarding funding or the history of program comes up – you are the only one with the answer.
You will also become certified and receive acknowledgement by your peers. There are three certification levels: Generalist, Specialist, and Master. For each level you will receive a certificate which will be presented at our State Educational Institute each year. We are also working with the director to discuss the future benefits of certification. Look at what some states have suggested as incentives.
Incentive-based Salary Adjustments — A suggested use of WPDP could tie successful completion to a one-time salary increase. Such a program could include use of all WPDP modules, or only specified modules coupled with other organizationally required training goals. Educational incentive packages are an excellent method for motivating staff commitment, boosting morale and cultivating future organizational leadership. Such incentives also could target staff who have exhausted salary-increase possibilities in their pay grades.
Performance Incentives — Using WPDP as a voluntary pursuit through an organization's performance-appraisal structure also can encourage staff to enhance their overall system knowledge. Since some performance systems reward staff for initiatives beyond their routine work assignments, WPDP completion can easily be included among initiatives that could raise performance ratings. IAWP strongly advocates a process that would consider WPDP only after employees have met or exceeded standards on routine assignments — not as method to increase ratings to a satisfactory level.
With more staff interested in enrollment into the program, we will have a good case toward implementation of incentives in our state as well.
Routine Enrollment Process
1. Complete a WPDP application. Click link to sign up: https://iawponline.org/register-for-workforce-development-program/. (Note: if IAWP direct bills your organization for WPDP enrollments, an in-house approval process also may be required. Please contact your IAWP chapter president or agency training department for more detail procedures.) 3. If you are testing or retesting, be sure to complete the Intent-to-Test block on the application, and include all fees. Fees If you would like your own resource guide to study with, each guide is $15.00. If choose, there is one set that will be available in the resource library in Central Office. The test for each module is $35.00 for members and $55.00 for nonmembers.
*Note – There are grants available that can cover the entire cost of guides and testing. Again contact me for more information. You can find out more information about the WPDP by visiting the international web site https://iawponline.org/workforce-professionals-development-program/. I would like to leave you with a few quotes. Good luck in your professional growth and consider this program as a way to advance your own career.
"To succeed in a competitive industry, we must have a clear understanding of who we are, where we are trying to go, and how we plan to get there. Our mission leaves no doubt about what we want to become."
- Author Unknown
"Always bear in mind that our own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing."
- Abraham Lincoln
The Professional Development Program (PDP) is a series of study guides and examinations designed to reassure knowledge of employment and training programs and to provide recognition to those who complete the process successfully. Created in 1988 and updated periodically, WPDP provides members and others working with the system an opportunity to learn more about their profession and to enhance career growth. It has been incorporated in some state Employment Security agency training programs, and recognized as an excellent cross-training tool. Currently available are: Generalist, Employment Services, Unemployment Insurance and Labor Market Information resource guides and exams
(WPDP) The Workforce Professional Development Program “An Opportunity to Learn for Employment and Training Professionals”
Hello to all Employment Department Staff and Employment and Training Professionals. As your Workforce Professional Development Program Chairperson, I am excited to talk about this program. The WPDP might be a program that many of you have heard about before or this could be your first time hearing of it. Either way, I would like to cover some basic information about this incredible resource in hopes that you will access it as a way to become a more successful professional.
Let’s begin by explaining what the program is as well as its intent. The Workforce Professional Development Program is a series of self-study resource guides covering information about the employment and training system. There are four resource guides with four respective areas of focus:
Module 1.2 – The History of Workforce Development
This module is the historical foundation module. It details the systems current components, basic operations and funding mechanisms, program evolution, and partnerships. Here are some excerpts from the Table of Contents:
Basic Funding for UI and ES 2 FUTA: The Bucket Effect 3 The DOL Directive System 16 The Great Depression – A Hope for Economic Recovery 24 The Wagner-Peysner Act of 1933 40 The 1960’s – Refocusing on the Disadvantaged 44 The `80s – ES Fights to Survive 49 JTPA Refocusing the Labor Exchange 54 Welfare Reform and Welfare to Work 67 Workforce Investment Act 68 Job Training Programs in the U.S. 72 JOBS – Job Opportunity and Basic Skills Program 98 NAFTA – North American Free Trade Act of 1993 101 Connecting Future Generations to the Workplace 106 The Veterans’ Employment and Training Administration 129 Acronyms and Abbreviations 155
Module 2.2 – Business and Job Seeker Specialist
This module covers Workforce Development, Customers and Job Seekers, Serving the Employer Community, Tools and Technology, and more.
Module 3.2 – Unemployment Insurance Specialist
This module covers Unemployment Insurance, Taxation, Benefits, The Claims Process, and more.
Module 4.2 – Labor Market Information Specialist
This module covers LMI Concepts an Measures, Projection Models, Covered Employment and Wages Program, Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program, Mass Layoff Statistics Program, and more.
If it is not obvious by noting some of the content within the program, the design of the WPDP is to educate workforce professionals about their own system. There is no doubt that along with a good attitude and passion for what you do, knowing what it is that you do and doing it well is paramount. This program is exactly the tool you need to advance your knowledge and help you be more successful in your career.
Some of you might be wondering how to get started, what fees are involved, and the payoff of enrollment so I have outlined the enrollment process and fees below. As far as payoff to you, there are many. The first is knowledge – a priceless gift you give to yourself. Imagine being in a meeting and as a question regarding funding or the history of program comes up – you are the only one with the answer.
You will also become certified and receive acknowledgement by your peers. There are three certification levels: Generalist, Specialist, and Master. For each level you will receive a certificate which will be presented at our State Educational Institute each year. We are also working with the director to discuss the future benefits of certification. Look at what some states have suggested as incentives.
Incentive-based Salary Adjustments — A suggested use of WPDP could tie successful completion to a one-time salary increase. Such a program could include use of all WPDP modules, or only specified modules coupled with other organizationally required training goals. Educational incentive packages are an excellent method for motivating staff commitment, boosting morale and cultivating future organizational leadership. Such incentives also could target staff who have exhausted salary-increase possibilities in their pay grades.
Performance Incentives — Using WPDP as a voluntary pursuit through an organization's performance-appraisal structure also can encourage staff to enhance their overall system knowledge. Since some performance systems reward staff for initiatives beyond their routine work assignments, WPDP completion can easily be included among initiatives that could raise performance ratings. IAWP strongly advocates a process that would consider WPDP only after employees have met or exceeded standards on routine assignments — not as method to increase ratings to a satisfactory level.
With more staff interested in enrollment into the program, we will have a good case toward implementation of incentives in our state as well.
Routine Enrollment Process
1. Complete a WPDP application. Click link to sign up: https://iawponline.org/register-for-workforce-development-program/. (Note: if IAWP direct bills your organization for WPDP enrollments, an in-house approval process also may be required. Please contact your IAWP chapter president or agency training department for more detail procedures.) 3. If you are testing or retesting, be sure to complete the Intent-to-Test block on the application, and include all fees. Fees If you would like your own resource guide to study with, each guide is $15.00. If choose, there is one set that will be available in the resource library in Central Office. The test for each module is $35.00 for members and $55.00 for nonmembers.
*Note – There are grants available that can cover the entire cost of guides and testing. Again contact me for more information. You can find out more information about the WPDP by visiting the international web site https://iawponline.org/workforce-professionals-development-program/. I would like to leave you with a few quotes. Good luck in your professional growth and consider this program as a way to advance your own career.
"To succeed in a competitive industry, we must have a clear understanding of who we are, where we are trying to go, and how we plan to get there. Our mission leaves no doubt about what we want to become."
- Author Unknown
"Always bear in mind that our own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing."
- Abraham Lincoln
