- Authority to Operate a School
The ability to operate a postsecondary school is dependent upon regulations set forth by State law, and each state has a regulatory body that licenses postsecondary schools which offer education to the public within the boundaries of their state. In Oklahoma the State regulatory body that oversees postsecondary education is the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools, .
Usually, licensure is administered by a governmental entity for public protection purposes: contrary to certification which provides a skill assessment tool from a professional organization, trade association; or in their absence, a group of related entities with a common goal in providing a tool to measure skill and/or knowledge levels.
A license requirement to operate heavy equipment is non-existent in the United States; however, crane operator licensing is now becoming required in numerous areas of the countries, including many states and other municipalities. Red Rock offers operational training in both heavy equipment and crane designed to allow graduates the opportunity to successfully pass a certification assessment in heavy equipment and crane.
- What to look for in a school
- History of Graduate success.
- License: Ask to see a copy.
- Complaints: Does the school have any complaints against the school, check with the schools licensing agency.
- Faculty credentials: Check out the staff credentials.
- Facilities: Does the school have a physical facility, and is their address published?
- What does it mean?
the majority owner of Red Rock has a vast knowledge of accreditation and indicates national accreditation is a long term goal, (see ; however, Mr. Klabacka states;
Currently, accreditation does not appear to assist graduates of Red Rock in obtaining employment. It is licensure and certification that is most important to employers with regard to evidence of training when hiring equipment and crane operators.
Red Rock has successfully trained hundreds of students since 2006 without being accredited and Red Rock will continue to succeed without accreditation.
As a fully licensed postsecondary school in the State of Georgia, Red Rock is regulated for quality and accreditation is not beneficial to graduate employment.
Red Rock College is not accredited. Red Rock has determined, "accreditation oversight is a costly expense which will not benefit graduate job placement".
At one time Red Rock was accredited by the and subsequently elected to replace NCCER certification with NAHETS OPCAT Certification.
You can read more about Red Rock 's accreditation experience and the election to withdraw from NCCER .
NOTE: Students should be aware that Red Rock is not currently accredited. This does not mean that Red Rock is not a quality school, on the contrary. Red Rock has graduated hundreds of students who have found gainful employment as equipment and crane operators. Please refer to our for more information.
- Job placement assistance and accreditation?
Red Rock is unaware of any employer requiremnents concerning accredited training as a pre requisite to employment for equipment and/or crane operators.
Industries which employ heavy equipment and crane operator do not require operators to complete an accredited progam; however, these same industries may require proof of .
- How do schools become accredited?
Accreditation is a process in which certification of competency, authority, or credibility is presented.
Generally, organizations that issue credentials or certify third parties against official standards are themselves formally accredited by accreditation bodies; for example, the American Bar Association(ABA) for Lawyers, and the American Medical Association(AMA) for physicians; hence they are sometimes known as "accredited certification bodies".
The accreditation process ensures that their certification practices are acceptable, typically meaning that they are competent to test and certify third parties, behave ethically, and employ suitable quality assurance.
Accreditation does not provide automatic acceptance by an institution of credit earned at another institution, nor does it give assurance of acceptance of graduates by employers. Acceptance of students or graduates is always the prerogative of the receiving institution or employer. For these reasons, besides ascertaining the accredited status of a school or program, students should take additional measures to determine, prior to enrollment, whether or not their educational goals will be met through attendance at a particular institution.
These measures should include inquiries to institutions to which transfer might be desired or to prospective employers and, if possible, personal inspection of the institution at which enrollment is contemplated.
- Types of Accreditation
There are two basic types of educational accreditation, one identified as "institutional" and one referred to as "specialized" or "programmatic."
Institutional accreditation applies to an entire institution, indicating that each of an institution's parts is contributing to the achievement of the institution's objectives, although not necessarily all at the same level of quality. The various commissions of the regional accrediting associations, for example, perform institutional accreditation, as do many national accrediting agencies.
Specialized or Programmatic normally applies to programs, departments, or schools that are parts of an institution. The accredited unit may be as large as a college or school within a university or as small as a curriculum within a discipline. Most of the specialized or programmatic accrediting agencies review units within an institution of higher education that is accredited by one of the regional accrediting commissions.
However, certain accrediting agencies also accredit professional schools and other specialized or vocational institutions of higher education that are free-standing in their operations. Thus, a specialized or programmatic accrediting agency may also function in the capacity of an institutional accrediting agency. In addition, a number of specialized accrediting agencies accredit educational programs within non-educational settings, such as hospitals.
- National Accreditors
The national accreditors get their name from their common policy of accrediting schools nationwide or even worldwide. Requirements for accreditation vary from each national accreditor according to the specialty. In general terms, the national accreditors accredit post-secondary programs that are vocational, technical and career in nature. Some of these programs offer degrees and some only certificates.
Five of these bodies are listed by the Department of Education as general in nature and national in scope. These are
- Distance Education and Training Council ()
- Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools()
- Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges()
- Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training()
- Council on Occupational Education()
- Specialized accreditation
To read more about accreditation please visit the U.S. Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education by .
- What does certification mean?
Certification refers to the confirmation of certain characteristics of an object, person, or organization. This confirmation is often, but not always, provided by some form of external review, education, or assessment.
Usually, licensure is administered by a governmental entity for public protection purposes; however certification is offered by a non governmental entity. Licensure and certification are similar in that they both require the demonstration of a certain level of knowledge or ability.
One of the most common types of certification in modern society is professional certification, where a person is certified as being able to competently complete a job or task, usually by the passing of an examination. Hence, Red Rock offers students the opportunity to pass different certifications, which may include one of the following:
- School/College Certification (diploma, or certificate of completion issued at graduation)
- NAHETS: National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools certification. Note, NAHETS and Red Rock have common ownership.
- NCCCO: National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) and will prepare candidates for the CCO certification tests.
- Note: It is important for any student to contact the School in regards to current available certifications.
There are two general types of professional certification: some are valid for lifetime, once the exam is passed. Others have to be re certified again after a certain period of time.
Certifications can differ within a profession by the level or specific area of expertise they refer to. For example, the heavy equipment industry lacks any national standard certification and/or licensure; although there is standardized published training curriculum and certification offered at schools and other organizations nationwide. The determination of value placed upon any heavy equipment operator certification or training is up to the employer. The following are examples of certifications that are offered at Red Rock .
NOTE: Certification does not refer to the state of legally being able to practice or work in a profession, that is .
- Heavy equipment operator certification
As a heavy equipment operator your ability to find employment is not, necessarily, directly related to a certification and or education obtained. Some employers may require certification or evidence of training for insurance purposes, etc..; however, generally, heavy equipment operators are not required to possess a certification as a condition of their employment as a heavy equipment operator.
NAHETS:
National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools
- Crane operator certification
NCCCO: National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) and will prepare candidates for the CCO certification tests.
Red Rock College (Red Rock ), uses a separate certification tool for heavy equipment and crane from two separate entities as follows:
- Heavy Equipment Certification: National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools, (NAHETS), provides a certification assessment tool designed to measure skill and of individual field tasks.
Note, Red Rock cannot guarantee that graduates from their training program pass NAHETS certification; however, the majority are successful at passing. To see certification success rates .
- Crane Operator Certification: Red Rock trains students to prepare for offered by The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators, (NCCCO or CCO) provides a certification assessment tool designed to measure skill and of individual in mobile crane operations.
Note, Red Rock cannot guarantee that graduates from their training program pass CCO certification; however, the majority are successful at passing. To see certification success rates .
OWNERSHIP
Red Rock College(Red Rock ) is owned and operated by ATS-USA, LLC a Nevada LLC operating as a foreign corporation in the State of Oklahoma. Red Rock was started 2005 as a cooperative effort by Associated Training Services of Nevada, LLC owned by Matt Klabacka and Garry Hayes and Associated Training Services of Wisconsin.
Red Rock College is a dba of ATSNETWORK-OKLAHOMA, LLC a Nevada corporation registered as a foreign corporation in the state of Oklahoma.
The owner of Red Rock is ATS-USA, LLC a Nevada LLC with the majority owner. Mr Klabacka has other educational interests as described below.
The National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools, LLC is a limited liability company registered in the state of Nevada. Common ownership of NAHETS and NAHETS member schools owned and operated by ATS-USA, LLC are as follows:
ATSNETWORK-OKLAHOMA, LLC; dba, Oklahoma College of Construction & Red Rock College
ATSNETWORK-GEORGIA, LLC; dba, Red Rock College
Northern California School of Construction, LLC; dba, Peak College
It has been understood, from inception, that membership in NAHETS may consist exclusively of schools owned by ATS-USA, LLC due to:
Limits in competition
Resistance from peers who may view NAHETS as a competitor
Lack of understanding of NAHETS mission
Previous relationships with a major competitors, namely Associated Training Services, ATS, and ATS Affiliates
Historical evidence of the industry resistance to associate together.
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