How to Become Part of the NC3 Network
There are three levels of engagement for education institutions:
Certification Centers, NC3Start Members, and NC3 Leadership Members.
Participation Levels | Full Benefits
Entry Level
Certification Center
Entry-level participation designed for high schools, colleges, and other education institutions looking to offer certifications on a small scale and limited budget.
Strategic Start: Member
NC3Start Member
Strategic participation designed for education institutions who want to start engaging in the NC3 Network, beyond the entry-level participation as an NC3 Certification Center, through key NC3 programs and partnerships.
Premier Level: Member
Leadership Member
High-level participation designed for leading, competitive education institutions who want to shape, elevate, and model world-class CTE learning as a National Center of Excellence, partner closely with global industry leaders, and leverage the advancements of the NC3 network.
Click the + symbols below to learn more about certification and resource access for each level of membership.
Instructor Professional Development
- Instructor access to NC3's nationally-recognized Train-the-Trainer events and access to certification curriculum
Industry Partner Access
- Discounted equipment/kit purchasing
- Partner affiliation - includes opportunities for cross-promotion, co-branding, partner signage, web marketing, etc.
Turnkey Certification System
- Access to NC3Certs.com, NC3’s certification Learning Management System (LMS) including supporting materials for implementing NC3 industry-driven certifications.
- Annual institutional access fee for NC3Certs.com: $500
- Unlimited student certification issuance for NC3 certifications.
- Certifications at no cost to students.
Instructor Professional Development
- Instructor access to NC3's nationally-recognized Train-the-Trainer events and access to certification curriculum
Discounted Training
- NC3 Members (NC3 Leadership Schools and NC3Start Schools) receive discounted registration for all NC3 Train-the-Trainer instructor professional development events.
Industry Partner Access
- Discounted equipment/kit purchasing
- Partner affiliation - includes opportunities for cross-promotion, co-branding, partner signage, web marketing, etc.
Turnkey Certification System
- Access to NC3Certs.com, NC3’s certification Learning Management System (LMS) including all supporting materials for implementing NC3 industry-driven certifications.
- Included with NC3 membership — no additional LMS access fee.
- Unlimited student certification issuance for NC3 certifications.
- Certifications at no cost to students.
Instructor Professional Development
- Instructor access to NC3's nationally-recognized Train-the-Trainer events and access to certification curriculum
Discounted Training
- NC3 Members (NC3 Leadership Schools and NC3Start Schools) receive discounted registration for all NC3 Train-the-Trainer instructor professional development events.
Industry Partner Access
- Discounted equipment/kit purchasing
- Partner affiliation - includes opportunities for cross-promotion, co-branding, partner signage, web marketing, etc.
- Shape new certifications and participate in national forums with other NC3 partners with respect to industry innovations and R&D and curriculum development
Turnkey Certification System
- Access to NC3Certs.com, NC3’s certification Learning Management System (LMS) powered by Moodle Workplace, including all supporting materials for implementing NC3 industry-driven certifications.
- Included with NC3 membership — no additional LMS access fee.
- Unlimited student certification issuance for NC3 certifications.
- Certifications at no cost to students.
Strategic Certification Programs
- Strategic program participation in partnership with App Development with Swift, Apple Certified Support Professional, Lincoln Electric - LEEPStart, and Festo Didactic Applied.
Marketing Resources
- Acknowledgement on the NC3 website
- Complimentary NC3 signage for labs and classrooms
Strategic Certification Programs
- Strategic program participation in partnership with App Development with Swift, Apple Certified Support Professional, Lincoln Electric - LEEPStart, and Festo Didactic Applied.
Marketing Resources
- School logo on the NC3 website
- Complimentary NC3 marketing and signage package for labs and classrooms
Premier Certification Programs
- Exclusive participation in partnership with the Trane Commercial, Lincoln Electric LEEPS, Kubota TECH, Festo Didactic Advanced, Thermo King, and RIDGID
- Achieve Center of Excellence status for Trane, Lincoln Electric, Emerson Skilled Trades Lab powered by Greenlee, Emerson Skilled Trades Lab powered by RIDGID, Snap-on, Copeland, Thermo King, and Festo Didactic Labs
Vision & Benchmarking
- Access to annual NC3 Leadership Bootcamp and Regional Benchmarking Tour events
- Custom benchmarking and consultation tours to NC3 model campuses and programs
- Consultation and facility planning resources from NC3 and industry partners.
- Serve as National Center of Excellence model for other schools
- Senior administration collaboration opportunities with the NC3 network of leading educators and industry partners
Events & Activities
- Exclusive participation in the NC3 National Signing Day Event
- Senior administration invitation to the NC3 Annual Leadership Summit
- Access to annual NC3 Leadership Bootcamp and Regional Benchmarking Tour events
- Access to NC3 Membership Webinars and additional event opportunities
Participation Costs
All three levels have access to free student certifications. No student will be charged for any NC3 certifications.
Certification Center
$500
Annual Access Fee
An NC3 Certification Center represents an entry-level level of engagement within the NC3 network. Certification Centers are not full NC3 members and therefore have limited access to NC3 resources, portfolio of certifications and kit purchasing and do not participate in membership events, have access to marketing resources, or participate in exclusive industry programs/events at a national level.
Certification Centers pay an annual institutional access fee for NC3Certs.com, NC3’s certification Learning Management System (LMS).
Certification Centers pay an annual institutional access fee for NC3Certs.com, NC3’s certification Learning Management System (LMS).
NC3Start
Member
$1,000
Annual Membership
The NC3Start program is targeted toward organizations seeking to certify students in one or more of NC3’s new, strategic certifications programs. The NC3Start membership also allows access to any Certification Center certification access and existing non-Center of Excellence NC3 certification programs.
NC3Start members can take advantage of this membership level to strategically utilize NC3 across numerous programs and work towards becoming an NC3 Leadership Member, and a national model for CTE.
Organizations seeking to certify students in NC3’s most advanced certifications requiring Center of Excellence status and/or seeking to participate in the NC3 Annual Leadership Conference, NC3 National Signing Day Event, and/or Vision & Benchmarking events, and facility planning resources, should seek to join the NC3 Network as an NC3 Leadership Member for full membership benefits and program access.
As a member institution, the NC3Certs.com LMS access fee is included as a membership benefit.
Note: An NC3Start member membership is institution-wide, not program-based.
NC3Start members can take advantage of this membership level to strategically utilize NC3 across numerous programs and work towards becoming an NC3 Leadership Member, and a national model for CTE.
Organizations seeking to certify students in NC3’s most advanced certifications requiring Center of Excellence status and/or seeking to participate in the NC3 Annual Leadership Conference, NC3 National Signing Day Event, and/or Vision & Benchmarking events, and facility planning resources, should seek to join the NC3 Network as an NC3 Leadership Member for full membership benefits and program access.
As a member institution, the NC3Certs.com LMS access fee is included as a membership benefit.
Note: An NC3Start member membership is institution-wide, not program-based.
Leadership
Member
$5,000
Annual Membership
The real benefit of becoming a Leadership Member is having presidential and leadership participation in the NC3 network, access to all of NC3’s industry partners and exclusive certification programs, strategic planning and benchmarking resources, and best practices and collaboration with other education leaders.
Organizations seeking to become a national Center of Excellence in any/all of NC3's certification programs should strive to become an NC3 Leadership Member.
As a member institution, the NC3Certs.com LMS access fee is included as a membership benefit.
Note: A Leadership Member is institution-wide, not program based. There are also district membership options available for secondary or post-secondary school districts.
Organizations seeking to become a national Center of Excellence in any/all of NC3's certification programs should strive to become an NC3 Leadership Member.
As a member institution, the NC3Certs.com LMS access fee is included as a membership benefit.
Note: A Leadership Member is institution-wide, not program based. There are also district membership options available for secondary or post-secondary school districts.
