Many states and agencies have started using the list of federally approved Ability to Benefit (ATB) tests for non-traditional purposes, so ATB testing can be a confusing topic for many institutions.
Hopefully this article will clear up some of the uncertainty around the use of
ATB testing for purposes other than securing Title IV funding.
Traditional Use – Title IV Funding
In the past, Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) testing was primarily understood to mean basic skills testing that was administered to students who did not have a high school diploma or recognized equivalent and were seeking Title IV Federal student financial aid.
By passing a federally recognized ATB test, these individuals demonstrated their ability to benefit from the training program to which they were applying, and by extension, their ability to repay their federal student loans.
Key requirements in this definition of ATB testing are that the tests are
administered by certified test administrators who are independent of the school to which the test taker is applying, and that
the tests are scored by the test publisher.
Other Uses – Accreditation, State Funding, Admissions, Licensure
Over time, the use of ATB testing has broadened in some states to evaluate eligibility for state financial aid, entry into training programs, and certain licensure. These uses are independent of the formal Ability to Benefit testing program described in the Federal Register, 34 CFR Part 668, Subpart J.
An institution that is considering ATB testing for purposes other than securing Title IV federal student financial aid has two options available to them:
- Administer an approved ATB test via the test publisher’s ATB testing program, including use of federally recognized passing scores. Note: It is Wonderlic’s policy to require full participation in the formal ATB program in order to obtain official ATB score reports.
- Administer a test that appears on the list of approved ATB tests according to the test publisher’s general guidelines for administering the test.
The decision of which option applies is something that the institution has to determine based on the guidelines that they are attempting to follow. The language in the respective guidelines will often provide an indication of which option is appropriate.
For example, private postsecondary schools in California are regulated by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). The BPPE is charged with implementing the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009. According to the Act, students at these institutions must execute an enrollment agreement before starting classes. Additionally, in order for ATB students to execute the enrollment agreement, they must “take and pass an independently administered test from the list of federally approved ATB tests.” Because the regulations use the phrase “take and pass an independently administered test”, it would seem that the BPPE expects ATB testing to be administered in the context of a formal Ability-to-Benefit testing program.
Alternatively, the Arkansas Department of Health requires students of Cosmetology, Manicuring, Electrology, Aesthetics, and Teacher training to demonstrate proof of high school education, however, “results from a test that is approved by the U.S. Department of Education to measure a student’s ability to benefit (an “Ability-To-Benefit (ATB) test”) may be used to determine a student’s equivalency.” In this example, the language refers to the
test only, rather than the ATB
testing process, so it appears that any approved ATB test can be used, with or without participating in a formal ATB program.
Note, while the language gives an indication of the agency’s position, the final determination of which approach to take must be determined on a case-by-case basis between the institution and the regulatory agency. As a general rule however, the more conservative approach of administering the tests in the context of a formal ATB program is likely to be accepted by any agency.
