Overview
The Career Ability Placement Survey (CAPS; Knapp & Knapp, 2015) is an individualized, norm-referenced measure of abilities related to various vocational fields (career clusters). The CAPS offers both web-based and paper/pencil versions of eight, five-minute tests. Each of the eight ability dimensions are aligned with entry-level requirements for occupations in each of the 14 COPSystem VIA Career Clusters. These jobs are divided into the following 14 career clusters: science, professional or skilled; technology, professional or skilled; business, professional or skilled; arts, professional or skilled; service, professional or skilled; consumer economics; outdoor; clerical; and communication. The multi-dimensional CAPS battery measures vocationally-relevant abilities including: mechanical reasoning, spatial relations, verbal reasoning, numerical ability, language usage, word knowledge, perceptual speed and accuracy, and manual speed and dexterity. Percentile scores indicate occupational areas most closely correlated to the abilities of the individual. Occupational cluster information provides many examples of job titles within each cluster, additional skills needed, and ways to gain relevant experience in the area. The CAPS is available in multiple languages.
Summary
Age: Grade 8 through adult
Time to Administer: 5 minutes for each of eight tests; 50 minutes to complete entire battery with CAPS online scoring; 15–20 minutes for self-scoring
Method of Administration: Individual or group- administered comprehensive multidimensional measure of vocationally relevant abilities within eight dimensions keyed to entry requirements for occupations in 14 Career Clusters; available in multiple languages
Yields stanines, percentiles, and strengths/weaknesses; scores interpreted relative to others at the same educational level
Subscales: Indicates which of 14 occupational areas are most suited to an individual’s abilities in eight dimensions: mechanical reasoning, spatial relations, verbal reasoning, numerical ability, language usage, word knowledge, perceptual speed and accuracy, and manual speed and dexterity. Provides activities and experiences to increase skills in occupational areas of student’s interest
Autism Related Research
None found.