Career Paths, Ladders, and Lattices — Career paths are groups of jobs included in a particular career field. Career ladders represent the upward movement of workers throughout their careers (for example, from Assistant Mechanic to Mechanic to Senior Mechanic). Career lattices represent careers that do not follow a linear progression and include lateral moves. Employers, industries, and professional organizations can use competency models with career paths, ladders, and lattices to facilitate employee career progression.

Case in point — The Nursing Career Lattice Program, sponsored by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) and the U.S. Department of Labor, addresses the current national nursing shortage with the development of a career lattice program intended to increase the number of Certified Nursing Aides (CNAs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Registered Nurses (RNs) in the United States. This program allows nurses to advance in their careers through competency-based apprenticeship and training programs. For more information, visit http://www.cael.org/healthcare.htm

Case in point — Through the Retail Learning Leadership Initiative, the NRF Foundation (NRFF) is working with retail employers such as Toys “R” Us, Saks Inc., The Home Depot, and CVS/pharmacy to develop a competency-based, cross-industry training program and career ladder. The goal is for the training program and career ladder to be used nationally for all levels of employees, from sales associates through retail management, throughout the retail industry and the public workforce system. For more information about this initiative, visit:
http://www.nrf.com/content/default.asp?folder=foundation&file=prtnrPrjct.htm