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From the Planning CoP:

Background:
To fulfill the requirements of 13 March 2012 Planner Capability Training memorandum and to make efficient use of training dollars, the PCoP updated the Planning Core Curriculum delivery strategy. This strategy allowed for the grandfathering of planners meeting certain requirements for select PCC courses. In addition, experienced planners and PDT members were allowed to take the Proficiency Exams to test out of courses where they could demonstrate mastery of the content with a score of 80% or higher.

Parallel to grandfathering and testing options, PCC 1 Civil Works Orientation was revised and produced as a distributed learning (DL) course titled Civil Works Project Development Process. This tuition-based course is now available online and on-demand for USACE employees needing to gain an understanding of the life-cycle of a project. Contact your Training Coordinator to register this new DL course.

In addition to the Civil Works Project Delivery Process, the six remaining Core Curriculum courses are available for FY14 in a classroom setting. Planners and PDT members in need of Core Curriculum courses should continue to take the courses.

Experienced planners and PDT members are still able to demonstrate mastery of content for the following courses by passing the online test with a score of 80% or higher. These tests will remain available on the Army Learning Management System (ALMS) until 1 June 2014:


PCC 3 Environmental Considerations

PCC 4 Economic Analysis

PCC 5 H&H Considerations in Planning

PCC 7 Public Involvement and Team Building

The PCoP toolbox is located at: http://planning.usace.army.mil/toolbox/index.cfm


Frequently Asked Questions: Please read through the following FAQs for more information:


Question: Which of the PCC courses is currently available to be taken virtually, on-line, as an actual course?


Answer: Civil Works Orientation, now the Civil Works Project Development Process, is available online and on-demand as a tuition-based course. The course number is 086 in the Purple Book, and registration is accomplished through Training Coordinators as with classroom (traditional) courses. All other current PCC courses are available for classroom (traditional) one week delivery.



Question: How will I know how and where to take the new DL Civil Works Project Development Process course?


Answer: Enrolled learners will receive a Student Reporting Instruction (SRI) that provides details on how to access this course. General enrollment directions are also available on the ULC website under 'How Do I.. Take Distributed Learning'.



Question: What is the tuition for the new DL Civil Works Project Development Process course?


Answer: DL Course 86 tuition is $682 and is currently available.



Question: Will more courses be put on-line for distributed learning anytime in the near future? Which ones exactly and in what time frame?


Answer: The PCC is being revised for FY 15 delivery. There are no whole-scale changes expected in FY14.



Question: Will the existing PCC courses be modified/blended, etc. If so, what will the new "list" of PCC courses be? (e.g. will PCC2 and PCC6 be permanently blended into one course?)


Answer: The revised PCC for FY15 delivery will consist of:
** The Civil Works Project Development Process
** Planning Essentials
** Plan Formulation and Evaluation Capstone



Question: Will the ability to take an online test to "test out" of a PCC course exist indefinitely or just through some specified time period? When is that date?


Answer: PCC 1, 2, and 6 proficiency exams are no longer available for "testing out," and PCCs 3, 4, 5, and 7 will be available until 1 June 2014.



Question: What is the cost to ‘test out’ for the new DL Civil Works Project Development Process course?


Answer: There is no option to test out of the Civil Works Development Process



Question: How much does it cost to 'test-out' of the remaining PCC courses?


Answer: The proficiency exams ('test out' option) do not charge tuition.



Question: : Where can I go for specific instructions/guidelines to 'test out'?


Answer: Please see the following 'Testing requirements'.



Testing Requirements:
  • You have only one opportunity to take the test.
  • Once you answer a question and move to the next, you cannot go back and change a previous answer.
  • You must score at least 80% on the test.


    • Registering for a test/assessment:
    Go to Army Knowledge Online (AKO): https://www.us.army.mil (On AKO home page, you will see navigation headers, e.g. Home, My Account, Favorites, Quick Links and Self Service.)

    Note: If you do not have an AKO account, click the "Create Account with CAC" button below 'New to AKO?'

    Note: If you are new to AKO and the Army Learning Management System (ALMS), see our 'ALMS Instructions for New Users' by clicking the 'HOW DO I.. Take Distributed Learning'

  • Select "Self Service", then "My Education".
  • Click on the ALMS logo or below the logo click the link "Access the ALMS". (You are now logged into the ALMS and on the homepage.)
  • Click the "Catalog Search" button.
  • In the "Search" entry field, enter "PCC".
  • Click the "Search" button. (You will see all PCC Assessments below under Course Iterations.)
  • Locate the test you want to take and click on "Register" under 'Actions'.
  • Scroll down and click "Continue Registration". (You will see a 'Registration Confirmation' screen.)
  • Scroll down and click "Go to Enrollments" and locate the test you just enrolled for.
  • Click "Launch" to start the test/assessment. Note: You will see two entries for your test. The second entry is your certificate (to obtain after you pass the test).
  • Note: If you do not launch your content now, the test will remain available under 'Current Enrollments'.


    • Taking a verification test/assessment:
  • Carefully read the test instructions.
  • For each question, ensure you select desired answer before moving to next question. The test will not allow you to return to a question after you answer and move to the next question.
  • You have one attempt to pass the test.
  • You must score at least 80% to pass the test.
  • Once you have closed the assessment, your transcript will reflect completion.)


    • To print a Certificate of Completion:
  • Return to "My Enrollments" by clicking the 'Enrollments' tab on the left.
  • Locate the PCC certificate for the test you just took.
  • Click "Launch" to open and print your PROSPECT Bypass Certificate.
  • You can also print a certificate on Army DA Form 87. To do this, on the ALMS Homepage, click on the Detailed Training Records' button. You will now see all of the courses that have been completed and transferred to your My Detailed Training Records.)


    • Help:
  • ULC cannot assist students with logging in and taking courseware delivered by the Army Learning Management System (ALMS). ULC handles only the registration for these tests. Students will need to contact the ALMS Help Desk at 877-251-0730 or DSN 826-4745 for guidance on resolving problems concerning accessing courseware within the ALMS.
  • For questions regarding the content of the tests, contact the Course Manager: Annette Biddle, 256-895-7432.
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