Navigating the Four Levels of Prevailing Wage Suzanne

Navigating the Four Levels of Prevailing Wage Suzanne Seltzer Klasko Rulon Stock & Seltzer Jeanne Kelley Boston University

Why Now? Effective January 1, 2010 l Prevailing wage determinations (PWD) will be go to the Department of Labor’s (DOL) National Processing Center (NPC) l NEW l State prevailing wage Form ETA 9141 Workforce Agencies (SWA) will no longer be involved in PWD

Why Now? i. CERT Portal l Web-based user account for both LCA & PERM filings l Improve accessibility for employer and attorney while maintaining security l Allows for prevailing wage searches l All DOL related processes centralized

Institutional Policy Considerations l Should your institution always request a SWA wage? l Will these changes effect policy decisions? l How should you determine minimum requirements consistently? l Challenging erroneous SWA determinations l Communicating with hiring departments

Prevailing Wage Lingo l Standard Occupational Classification – Occupational Information Network (SOC-O*NET or O*NET for short) l Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) (used under the old Dictionary of Occupational Titles) l Job Zones (used under the current O*NET system)

What it Means…Why it is Important SOC-O*NET l System of coding/classifying jobs by skills, knowledge and work activities. l For prevailing wage determinations (PWD) - provides the “quantitative parameters” to determine the appropriate wage level through the SVP and job zone standards.

What it Means…Why it is Important SVP/Job Zone l Range of time needed to learn techniques/skills for average performance of a specific occupation l In PWD, wage level is assigned based on where the employer’s education and experience requirements fit within this quantitative parameter

Corresponding SVP & Job Zones l Job Zone One: Occupations that require ‘little’ preparation l How much prep? SVP Range: Below 4. 0; under 6 months experience l “Normal to the occupation” maximum: no education, 5 months & 29 days experience

Corresponding SVP & Job Zones l Job Zone Two: Occupations require ‘some’ preparation l ‘Some’ prep = SVP Range 4. 0 < 6. 0 over 3 months, up to 1 year l Normal to the Occupation no degree; 1 year experience

Corresponding SVP & Job Zones l Job Zone Three: Occupations require ‘medium’ prep l ‘Medium’ Prep = SVP Range 6. 0 < 7. 0 over 1 year, up to 2 years l Normal to the Occupation (max) no degree, 2 Years Experience

Corresponding SVP & Job Zones l Job Zone Four: Requires ‘considerable’ prep l ‘Considerable’ = SVP Range 7. 0 < 8. 0 over 2 years, up to 4 years l Normal to the Occupation (max) Bachelors + 2 years, or 4 years experience

Why? Because the degree constitutes part of the prep time under SVP: Bachelor’s Degree = 2 years prep Master’s Degree = 4 years prep Ph. D. = 7 years prep

Corresponding SVP & Job Zones l Job Zone Five: Requires ‘extensive’ prep l ‘Extensive’ = SVP Range 8. 0 + Over 4 years and up l Normal to the Occupation degree plus substantial experience

What is Appendix D l Professional Occupations and Training Categories l Lists the “usual education” required for prevailing wage purposes l If degree required is above the “usual education, ” a higher wage level would be required

What Are the Four Levels? LEVEL 1 l l l Entry/beginning level Routine tasks, limited exercise of judgment “Under close Supervision” Bottom of SVP Range Consider: Is degree required consistent with degree on Appendix D

What Are the Four Levels? LEVEL 2 l “Qualified” l Moderately Complex Tasks, requiring limited judgment l Consider: where does experience & education fall within Job Zone/SVP range

What Are the Four Levels? LEVEL 3 l Experienced l Exercise Judgment l Coordinate Activities of Staff l More extensive experience is required l Consider: Any special skills, supervisory responsibilities required?

What Are the Four Levels? LEVEL 4 l Plan & Conduct Work l Advanced skills and diversified knowledge l Management &/or Supervisory l Consider: does required education and experience go beyond Job Zone/SVP range?

Determining the Prevailing Wage l STEP 1: List Job Offer Requirements l STEP 2: Compare Job Offer Experience requirements with Job Zone/SVP Range At low end of range, add 1 level l At high end of range, add 2 levels l Outside the range, add 3 levels l

Determining the Prevailing Wage l STEP 3: Compare Job Offer Educational Requirements with DOL Appendix l Add a level for each level of education higher than the “usual” degree l STEPS 4 – 6: Any special skills, licensure/certification, or supervisory duties? If yes, add a level

Let’s Test This Out!

Post-doc Research Associate Microbiologist 19 -1021 Ph. D. Job Zone 5 0 0 Ph. D. 0 0 Appendix A Code 2 Ph. D. 0 0 0 1

Statistical Programmer Statistician 15 -2041 Master’s degree + 4 years experience Job Zone 5 4 years Over 4 years 0 Masters Code 3 --Masters 0 Statistical Data Analysis in research setting Considered a special skill? 1 0 2

Assistant Clinical Professor Health Spec. Teachers, Post-Sec. 25 -1071 MD or equiv. + 3 yrs Rad. Trng. , 1 yr Fellowship Job Zone 5 0 0 0 M. D. Doctoral degree 0 MA License + 4 yrs trng License normal to entry level 1 -- 0 No 2

Assistant Professor Surgeon 29 -1067 MD or equiv. + 5 yrs Res. 2 yrs Fellow. Job Zone 5 0 0 0 M. D. 0 MA License + 7 yrs trng “Normal” 1 0 0 0 But, SWA found level 4 2

Helpful Weblinks: l OES Prevailing Wage Guidance/Worksheet www. foreignlaborcert. doleta. gov/pdf/Policy_Nonag_Progs. pdf l i. CERT portal www. icert. doleta. gov/ l NAFSA i. CERT guidance www. nafsa. org/regulatory_information. sec/the_icert_portal_sy stem

Questions?