Proficiency Testing

The goal of the El Dorado County 4-H Proficiency program is to give members recognition in a variety of ways to meet the diverse needs of today’s youth. It is also designed to assist youth in measuring themselves against ‘standards of excellence’.

Each proficiency is comprised of three to four skill levels and should be designed to increase in scope and difficulty. The proficiencies are three-fold in purpose:

1. To provide youth opportunities to sample a broad array of experiences, measure personal progress, and become self-directed learners.
2. To provide a standard of excellence where members are recognized for knowledge and skills they have mastered.
3. To provide guidelines for leaders to enhance and expand project content and experiences.

The Proficiency program is NOT designed to be an award, or a prize for the best in competition. Instead, members are REWARDED for their personal progress. The intent of the proficiency program is to increase performance, while allowing members to be motivated, to be creative and to take risks.

The proficiencies are not a  test. Youth should not be quizzed at the end of each 4-H year to determine how much they have learned. The proficiencies should be given to each youth member as a set of goals that they, as individuals, can work toward over one of more years. Completion of all three levels of a proficiency indicates “mastery” of a subject.

The proficiency program is voluntary. Not all youth will find this type of activity rewarding. Many youth enter a project with their own goals. They join to learn a specific skill or group of skills, but not to achieve mastery of a subject. Additionally, not all project leaders will choose to go into such depth of each subject area. Completion of Level I, may be all that is offered by a particular project leader.

Awards

A Proficiency medal, will be sponsored by the El Dorado County 4-H Volunteer Management Board and awarded at Fair 4-H Livestock Awards Ceremony each year. Youth may receive more than one medal per year. They may do this by completing two or more consecutive levels in one project area, or by completing one level in two or more projects.

For members to qualify for proficiency awards, they must complete all the requirements below.

   1. Have up-to-date and complete enrollment.

   2. Attend 6 out of the 8 club and project meetings.

   3. Members must provide 4-H Records to the club leader for project completion verification. Records must include Annual Project Report form for each project a member is applying for a Proficiency Award, and the completed Proficiency Form.

Proficiency Tests Available

Alpacas & Llamas

Level I

Birds: Poultry

Level I, II, III & IV

Cattle: Beef

Level I, II & III

Cavies

Level I & II

Dog: Care & Grooming

Level I & II

Equine: Horse

Level I, II & III

Goats: Dairy

Level I, II & III

Goats: Market

Level I & II

Goats: Pack

Level I

Goats: Pygmy

Level I & II

Goats: Nigerian

Level I, II & III

Rabbits

Level I, II, III & VI

Sheep: Market

Level I, II & III

Swine: Market

Level I, II & III