TOWES Testing
This information is to help answer questions that future Students of Commercial Safety College may have before taking the TOWES test. If you don't find the answers here and you wish to contact us we will be happy answer them.
What is TOWES?
TOWES (Test of Workplace Essential Skills) is effective testing and training tool that uses workplace documents to accurately measure the three essential skills that are needed for safe and productive employment: Reading Text, Document Use and Numeracy. You can download the preparation guide and see samples of what you might find when you write the test.
Why TOWES?
Employees who lack essential skills have higher accident rates and are often less productive. With TOWES, employers can zero in on skill gaps and provide focused training that improves their bottom-line. They also provide the foundation for learning all other skills and enable people to evolve with their jobs and adapt to workplace change.
Effectiveness of TOWES?
TOWES has undergone an extensive psychometric review and nation-wide field-testing involving thousands of Canadians. These results prove that TOWES is the best measure of essential skills in Canada. 
Effective January 8, 2007 the Trucking Human Resource Sector Council (THRSC) Board of Directors has instructed Commercial Safety College to collect $115.00 ($100 plus HST) for each Test of Workplace Essential Skills (TOWES) taken. In the previous year the government had been funding the TOWES.