ACT WorkKeys - County Federal Information Processing Series (FIPS) Codes Manual - How to Use Box 21

Oct 9, 2026

ACT WorkKeys County Federal Information Processing Series (FIPS) Codes Manual provides guidance for test coordinators to instruct examinees on correctly completing Box 21 on the ACT WorkKeys answer document. It explains the purpose of collecting accurate county-level demographic information, supports preparation steps such as posting surrounding county FIPS codes for reference, and details key testing and quality assurance procedures. The manual lists FIPS codes for all U.S. states and territories for entry based on examinee county of residence.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages25

Reading Time1 h 3 min

AccessFree to download

Purpose

Pretest Procedures (Prepping the Test Area)

Testing Procedures (Test Instructions/Directions)

Quality Assurance

FIPS Codes

United States and US Territories

ACT ® WorkKeys® County Federal Information Processing Series (FIPS) Codes Manual United States and US Territories [www.act.org](www.act.org) How to Contact ACT Hours of Operation | Monday–Friday
Contact Information | 7:00 a. m.–7:00 p. m. Central Time | | --- | --- | Phone Email 800.967.5539 [workkeys@act.org](workkeys@act.org) © 2023 by ACT, Inc. All rights reserved. MA70002 . CJ12945 Contents Purpose 1 Pretest Procedures (Prepping the Test Area) 1 Testing Procedures (Test Instructions/Directions) 2 Quality Assurance 2 FIPS Codes 3 United States 3 Alabama 3 Alaska 3 Arizona 3 Arkansas 4 California 4 Colorado 4 Connecticut 5 Delaware 5 District of Columbia 5 Florida 5 Georgia 5 Hawaii 6 Idaho 6 Illinois 6 Indiana 7 Iowa 8 Kansas 8 Kentucky 9 Louisiana 9 Maine 10 Maryland 10 Massachusetts 10 Michigan 10 Minnesota 11 Mississippi 11 Missouri 12 Montana 12 Nebraska 13 Nevada 13 New Hampshire 13 New Jersey 13 New Mexico 14 New York 14 North Carolina 14 North Dakota 15 Ohio 15 Oklahoma 16 Oregon 16 Pennsylvania 16 Rhode Island 17 South Carolina 17 South Dakota 17 Tennessee 17 Texas 18 Utah 19 Vermont 20 Virginia 20 Washington 20 West Virginia 21 Wisconsin 21 Wyoming 21 US Territories 22 American Samoa 22 Guam 22 Northern Mariana Islands 22 Puerto Rico 22 Midway Islands 22 Virgin Islands 22 Purpose This manual has been designed to help test coordinators instruct examinees on how to correctly complete Box 21 on the ACT® WorkKeys® answer document. ACT appreciates the hard work of the numerous test coordinators across the country, and we are confident that the additional steps in preparing the test site and instructing examinees will add value to the data collected and reinforce best practices in the administration of ACT WorkKeys tests. Box 21 is part of an overall initiative to improve the organization’s ability to gather meaningful data. The test coordinator is a crucial component in this process, and we are excited to have them working with us. Consistently adhering to all applicable policies governing ACT testing protocols will help to ensure the integrity and validity of the data obtained. Accurately gathering key demographic data about each examinee will provide input necessary for the analysis that states and counties can use to transform ACT WorkKeys and the ACT® WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate® (NCRC®) into a regional tool for economic development and enable examinees to have more opportunities in the workplace. [Aggregated demographic data will be displayed on a county level at](Aggregated demographic data will be displayed on a county level at www.workreadycommunities.org)[ www.workreadycommunities.org](Aggregated demographic data will be displayed on a county level at www.workreadycommunities.org). Enclosed you will find Federal Information Processing Series (FIPS) codes for every county in the United States of America, including its territories. They are listed in alphabetical order by state name, followed by territories. The FIPS code that corresponds with an examinee’s county of residence must be entered in Box 21 on the answer document. The county of residence is where the examinee has his/her permanent home. If any examinees are in a temporary housing situation, such as college students living in on-or off-campus housing, active duty military personnel currently deployed or living outside of the country, seasonal workers living in temporary housing, inmates, or any others in similar housing situations, they should select their county of residence as the county where their permanent–not temporary–home is located. Pretest Procedures (Prepping the Test Area) In addition to established protocols for ACT WorkKeys tests, the test coordinator shall post the FIPS codes of surrounding counties on a board to assist the examinees in easily entering the

FAQs

What is the purpose of completing Box 21 for ACT WorkKeys?

Box 21 captures county-level demographic data so ACT can gather meaningful information and support analysis used by states and counties for economic development. Accurate completion helps ensure integrity and validity of the data collected.

Which FIPS code should examinees enter into Box 21?

Examinees should enter the FIPS code that corresponds to their county of residence. The county of residence is where the examinee has a permanent home, not temporary housing.

What quality assurance rules apply to Box 21 during testing?

Box 21 demographic data should not be filled before the examinee arrives, not filled after testing if it was not done correctly and/or completely, and not altered after the examinee has completed it.

Oct 9, 2026

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