The Center for Work Ethic Development

What The Center for Work Ethic Development does

The Center for Work Ethic Development is closely associated with Aztec Software, LLC, a New Jersey-based for-profit educational content company founded in 1980 that operates the Bring Your 'A' Game curriculum and the Certificate of Work Ethic Proficiency national certification exam, which participants earn by scoring 90% on the Work Ethic Proficiency Exam demonstrating mastery of seven foundational workplace behaviors (Attitude, Attendance, Appearance, Ambition, Acceptance, Appreciation, and Accountability). The company has operated for over 40 years and positions itself as a mission-driven adult learning provider serving adult basic education (ABE) schools, community colleges, correctional facilities, American Job Centers, alternative and continuation high schools, public libraries, and employers.

The company's core product is a multi-modal adult learning platform spanning 11 portfolio categories: Adult Basic Education (Fundamentals, Foundations, Bridge series, A TUTOR for CASAS/TABE, Steck-Vaughn Pre-GED), High School Equivalency (Kaplan GED Prep, HiSET, GED Flash, GED Play, Steck-Vaughn GED Prep), Career and Technical Education healthcare certifications (Pharmacy Technician, CBCS, CCMA, CMAA, Community Healthcare Worker), College Readiness (College Success, ACT Prep), Employability (Bring Your 'A' Game, Ready For Work, Digital Literacy), Workforce (Math for Trade Occupations), Life Skills and Reentry (225+ Life Skills Education modules, 57 reentry titles, 100-Hour Reentry Prerelease Program), Spanish-language instruction (ABE en Español, Spanish GED Series), Instructional Tools (Aztec Lecture, Locator Tests in English and Spanish), and Financial Wellness (Aztec Financial Wellness, iGrad, Enrich). Technology delivery spans digital, ePub, and print formats, with the Aztec Learning System supporting institutional LMS integration, real-time individual learning plans via CASAS Connects and TABE Connects, and live/recorded instruction through Aztec Lecture.

The business model combines recurring digital subscription revenue, one-time/perpetual print publication licenses, and transactional GED Ready Vouchers, with quote-based pricing not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is sales-led direct engagement with schools and organizations across the U.S., supplemented by an e-commerce storefront and institutional LMS integration. The company operates three primary DBA brands (Aztec Software, Paxen Publishing, Life Skills Education) under the legal entity Aztec Software, LLC, with a leadership team combining 80+ years of high-technology and educational experience.

Name

The Center for Work Ethic Development

Legal name

Aztec Software, LLC

Website

https://workethic.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Center for Work Ethic Development, operating alongside Aztec Software, LLC, delivers multi-modal adult education curricula including the Bring Your 'A' Game work ethic program and Certificate of Work Ethic Proficiency exam, serving ABE schools, community colleges, correctional facilities, American Job Centers, libraries, and employers across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Education Software and Curriculum

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Reading & Writing (Literacy) Materials (EDAGAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education & Instructional Practice Professional Development (EDAGANAL), Productivity & Office Software Skills (EDAAAIAC)

Keywords

• Adult basic education
• Workforce development curriculum
• GED test preparation
• Career certification training
• Digital learning platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Digital Learning Subscriptions and Licenses: Provides digital learning content through ePub format and online platforms including Aztec Learning System and Aztec Lecture for institutional LMS platforms.
2. Print Publications: Sells printed educational materials including workbooks, textbooks, curriculum guides, pretests, posttests, and skill books for adult education.
3. GED Ready Vouchers: Provides access to GED Ready test vouchers for exam preparation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Center for Work Ethic Development, operating primarily as Aztec Software, develops and sells digital and print educational content for adult basic education, high school equivalency (GED/HiSET) preparation, career and technical education, employability skills, life skills, and reentry programs. Its offerings include proprietary digital learning platforms (Aztec Learning System, Aztec Lecture, A TUTOR), ePub-format curricula, and print workbooks delivered primarily to schools, correctional facilities, American Job Centers, community colleges, libraries, and employers through institutional sales and an e-commerce storefront.

Product overview

Aztec Software offers a comprehensive, multi-modal adult learning platform comprising digital, print, and ePub educational products organized across 11 portfolio categories: Adult Basic Education (Fundamentals Series, Foundations Series, Bridge Series, A TUTOR for CASAS, A TUTOR for TABE, CASAS Connects, TABE Connects, Steck-Vaughn Pre GED, ESL Transitions, Steck-Vaughn Fundamental Skills), High School Equivalency (Kaplan GED, HiSET Kaplan Prep, GED Flash, GED Play, GED Ready Vouchers, Steck-Vaughn GED Prep, Steck-Vaughn Complete GED, GED for IET), College Readiness (College Success Series, ACT Prep Series), Career and Technical Education in Healthcare (Pharmacy Technician, CBCS, CCMA, CMAA, Community Healthcare Worker, Intro to Medical Terminology, Introduction to Healthcare Occupations), Workforce (Math for Trade Occupations, Financial Wellness), Employability (Bring Your 'A' Game, Bring Your 'A' Game Anywhere, Certificate of Work Ethic Proficiency, Digital Literacy Series, Ready For Work Series), Life Skills & Reentry (Life Skills Education Series with 225+ modules, Life Skills Reentry Series, 100-Hour Reentry Prerelease Program), Spanish Series (ABE en Español, Spanish GED Series, Steck-Vaughn Pre GED en Español, Life Skills Education Spanish Series), Instructional Tools (Aztec Lecture, Aztec Locator Tests), Financial Wellness (Aztec Financial Wellness, iGrad, Enrich), and Emerging 2025-2026 offerings (AI Literacy for the Workplace, Paraeducator, Entrepreneurship, Early Childhood Educator). The company also operates sub-brands Paxen Publishing and Life Skills Education. Products are delivered across multiple formats (digital, ePub, print) and are aligned to GED Testing Service, CASAS, TABE, HiSET, Northstar Digital Literacy, and OCTAE standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kaplan GED Prep: GED test preparation materials in partnership with Kaplan
• Bring Your 'A' Game
• Bring Your 'A' Game Anywhere
• Certificate of Work Ethic Proficiency
• GED Flash
• GED Play
• Aztec Financial Wellness
• Aztec Lecture
• Aztec Locator Test - English
• Aztec Locator Test - Spanish
• Aztec Pharmacy Technician
• Aztec Pharmacy Technician EXCEL
• Career Pathways

Products and services

• Fundamentals Series
• Foundations Series Digital series focused on Grade Level Equivalency 3.0-5.9 that builds upon basic skills in Reading, Language Arts, and Mathematics for adult learners.
• Bridge Series Digital curriculum with over 100 lessons in Reading, Language Arts, and Math correlated to College and Career Readiness Standards at Grade Level Equivalency 6.0-8.9.
• A TUTOR for CASAS Series Targeted digital instruction program for CASAS GOALS test success with a focus on Measurable Skill Gains (MSGs), delivered as ePub.
• A TUTOR for TABE Series Targeted digital instruction program for TABE test success that addresses TABE skill deficiencies.
• Kaplan GED Test Prep Digital GED Test preparation series developed with Kaplan, providing content and confidence-building instruction, yielding superior pass rates and available in digital, ePub, and print formats.
• GED Flash Online educational platform developed in partnership with GED Testing Service that allows learners to quickly review concepts in Reading Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies; research shows it improves test scores by 4 points.
• GED Play On-demand video learning program developed by GED Testing Service, Kaplan Test Prep, and Aztec Software, providing targeted video learning support across key GED measured skills.
• GED Ready Vouchers Official GED practice test vouchers with same-day scoring that provide timely feedback on the likelihood of passing the actual GED Test.
• HiSET Kaplan Prep Series Complete HiSET Test Preparation series developed in partnership with HiSET/PSI, providing learners with skills needed to pass the HiSET exam and obtain an HSE credential.
• Aztec Pharmacy Technician Interactive training program that fully prepares students to pass the national Pharmacy Technician certifying exam as part of the CTE healthcare certification portfolio.
• Healthcare Certification Programs (CBCS, CCMA, CMAA) Healthcare certification preparation covering Certified Billing & Coding Specialist (CBCS), Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) roles for medical coding, billing, and clinical support.
• Bring Your 'A' Game Instructor-led curriculum for developing foundational work skills employers demand, centered on Attitude, Attendance, Appearance, Ambition, Acceptance, Appreciation, and Accountability.
• Bring Your 'A' Game Anywhere Online self-directed e-learning curriculum for developing foundational work skills, supporting distance learning and helping job seekers elevate their work ethic.
• Certificate of Work Ethic Proficiency National certificate program in which participants scoring 90% on the Work Ethic Proficiency Exam demonstrate mastery of foundational workplace skills from the Bring Your 'A' Game curriculum.
• Life Skills Education Series Series of over 225 digital modules and print booklets covering coping skills for job searching, budgeting, reentry, military transition, and parenting for youth, young adults, and adults.
• Life Skills Reentry Series Series of 57 titles identified as crucial for pre-release individuals, assisting in preparing adults to navigate life's challenges and become lifelong learners.
• Spanish GED Series Spanish-language GED preparation methodology and materials, written by Spanish instructors for Spanish learners, contextualized for the Spanish GED Test; Aztec is the only preferred publisher partner for the Spanish GED Test.
• Aztec Lecture Instructional platform that allows instructors to utilize any Aztec content or other classroom content to provide live or recorded online instruction across all delivery modalities.
• Aztec Locator Test (English and Spanish) Placement assessment tool available in English and Spanish that assists instructors in placing students into the correct Aztec series based on individual academic skills.
• Aztec Financial Wellness Personal finance platform helping participants better understand how to manage their money, covering practical financial knowledge for everyday financial decisions.
• AI Literacy for the Workplace Digital learning course that prepares learners to understand, use, and evaluate artificial intelligence in real-world workplace settings.
• Paraeducator Digital learning course designed to prepare future paraeducators for success on the ParaPathways assessment.
• Community Healthcare Worker Digital learning course covering critical skills needed to support patients in settings like home health care, community clinics, and public health organizations.
• Math for Trade Occupations Digital learning course providing essential mathematical skills for success in the trades, covering calculations for site layouts, wiring, piping, and system installations.

Quantifiable outcome

• GED Flash improves test scores by 4 points
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• GED Testing ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGED Testing Service partnered with Aztec Software to develop GED Flash for quick concept review and GED Play as the only on-demand learning program. Aztec is the only preferred publisher partner for the Spanish GED Test.
• Kaplan Test PrepcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKaplan partnered with Aztec to provide the Kaplan Learning System Powered by Aztec for GED and HiSET test preparation. GED Play was developed by GED Testing Service, Kaplan Test Prep, and Aztec Software together.
• CASAS (Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems)coreTechnology or IntegrationAztec's A TUTOR for CASAS series provides targeted instruction for CASAS GOALS test success. CASAS Connects creates individual learning plans based on student data.
• TABE (Test for Adult Basic Education)coreTechnology or IntegrationA TUTOR for TABE series provides targeted instruction for TABE test success. TABE Connects creates individual learning plans based on real-time student data.
• HiSET (Educational Testing Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAztec developed HiSET test preparation series in partnership with HiSET/PSI, providing learners with skills needed to pass the exam.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• McGraw-Hill Education: Major educational publisher with adjacent adult and workforce assessment products — comparable publishing scale and institutional sales motion to Aztec's Steck-Vaughn and Kaplan-branded lines.
• Cengage: Education and workforce skills provider offering adult education, career certification, and digital learning content — directly comparable to Aztec's adult basic education and CTE/certification portfolio.
• Cambium Learning Group: Education solutions group including adult education and intervention brands (e.g., Voyager Sopris, Learning A-Z) — comparable to Aztec in adult ed content publishing with a wider portfolio across special education and literacy.
• Pearson Education: Global educational publisher and assessment company with adult education and HSE-related offerings — comparable to Aztec in adult learning content and institutional sales, at much broader scale.
• Edmentum: Large-scale digital curriculum provider serving K-12, adult education, and credit recovery — overlapping with Aztec's adult education, HSE prep, and digital learning platform offerings at a broader scale.
• Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: Large educational publisher serving K-12 and adult education markets with core subject and intervention content — overlaps with Aztec's adult literacy and core subject offerings.

Emerging players

• WorkKeys (ACT): Workforce skills assessment and certification system used by American Job Centers and workforce development programs — comparable to Aztec's employability, career certification, and workforce readiness positioning.

Direct peers

• New Readers Press (ProLiteracy): Adult literacy publisher producing ABE, ESL, and HSE prep materials for the same institutional channels (community colleges, correctional facilities, ABE programs) that Aztec serves — directly comparable portfolio and customer overlap.
• Essential Education: Direct competitor in adult HSE (GED/HiSET) test preparation, offering digital and print prep materials to adult education programs — directly comparable to Aztec's Kaplan GED Prep and Steck-Vaughn product lines.
• Burlington English: Provider of ESL and adult education digital learning solutions to adult basic education programs and correctional facilities — comparable to Aztec's ESL Transitions, ABE, and bilingual offerings for adult learners.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WorkEthicCenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/WorkEthicCenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Center for Work Ethic Development