With the recent increase in the number of students wishing to enter vocational programs and the increased pressure on accountability and efficiency, vocational educators need to reexamine their policies regarding the selection and admission of students. Several considerations that complicate these decisions are (1) open-door policies that exist in some states; (2) selection of students on the basis of their potential for employment in a training-related occupation; (3) varying philosophies of selection and admission; (4) scarcity of studies in this area since 1972; and (5) the effect affirmative action laws have had on policies and testing. Among main topics discussed are basic strategies underlying studies to identify selection and admission criteria and a review of the literature of prediction studies and classification studies. Results of the literature review are mixed, depending upon whether one is speaking of predictive studies or classification studies. But there appears to be promise for predicting success by using information classification methodologies. Before using the conclusions of past research in developing future policies, though, it is important to remember that much of the research of the past was done before affirmative action legislation raised the issues of sex bias, race bias, or representation of the handicapped and disadvantaged. (CT)