Why CTE is Right for You
You might be wondering if Career & Technical Education (CTE) is for you. Yes. That’s a confident answer because CTE offers a wide range of programs where students with a huge variety of interests can gain real-world education and experience to prepare for the future.
What is CTE?
The explanation really is in the name. CTE programs are designed to provide technical, hands-on knowledge to help students prepare for a career or get a jumpstart on college so that they graduate confident and ready to take the next steps.
Most people think of trade skills in the automotive and manufacturing industries associated with CTE. These are popular programs, but CTE also offers classes in health science, digital media, culinary arts, and more.
Learn what it’s really like
The only real way to know if a career is right for you is to try it out. CTE programs put you into real-world scenarios so that learning is paired with doing. You get to work with updated equipment and machinery used in each subject area, so your skills translate easily from the classroom to the job.
College or no college — both work with CTE
Some CTE programs set you up for a job right after graduation. With others, you’ll only need a few credits to complete your certificate at a postsecondary institution, or you can earn college credits to shorten the time it takes to get a 2- or 4-year degree.
How to choose a career pathway
Analyze
See which pathways rank highest for you by taking our career interest survey.
Research
Explore information about different pathways, including course requirements, certifications, and more.
Locate
Find a program near you.
Contact
Talk to your school counselor, contact a tech center, or send us a message.
Find your tech center
Ready to get started?
To find programs near you, you can select your school from our Sending School list. Then, you’ll be able to see which tech centers are near you and which programs they offer.