FAQs about Career & Technical Education:
Who really benefits from CTE programs?
ALL STUDENTS interested in:
- Learning academic content through practical applications
- Life skills that apply to all careers
- Workplace readiness skills
- Focused high school studies that lead to a career
- Courses and programs that use industry-standard technology
- Great jobs with good pay and employee satisfaction
In many CTE programs, students also receive:
- First-hand experience in a career area while still in high
school
- A “leg-up” in college programs
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How can I begin exploring careers?
For general career information, check out these sites:
Click
here to explore specific careers. For information
on specific careers from each of the sites in this section,
search by Career Cluster under Start Exploring Careers
Here.
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How can I learn what careers might suit me best?
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What CTE programs are available to me?
Ask your guidance counselor to visit www.CareerProspects.org to
see what Career & Technical Education courses are available
in your high school, technical center, or community college.
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Do CTE programs affect my high school diploma?
You bet! CTE courses satisfy the diploma requirement for practical
arts and for elective credits.
The Standard Diploma requires
- one credit in fine arts or practical arts and
- six elective credits
The Advanced Studies Diploma requires
Plus:
- Certain licensure exams or industry certifications, taken
as part of the CTE program, may be counted as student-selected
VERIFIED CREDITS needed to graduate from high school. If the
CTE program sequence is completed, the student may earn an additional
VERIFIED CREDIT. Click
for more info (link opens a PDF document)
- You may qualify for a CTE seal on your Virginia high school
diploma. Click
for more info (link opens a PDF document).
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How can CTE programs help me get ahead while
I’m still in high school?
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What is the difference between CTE and Tech Prep?
CTE programs are an element of Tech Prep programs. A Tech Prep
program is a combined secondary and minimum of two-year postsecondary
seamless, integrated program of study with options for work-based
learning. TechPrep programs have a placement component that leads
to employment and further education, which may include a four-year
degree. Tech Prep students are enrolled in a sequence of Career
and Technical Education courses in high school that may lead to
internship, apprenticeship, and/or a two or four-year college degree.
Click
here for more information about TechPrep.
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What kind of work-based learning should I include
in my career exploration?
There’s nothing like on-the-job experience to help you
really understand an occupation or career. Some general sources
of information are listed below. Additional information can be
found within each career cluster under "Get Ready."
- Apprenticeships
Training programs that generally lead to employment upon
completion.
- Cooperative Learning
Cooperative Learning, an instructional method employed in some
CTE courses, allows students to earn while they learn. Students
are employed while in high school in jobs related to their
CTE program. Their employment is coordinated by their CTE instructor
and their employer and they earn credit for the work experience
and are paid for the hours worked. Cooperative education students
in Virginia earned over $46.5 million in 2003.
- Internships
Paid or non-paid, short-term jobs, meant to give high school
and college students a taste of a job or industry.
- Job Shadowing
Many employers participate in annual job shadowing events
as well as ongoing mentoring opportunities. For more information
you could contact a prospective employer directly, or click
here to see what opportunities are available in your area.
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What are the “hottest” jobs in Virginia?
There’s no sense in following a career path down a dead-end
road! Find out about the latest trends:
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What are some resources for finding a
job in Virginia?
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I want to continue my education beyond high
school. How will I pay for it?
Whatever you do, don’t let money issues keep you from following
a career path that involves training or college beyond high school.
There are plenty of options for loans, grants, etc. VirginiaCareerView.org
provides a good place to start.
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What student organizations can complement my CTE studies?
Leadership development and scholarships are available through
each related CTE student organization (shown in italics):
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