What is Career Technical Education (CTE)?

Career and Technical Education has a long and rich history in the United States. Today’s CTE has evolved from a limited number of vocational programs available at the turn of the 20th century into a broad system that encompasses a variety of challenging fields in diverse subject areas which are constantly evolving due to the changing global economy.

• Career and technical education prepares both youth and adults for a wide range of careers and further educational opportunities. These careers may require varying levels of education—including industry-recognized credentials, postsecondary certificates, and two- and four-year degrees.

• CTE is offered in middle schools, high schools, area career and technical centers, community and technical colleges, and other postsecondary institutions.

• The most recent Report to Congress on the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act revealed that approximately 14 million students participated in secondary and postsecondary CTE programs during the 2007–2008 school year.

• According to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE), almost all high school students take at least one CTE course, and one in four students take three or more courses in a single program area. One-third of college students are involved in CTE programs, and as many as 40 million adults engage in short-term postsecondary occupational training.

• CTE is at the forefront of preparing students to be “college- and career-ready.” CTE equips students with:
  1. core academic skills and the ability to apply those skills to concrete situations in order to function in the workplace and in routine daily activities
  2. employability skills (such as critical thinking and responsibility) that are essential in any career area
  3. job-specific, technical skills related to a specific career pathway

• Within CTE, occupations and career specialties are grouped into “Career Clusters.” Each of the 16 clusters is based on a set of common knowledge and skills that prepare learners for a full range of opportunities.

• Further specialization is achieved through comprehensive Programs of Study, which align academic and technical content in a coordinated, non-duplicative sequence of secondary and postsecondary courses, and lead to an industry-recognized credential or certificate at the postsecondary level, or an associate or baccalaureate degree.

• Career and technical student organizations (CTSOs) are an integral part of CTE. CTSOs prepare young people to become productive citizens and leaders in their communities by providing unique programs of career and leadership development, motivation, and recognition for students enrolled, or previously enrolled, in CTE programs.