Career & Technical Education (CTE)

Explore Careers. Build Skills. Prepare for the Future.

Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs give students the opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world careers and practical skills. Through hands-on experiences, career-focused coursework, and opportunities to explore specific industries, students can begin preparing for life after high school while still completing their high school education.

CTE is not simply job training. These programs are designed to help students develop a combination of technical knowledge, academic skills, workplace readiness, and career awareness that can support many different postsecondary paths.

Students may use their CTE experience to prepare for:

• Direct entry into the workforce

• College or university

• Career and technical schools

• Apprenticeships

• Industry training programs

• Professional certifications

• Military careers

• Entrepreneurship

Why Consider a CTE Program?

CTE programs can be a great fit for students who enjoy learning through practical, hands-on experiences and want to explore how their interests connect to real careers.

Depending on the program, students may have opportunities to:

• Learn skills used in a specific career field

• Work with industry-related tools, technology, and equipment

• Explore careers before committing to a college major or training program

• Develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills

• Build communication, teamwork, and leadership skills

• Gain experience that can strengthen a résumé

• Learn professional workplace expectations

• Connect academic learning to real-world situations

• Prepare for industry certifications or additional training

• Begin building a network of career-related experiences and contacts

For some students, a CTE experience helps confirm a career goal. For others, it helps them discover that a particular field is not the right fit. Both can be valuable outcomes.

CTE Can Lead to Many Different Paths

One of the biggest misconceptions about Career & Technical Education is that it is only for students who plan to enter the workforce immediately after high school.

In reality, CTE can support a wide range of future plans.

A student interested in engineering, for example, may continue to a four-year university.

A student interested in accounting may pursue a college degree in business or finance.

A student exploring rehabilitation or health-related careers may continue into a healthcare training program or college major.

A student studying agriculture may pursue employment, certification, technical training, or a degree in agriculture, environmental science, or a related field.

A student interested in education may continue into a teacher-preparation program.

CTE gives students a chance to begin exploring those possibilities before graduation.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Career & Technical Education emphasizes the kinds of skills employers and postsecondary programs value.

Students may develop:

Technical Skills
Knowledge and abilities directly related to a career field.

Employability Skills
Reliability, communication, teamwork, professionalism, responsibility, and problem-solving.

Career Awareness
A better understanding of career expectations, working conditions, education requirements, and advancement opportunities.

Confidence
Experience using skills in authentic and meaningful situations.

These experiences can help students make more informed decisions about what they want to do after high school.

Is CTE Right for Me?

CTE may be a good option if you:

• Enjoy hands-on learning

• Have a career field you want to explore

• Want to gain practical experience before graduation

• Want to connect your coursework to real-world careers

• Are interested in developing technical or professional skills

• Want to prepare for college, training, employment, or an apprenticeship

• Learn best by doing

Students do not need to have their entire future planned before entering a CTE program.

That is part of the purpose of career exploration.

Central Columbia CTE Opportunities

Central Columbia High School offers CTE opportunities in several career areas, including:

• Accounting

• Agricultural Mechanization

• Agricultural Operations & Related Services

• Education

• Emerging Digital Media & Communication Technologies

• Engineering

• Rehabilitation Aide

Each program gives students an opportunity to explore a specific career area in greater depth while developing skills that can carry into future education, training, or employment.

Accounting
The accounting program is designed for students who are considering pursuing careers in: Accounting, Business Management, Economics, Marketing, and Sales. Students in this program will learn skills such as: using generally accepted accounting principles, following the steps of the accounting cycle, entering transactions into journals, posting transactions to accounts, transferring data to general ledgers, balancing records, compiling financial statements, and preparing tax reports.

Related Student Club:

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is the student organization that is affiliated with the accounting program. FBLA members prepare for, and compete in, events that are directly related to the content that is taught in the technical courses in the program. Some examples of competitive events are: Accounting I, Advertising, Public Speaking, Sales Presentation, Social Media Strategies, Sports & Entertainment Management, and Spreadsheet Applications. Students have the opportunity to compete as individuals or teams in regional, state, and national FBLA competitions. FBLA members devote a significant amount of time to volunteering in the local community at places such as: AGAPE, Berwick Retirement Village, and Camp Victory.

Agricultural Mechanization

The Agricultural Mechanization program prepares students for the 'hands-on' side of agriculture. The students learn how to sell, select, service agriculture or agribusiness technical equipment and facilities. The students in this program are prepared for careers as: farm equipment mechanic, service technician, tractor mechanic, shop mechanic, agricultural technician, grain merchandiser, grain buyer, grain division manager, grain origination specialist, farm marketer, or purchasing agent. Students in this program will learn content including: power and machinery, welding and mechanics, agricultural structures, electrical power and process, agribusiness, environmental and natural resource systems, safety, and careers in Agriculture Mechanics.

Related Student Club:

Future Farmers of America (FFA) is the student organization that is affiliated with the Agricultural Mechanization program. FFA members prepare for and compete in both leadership development events (as individuals) and career development events (as teams). These events that are directly related to the content that is taught in the technical courses in the program. CCHS FFA members compete in leadership development events such as: Safe Tractor/Equipment Driving, Prepared Public Speaking, Agricultural Sales, and Parliamentary Procedure. CCHS FFA members compete in career development events such as Small Gas Engines and Ag Technology/Mechanical Systems. Students have the opportunity to compete in regional, state, and national FFA competitions. Another important component of FFA is community service. FFA members devote a significant amount of time to volunteering in the local community at the EOS Therapeutic Riding Center and the John Buck Memorial Food Cupboard.

Agricultural Operations and Related Services

The Agricultural Sciences program prepares students for the 'scientific' side of agriculture. The students learn how to: calculate net worth, maintain machinery, administer an injection, determine genotypes/phenotypes, compute acreage, and identify crop leaves. The students in this program are prepared for careers as: farmers, veterinarians, game commission officers, wildlife biologists, forest rangers, and researchers. Students in this program will learn content including: plant, animal and soil sciences, principles of ecology and resource management, forestry, hydrology, principles of electronics, blueprint reading, and engine maintenance and repair.

Related Student Club:

Future Farmers of America (FFA) is the student organization that is affiliated with the Agricultural Sciences program. FFA members prepare for and compete in both leadership development events (as individuals) and career development events (as teams). These events that are directly related to the content that is taught in the technical courses in the program. CCHS FFA members compete in leadership development events such as Parliamentary Procedure and Prepared Public Speaking. CCHS FFA members compete in career development events such as: Dairy Cattle Evaluation & Management, Floriculture, Horse Evaluation and Livestock Evaluation. Students have the opportunity to compete in regional, state, and national FFA competitions. Another important component of FFA is community service. FFA members devote a significant amount of time to volunteering in the local community at the EOS Therapeutic Riding Center and the John Buck Memorial Food Cupboard.

Education

The Education Career and Technical Program at CCHS is designed for students who are considering pursuing careers in the field of education such as Pre-School/Elementary/Middle/High School Teachers, Guidance Counselors, School Librarians, Speech and Occupational Therapists, etc. Students in this program will first explore child development, the requirements to become a teacher, the various careers within education, how education has evolved throughout history, and the basics of what goes on “behind the scenes” within a school system. Students will also participate in a Clinical experience where they have the opportunity to rotate through various grade levels and classrooms for observations.  In the second year of the program, students will learn about lesson planning, understanding curriculum/standards, classroom management, students with developmental disabilities, and can, during a Co-Op experience, spend an extended time each day in a classroom throughout the year.

Related Student Club:

The official club of this program is FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America).

However, this program also attends functions organized by the club/organization, Educators Rising, which students can also join. Educators Rising is strictly focused on future educators while education is one small piece of FCCLA.

Emerging Digital Media & Communication Technologies

The Emerging Digital Media and Communications Technology program is designed for students who are considering pursuing careers in: Broadcasting, Television Production, Graphic Design, Website Design, Digital Photography, and Marketing. Students in this program will learn skills such as: using graphic design software, operating digital cameras, editing digital images, creating webpages, creating/editing video footage, producing video footage, developing storyboards and shotlists, operating videocameras, producing content for video displays, operating video displays at live events, and developing and presenting advertisements.

Related Student Club:

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is the student organization that is affiliated with the Emerging Digital Media and Communications Technologies program. FBLA members prepare for, and compete in, events that are directly related to the content that is taught in the technical courses in the program. Some examples of competitive events are: Advertising, Broadcast Journalism, Digital Video Production, Graphic Design, Marketing, Public Service Announcement, Publication Design, and Website Design. Students have the opportunity to compete as individuals or teams in regional, state, and national FLBA competitions. FBLA members devote a significant amount of time to volunteering in the local community at places such as: AGAPE, Berwick Retirement Village, and Camp Victory.

Engineering

The engineering program is designed for students who are considering pursuing careers as: Engineers, Engineering Techs, CNC Machinists, CNC Programmers, Industrial Engineers, Manufacturing Engineers and Architects. Students in this program will learn to use: precision measurement instruments, CAD software, MIG/TIG welders, CNC machinery, 3D printers and Fanuc Robots. Students in this program will learn content in: basic electricity and electronics; graphics and modeling; problem solving/design process/teamwork; engineering mechanics; manufacturing/manufacturing systems; materials; power/energy/green technology and engineering fundamentals and safety.

Related Student Club:

Technology Student Association (TSA) is the student organization that is affiliated with the engineering program. TSA members prepare for, and compete in, events that are directly related to the content that is taught in the technical courses in the program. CCHS TSA members compete in competitive events such as: Architectural Design, CO2 Dragster, Computer Integrated Machining, Material Processing and Technology Problem Solving. Students have the opportunity to compete as individuals or teams in regional, state, and national TSA competitions. 

Medical Sciences

The Medical Sciences program is designed for students who are considering pursuing careers as: Nurses, Doctors, Physical Therapists, Emergency Medical Technicians, Physical Education Teachers, Athletic Trainers and Personal Trainers. Students in this program will learn to use: heart rate monitors, stethoscopes, thermometers, balance scales, goniometers, crutches, spine boards, pre-wrap, tape and AEDs. Students in this program will learn content in: anatomy/physiology/pathophysiology; medical terminology; emergency care; infection control; exercise science and prescription; injury prevention and rehabilitation; nutrition and hydration; organizational and professional health and wellbeing; human development and mental health; documentation, legal and ethical issues.

Related Student Club:

Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) is the student organization that is affiliated with the Medical Sciences Program. HOSA members prepare for, and compete in, events that are directly related to the content that is taught in the technical courses in the program. CCHS HOSA members can compete in competitive events such as: Medical Terminology; Pathophysiology; and Sports Medicine. Students have the opportunity to compete as individuals or teams in state and national HOSA competitions.