What is CTE?
Career and Technical Education (CTE) provides multiple pathways to a wide range of in-demand careers with competitive salaries. Available to high school students and adults, CTE courses combine rigorous academics with technical skills in hands-on learning environments. CTE programs partner with businesses, industry leaders, and post-secondary institutions to provide opportunities for students to succeed in both the workforce and post-secondary education.
According to the U.S. Department of Education Career Technical Education Data Story, 2019: “At the high school level, CTE provides students with opportunities to explore a career theme of interest while learning a set of technical and employability skills that integrate into or complement their academic studies. High school CTE is meant to connect with and lead to postsecondary programs of study or additional training after high school, which may include more specialized technical instruction. These pathways can culminate in postsecondary degrees or certificates, apprenticeships, or employment.”
CTE Pathways
Career Technical Education (CTE) is a program of study that involves a multi-year sequence of courses that integrates core academic knowledge with technical and occupational knowledge to provide students with a pathway to post-secondary education and careers.
Under the CTE model, jobs and careers are organized into broad categories called Industry Sectors. Within each sector are more narrowly defined subcategories called Career Pathways. Learn more about our Industry Sectors and Career Pathways below. Click here to view the California CTE Model Curriculum Standards.
What is an Apprenticeship?
Apprenticeship is a model of workforce training that allows employees to earn while they learn. These programs generally last from one to six years and include a combination of on-the-job training and formal classroom instruction. Registered apprentices earn progressively increasing wages and an industry-recognized credential. Apprenticeships can be overseen either by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship or by a State Apprenticeship Agency, while employers and other sponsors administer individual apprenticeship programs. The apprenticeship system is evolving to meet the needs of today’s—and tomorrow’s—economy. The two significant goals that have emerged involve broadening the roles of apprenticeship partners and increasing college credit earned through apprenticeships. Community colleges are natural partners in these efforts because apprenticeship programs offer a way to stay relevant to the future of work and education at a time of declining enrollment in technical programs (Browning, Nickoli 2017)
Apprenticeship Opportunities
Please find apprenticeship opportunities from local and regional Union and Trade Associations below.
Bay Area Community College Consortium: Apprenticeship Programs (New and continuously being updated)