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Career and Technical Education

The purpose of this web page is to provide a general overview of the common elements of all career and technical education programs in the public school system, as well as how programs become vocationally approved.

Why Should High School Students Take Career Tech Classes? (pdf presentation)

Common Elements of Career and Technical Education Programs

Simply put, high school career and technical education programs prepare students for work and the next step of education or training necessary. In order to reach these twin goals, all career and technical programs strive to provide students with the following sets of skills:

Vocational education provides preparation for success in all occupational areas, and is appropriate for all students. career and technical education:

Career and technical education is an essential component of the comprehensive public education system, and is in complete harmony with school district mission statements, vision statements, and strategic planning goals and objectives.

Career and technical education is also a critical partner in the education reform effort in Washington state, coordinated through the Commission on Student Learning. One of the four main goals of the Education Reform Act of 1993 (HB1209) states that students should ..."understand the importance of work, and how effort, performance and decisions directly affect future career and educational opportunities." career and technical education also provides relevant application of the basic academic skills identified in goals one and two of HB 1209. In fact, many career and technical courses offer so much instruction in basic skills they have been granted "equivalency" credit. In other words, students can fulfill high school graduation requirements in English, math, science, or social studies through successful completion of certain career and technical courses.

How Do Programs Become Vocationally Certified?

  1. Instructors Must Have Vocational Teaching Certificates
    Vocational teacher candidates must have a college degree in vocational education and at least 2000 hours of paid work experience in the career area they hope to teach;
    -or-
    Over 6000 hours of industry training and work experience beyond the "journey" level and several vocational education teaching courses.
  2. Instructional Programs Must Be Vocationally Approved By the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).
    For OSPI approval, career and technical programs must:
    • Incorporate student leadership development instructional activities for all students.
    • Be planned and operated with the assistance of career and technical advisory committees(employers and employees from business and industry). Each career and technical program has a separate advisory committee with representatives from the specific career areas taught, and the school district as a whole has an overall career and technical advisory council. These committees and the council meet with school representatives several times every year.
    • Use instructional equipment and facilities comparable to those used in the workplace.
    • Provide career development and guidance for all students.
    • Be limited in the number of students enrolled per class. The limiting factors include the number of safe working stations, type of equipment, and course content considerations.

    Contact Information:

    Mailing Address:
    Career & Technical Education
    1113 Legion Way SE
    Olympia, WA 98501

    Voice: 360.596-6102 / Fax: 360.596.6105

    Brad Hooper, Director 596-6109

    Mary Southon, Program Support 596-6107