Career Technical Education (CTE)
The National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc) was established in 1920 to represent the state and territory heads of secondary, postsecondary and adult Career Technical Education (CTE) across the nation. NASDCTEc's vision is to support an innovative CTE system that prepares individuals to succeed in education and their careers and poises the United States to flourish in a global, dynamic economy through leadership, advocacy and partnerships.
Career Technical Education (CTE) provides students of all ages with the academic and technical skills, knowledge and training necessary to succeed in future careers and to become lifelong learners. In total, about 12.5 million high school and college students are enrolled in CTE across the nation. The high school graduation rate for CTE concentrators is about 90% – 15 percentage points higher than the national average.
The National Career Clusters® Framework provides a vital structure for organizing and delivering quality CTE programs through learning and comprehensive programs of study. In total, there are 16 Career Clusters in the National Career Clusters Framework, representing more than 79 Career Pathways to help students navigate their way to greater success in college and career.
Examples of CTE Careers
This article will be covering the following careers:
| Career | Avg Salary | Satisfaction | Your Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farm Manager | $78k | 3.7/5 | |
| Architect | $92k | 3.2/5 | |
| Journalist | $41k | 3.5/5 | |
| Administrative Assistant | $41k | 2.7/5 | |
| Teacher | $68k | 3.1/5 | |
| Accountant | $84k | 2.6/5 | |
| Ambassador | ?? | 3.7/5 | |
| Occupational Therapist | $89k | 3.0/5 | |
| Tour Guide | $26k | 3.6/5 | |
| Social Worker | $63k | 2.9/5 | |
| Multimedia Animator | $86k | 3.6/5 | |
| Lawyer | $148k | 2.7/5 | |
| Welder | $48k | 3.2/5 | |
| Entrepreneur | $83k | 4.0/5 | |
| Geologist | $104k | 3.3/5 | |
| Air Traffic Controller | $128k | 3.3/5 |
Are these careers suited to you? Our comprehensive career test measures your personality traits and interests and matches you to over 800 careers.
1. Farm Manager
A farm manager is responsible for the management and general maintenance of a farm. On a crop farm, a farm manager will supervise the fertilizing, planting, spraying, cultivating and harvesting procedures of crops. On a livestock farm, he or she will supervise the general care of the animals and be diligent in the control of illnesses.
Farm Manager
A farm manager is responsible for managing the many aspects of making a farm run smoothly.
2. Architect
Architects are not just involved in the design of a building. As a licensed professional they are also responsible for public safety and overseeing of projects. Their role is important in every stage of the building's construction, from the initial concept to the opening ceremony when the building is complete.
Architect
An architect is responsible for the design, planning, and supervision of the construction of buildings and other physical structures.
3. Journalist
A journalist is someone who investigates, collects and presents information as a news story. This can be presented through newspapers, magazines, radio, television and the internet. Journalists are relied upon to present news in a well-rounded, objective manner.
Journalist
A journalist is trained to gather, analyze, and report on news and current events.
4. Administrative Assistant
An administrative assistant, sometimes referred to as an office clerk, secretary, or receptionist, is someone who performs routine clerical and organizational tasks. They organize files, draft messages, schedule appointments and support other staff.
Administrative Assistant
An administrative assistant maintains the smooth operation of an organization by providing comprehensive administrative support.
5. Teacher
A teacher not only teaches, but inspires and encourages students to be their best. School is not only a place of academic learning, but of social learning as well, and will have an effect on how students interact with others in the future. Whether teaching kindergarten, music, physical education or special education, a teacher is someone that students look up to and aspire to be like.
Teacher
A teacher facilitates and guides the educational and personal development of students.
6. Accountant
An accountant is one of the main players in any business that he or she works for, whether it is a large corporation or a small business. Using numbers and financial statements, an accountant describes the health of a company, organization or individual, by using their skills in math, accounting, law and finance.
Accountant
An accountant is a professional who is responsible for managing financial records and ensuring compliance with tax laws and regulations.
7. Ambassador
An ambassador is a diplomatic representative that attends international meetings, banquets and parties and acts as a figurehead for their country of origin. The foreign country, known to ambassadors as the host nation, serves as their base of operation for promoting international relations while concentrating on specific areas of government, including trade, military involvement and cultural relationships.
Ambassador
An ambassador is a high-ranking diplomatic representative who is appointed by a country's government to represent their interests in a foreign country.
8. Occupational Therapist
An occupational therapist is someone who treats patients with injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They help these patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working.
Occupational Therapist
An occupational therapist (OT) works with individuals of all ages and abilities to help them participate in meaningful activities or occupations that are important to them.
9. Tour Guide
Tour guides work in the travel industry, giving guided tours to groups of visitors. They are experts on the history of the location and offer their tour groups interesting or enlightening information about points of interest at nature attractions, historic sites, museums, scenic locations, and other travel destinations.
Tour Guide
A tour guide provides assistance, information, and guidance to individuals or groups of tourists during their travels.
10. Social Worker
There are two main types of social workers: direct-service social workers, who help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives, and clinical social workers, who diagnose and treat mental, behavioural, and emotional issues. A social worker can work in a variety of settings, including mental health clinics, schools, hospitals, and private practices.
Social Worker
Social workers are dedicated to helping people overcome personal and societal obstacles by providing support, resources, and advocacy.
11. Multimedia Animator
A multimedia animator creates animation and visual effects for television, movies, video games, and other media. They create two- and three-dimensional models and animation. Although most multimedia artists are self-employed, some work directly for the motion picture and video industry.
Multimedia Animator
A multimedia animator creates animation and visual effects for various multimedia applications, such as video games, television shows, movies, advertisements, and websites.
12. Lawyer
A lawyer's obligation is to uphold the law while also protecting their client's rights. Some duties commonly associated with a lawyer include: providing legal advice and counsel, researching and gathering information or evidence, drawing up legal documents related to divorces, wills, contracts and real estate transactions, and prosecuting or defending in court.
Lawyer
A lawyer has been trained in the law and is licensed to provide legal advice and representation to clients.
13. Welder
A welder is a skilled tradesman who joins metal together, or fills and repairs holes on metal constructions through the use of intense heat and gas. Welders work on all types of industrial, manufacturing, and construction applications; some even work underwater to repair oil rig foundations, ship hulls and other types of subaquatic structures.
Welder
A welder specializes in joining metal parts together using various welding techniques.
14. Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur refers to a person who has an innovative business idea, who is willing to take the risk of implementing the idea, and who also takes on the role as leader of the company or organization - assuming full responsibility for its execution, success, or failure.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is a person who creates a new business venture, takes financial risks, and assumes responsibility for the success or failure of that venture.
15. Geologist
Geology is a study that encompasses all the materials that make up the earth, the forces that act upon the earth, as well as the biology of ancestral inhabitants based on fossil records. A geologist is someone who works to understand the history of the planet we live on, to better predict the future and explain current occurrences.
Geologist
A geologist studies the Earth, its history, and the processes that shape and change it.
16. Air Traffic Controller
An air traffic controller is an individual responsible for directing aircraft in an orderly manner within the global air traffic control system. Each specific sector of airspace is controlled by at least one air traffic controller, often through the use of radar, which gives a greater volume of traffic to the sector.
Air Traffic Controller
An air traffic controller is responsible for ensuring the safe and efficient movement of aircraft in the airspace.