Career and Technical Education Courses

Welcome to Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Hillsborough County Public Schools, home to more than 400 unique CTE courses encompassed in the 17 career clusters. Our CTE programs are taught throughout our 28 high schools and 4 Career Centers, and include 47 CTE middle school programs. 

What is a CTE Program of Study?

A program of study is a series of courses that start in middle school or 9th grade and ends with an associate degree, a baccalaureate degree, or an industry-recognized certification or licensure. These courses are designed to be challenging and include academic, technical education, and career training.

The list in the Resources section contains links to all of the CTE Programs of Study that are aligned to the target industries and occupations of the District. This listing assists students and parents in deciding which CTE programs to study at the middle school or high school levels. It also assists schools in deciding what CTE programs for  students they might wish to offer. Lastly, it allows the school district to determine whether a new career and technical education course may need to be developed to serve a target industry or occupation.

CTE Programs for Middle and High School Students

CTE programs for high school students and middle school students are part of an overall program of study designed to prepare students to be successful in a rapidly changing workforce and equip them to make informed decisions about future college and career pathways. Career and technical education courses and programs offer middle school and high school students opportunities to earn highly valued industry certifications and to develop a multitude of skills while experiencing rigorous curriculum with real world applications. CTE High School students who complete a Program of Study are eligible for many scholarships, including the Gold Seal Bright Futures Scholarship.

In high school, Career and Technical Education offers students the chance to delve into a specific career theme while acquiring a blend of technical and employability skills that align with or enhance their academic pursuits. The goal of high school CTE is to establish connections with and pave the way for postsecondary educational programs or further training beyond high school. This may encompass more specialized technical training, ultimately leading to postsecondary degrees, certificates, apprenticeships, or employment opportunities.

CTE Programs for High School Students and Middle School Students in Hillsborough County, non-discrimination policies:

Hillsborough County Public Schools offers CTE programs for high school students and middle school students as described within this website, including career academies wherein students may earn industry certification. Lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation. The district may assess each student’s ability to benefit from specific career and technical education courses through placement tests and counseling, and, if necessary, will provide services or referrals to better prepare students for successful participation.

The district prohibits discrimination in the terms and conditions of employment, and in access to educational programs and activities, as described in the Non-Discrimination Statement within the Notices section contained in the blue banner at the bottom of this page.

Hillsborough County Public Schools has over 400 unique middle and high school courses in Career and Technical Education, which range across 17 career clusters. These courses take place in a wide variety of environments, from the agricultural field to the professional kitchen, and from the computer lab to the health science clinical site.

All courses are built on the framework provided by the Florida Department of Education. The CTE Program Supervisors work with instructors to develop a scope and sequence document for each course. This document provides a structure to the pacing of course content, and links to the district resources for a given topic.

A complete list of courses and schools can be located in the Middle School CTE Guide and Secondary CTE Guide, which are available on the Documents & Forms link.

Industry certifications are an important component of Career and Technical Education Programs of Study as demonstrated evidence of technical skill attainment. There are numerous benefits of students earning industry certifications:

• Students who earn a certification feel a sense of accomplishment, have a competitive edge upon graduation and become more marketable in their career.
• Research indicates students who attain industry certifications earn more money over the course of their careers than those lacking industry recognized certifications.
• Success in specified Industry Certifications can earn articulated credit to community colleges
• Students earning industry certifications will receive the “merit” diploma designation
• Industry Certifications count towards the acceleration component of Florida’s School Accountability System (School Grade)

Industry Certifications are integrated in the curriculum of specific CTE courses which are designated as “career-themed courses”. This is a list of some of the Industry Certifications available to Career and Technical education students.

• Adobe Certified Associate-Dreamweaver
• Adobe Certified Associate-Flash
• Adobe Certified Associate-Photoshop
• Adobe Certified Associate-Illustrator
• Adobe Certified Associate-InDesign
• Adobe Certified Associate-Premiere Pro
• Agricultural Biotechnology Certification
• Agricultural Technician Certification
• Apple Final Cut Pro
• AutoDesk Certified User – AutoCAD
• Certified Food Protection Manager
• Certified Horticulture Professional
• Certified Medical Administrative Assistant
• Certified Nursing Assistant
• Certified Solidworks Associate
• Certified Veterinary Assistant
• Certified Welder
• CIW Internet Business Associate
• CIW Site Development Associate
• CompTIA A+
• Certified EKG Technician
• Engineering Core Certification
• Florida Automotive Dealers Association Certified Technician
• Microsoft Office Specialist
• Microsoft Office Master
• National Restaurant Association ProStart Certificate of Achievement

Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO’s) are student member organizations aligned to career clusters that provide middle and high school students in CTE Programs with meaningful career learning and preparation activities, competition, scholarships, and internship opportunities. These include competitions at the local, state, and/or national levels; and multiple community service, leadership, and networking opportunities.

Hillsborough County Public Schools support nine CTSO district organizations, most of which have district, county, state, and/or national affiliation organizations. These include:

• DECA (For Finance, Marketing & Hospitality Students)
• Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
• Family, Career & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)
• FFA (For Agribusiness Students)
• Florida Public Service Association (FPSA)
• Future Educators Association (FEA)
• HOSA (For Health Science Students)
• SkillsUSA (For Industrial and Cosmetology Students)
• Technology Student Association (TSA)

Career Dual Enrollment is an option for secondary students to pursue in order to earn postsecondary credit while still in their high school Career and Technical Education program. Students will receive a technical college credit for each passed course which will count towards his/her high school diploma.

Here are just some of the benefits of dual enrollment:

• There is no cost to students, as tuition, registration and instructional materials are provided.
• Students receive both high school credit toward graduation and credit toward a postsecondary adult technical program.
• If a student enrolls in a Hillsborough Technical College after high school graduation, the Career Dual Enrollment credit will significantly reduce the cost and training time.
• The Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship can be used at the adult technical colleges for students who meet eligibility requirements.
• Federal financial aid is available at these adult technical colleges.

For more information, please contact Marilyn Craig at (813) 231-1912

Business partners are vital to the success of Career and Technical Education programs. Many CTE programs will hold regular Business Advisory Meetings, whose goal is to provide real-world industry perspective, which helps to shape overall program curriculum. Businesses are involved with Career and Technical Education in a variety of ways, which include:

• Attending Advisory Board Meetings to provide feedback to teachers and administrators about curriculum and industry trends
• Serving as guest speakers to CTE Classes
• Participating as judges at Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) activities
• Hosting Career Exploration Visits and Job Shadow Events which provide students with first-hand knowledge of their industry
• Hiring student interns who are immersed in the industry for a short period of time to learn fundamentals skills

If you represent an organization who would like to participate in CTE Programs, please contact the CTE Office at (813) 231-1860.