Your Dream Job:
Getting There Through Career and Technical Education
"Students who take CTE classes as well as academic classes in high school are better prepared for the working world, meet performance requirements of more employers, and earn higher salaries."
Eleni Papadakis, Executive Director, Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board
No matter what your dream, you can pursue it through Career and Technical Education (CTE), a program for middle and high school students in Washington's public schools. Through Career and Technical Education, you can explore career opportunities and learn how core school subjects like math, science and writing are used in real-life by:
- Engineers
- Architects
- Green technology experts
- Doctors, nurses and other health providers
- Construction workers
- Transportation experts
- And many other professionals
Check out the hundreds of career options available to you on the CTE Career Clusters pages.
Each year, thousands of CTE students graduate from high school with career goals, job skills and leadership skills knowing exactly where they will go next to further their academic and hands-on education and training. Find your passion and become one of those students! Learn more at Preparing for Your Future.
Students, parents, teachers and leaders across the state are excited about CTE's unique ability to prepare young people for current jobs and careers of the future. CTE advocates from the public and private sectors and in Washington, D.C., believe in CTE's power to:
- Give students skills they need to succeed
- Rebuild our state's economy
- Grow a new green economy
- Lower drop-out rates
Career Clusters : Health Sciences
Largest and fastest-growing industry in the United States.
This career cluster is organized into five career pathways:
- Biotechnology research and development
- Diagnostic services
- Health informatics
- Support services
- Therapeutic services
Students in health science learn and practice skills that prepare them for diverse post-high school education and training opportunities, from apprenticeships and two-year college programs to four-year college and graduate programs. more
Career Pathways: Help a Student Make a Plan Today....
Health Sciences Career Clusters
States' Career Clusters Initiative, 2009
www.careerclusters.org
The United States Department of Education recently established 16 broad Career Clusters that reflect a new direction for education. The State of Washington, Department of Education, Division of Career & Technical Education, in accordance with this unique plan, has indentified groups of occupations within these 16 categories that have similar attributes.
The Health Sciences / Allied Health cluster section can be used as an organizing factor to assist students, administrators, teachers, parents and counselors that work with students seeking professional goals.Visit the official website for the States' Career Clusters Initiative (SCCI). more
Help a student plan their Future, fill out a Course Planner / Program of Study for their courses in Middle School & High School!
The Career Clusters Interest Survey is a career guidance tool that allows individuals to respond to questions and identify the top three Career Clusters of interest based on their responses. This pencil/paper survey takes about fifteen minutes to complete and can be used in the classroom or for presentations with audiences who have an interest in career exploration.
Student Leadership Organizations
Skills USA - SkillsUSA is a national organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations, including health occupations.
More
WA Vocational Sports Medicine Association - The WVSMA is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring quality athletic medicine/healthcare at the secondary school levels, provided by an allied health care professional (NATA Certified Athletic Trainer) through the awareness and education of the public, school administrators, coaches, athletes and students.
Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
HOSA is a Career and Techical Student Organization (CTSO) recognized by the United States Department of Education that provides a unique program of leadership development, motivation and
recognition exclusively for secondary and post-secondary/ collegiate students enrolled in Health Science Technology Education programs.
HOSA consists of local chapters and members who are currently enrolled in or associated with Health Science Technology Education Programs as conducted by or in secondary and postsecondary / collegiate schools of America, or in hospitals and or community agencies whose goal is to prepare future healthcare professionals.
Since its inception in 1976, HOSA has grown steadily reaching nearly 107,000 members through 47 chartered HOSA State Associations and approximately 3,000 secondary and postsecondary/collegiate chapters in 2008-2009.
HOSA's mission is especially critical when considering the acute shortage of qualified workers for the health care industry. It is essential that the HSTE-HOSA Partnership maintain its momentum and encourage all HSTE instructors to integrate HOSA into their curriculum and classrooms.
HOSA Student Handbook Current HOSA E-Magizine
K-12 Health Sciences Webinar
**NEW** Webinar on K-12 Health Sciences. DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED OCT. 30 2009
What's Going on in Health Science in Other States?
Success of First Mobile Science Lab Leads to Necessity of Second Trailer
The Mobile Science Lab through the Southeast Service Cooperative (SSC) has been so successful that a second trailer is needed to accommodate more teachers and students. Launched into service in January 2009, the Mobile Science Lab served 421 students in seven school districts through May.
Teachers who have trained as part of the Mayo Clinic Educators Academies can rent the trailer. Each year about 27 new teachers complete the graduate courses. When a second trailer is available, it will accommodate more students and assist more teachers. A trailer outfitted with supplies and equipment serves approximately 750 students and 30 teachers throughout the school year in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. more
School Pan Flu Preparedness Resource Manual
This resource manual is designed to help school administrators, public health officials,
and other stakeholders review the materials associated with the influenza pandemic.
These resources have been developed by a wide variety of government agencies and groups that specifically focus on the school system's responsibilities. The sections are organized to provide users with updated guidance and tools to develop plans, policies, procedures, and programs that fit local needs and resources. more
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment Statistics
Resource Links
Education and Training
K-12 Programs / News / OSPI
Post-Secondary / Colleges Programs- Majors
Healthcare Training / Worker
Re-Training Courses