High School students across Western Pennsylvania have an excellent opportunity to jump-start their career skills training while in high school. The opportunity to attend a local Career Technical Education (CTE) Program or Career Technical Curriculum (CTC) Program will provide young men and women with an exploration of career skills that will assist them in building a successful career pathway into the skilled trades. The initial training at the CTE/CTC will build upon the initial STEAM skills that a student has developed in the traditional high school classroom through hands-on applications of those skills in an authentic setting, solving real-world problems. Students will be taught by educators that have developed their professional career skills in the building and construction industry. Students will engage daily with skilled industry professionals as they learn for their future.

Today’s CTE/CTC’s are focused on providing award-winning instruction that builds a student's confidence within a career pathway. Students learn the expectations of following detailed directions, both written and orally. Young men and women learn to work in a group as a team to accomplish the assigned tasks of a project. They will also participate in career scenarios as employer and employee. The local career program is designed to provide each student with opportunities inside and outside of the classroom, through job shadowing, internships, and industry tours, to build their knowledge amongst the variety of career pathways offered in the Building and Construction Industry.  

Students and parents should become familiar with the 16 training and career apprentice programs offered by the Building and Construction Industry here in Western Pennsylvania, many of which include the earning of college credits and/or an associate degree providing the path to a sustainable and high earning career.