Utah CTE Skills That Pay
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Getting Started CTE Programs Resources Glossary FAQ Contact Home

How Do I Get Started?
 
There are a few easy steps you can take to find the CTE program that is right for you.

Know Your Interests
You might be interested in several career options. To start, take a career interest survey to find out which careers may be most attractive to you. Visit the career exploration section of careers.utah.gov. There, you can be guided through an eChoices session that will help you better understand your interests and abilities.

Investigate Your Career of Interest
Now that you know a bit more about your interests, you should collect as much information as possible about that which interests you. Consider the following questions:
  • What education does this career require?
  • Where is the education/training available?
  • What is the future outlook for this career?
  • What is the path for advancement in the career?
  • What other careers are closely related to this career?
  • What are the everyday tasks performed in this career?
  • What are the normal work hours?
  • Does this career require travel?
  • What health and retirement benefits are generally found in this line of work?
  • Do I need to relocate to find a job?
  • Do the tasks match my interest and values?

What is CTE?
What Programs are Available?
How Do I Get Started?
Try-On a Career
There are many ways to "try-on" careers during your middle and high school years.
  • Volunteer for an organization that hires people in your career interest area.
  • Take a part-time or summer job that relates to your career interest area.
  • Find someone who works in your career interest area and job shadow that worker for a day.
  • Participate in an internship or other related work-based learning experience in you career interest area. In most cases, you can also earn high school credit for this type of work experience.
Take the Next Steps
Now that you have a pretty good idea about the careers that interest you, planning is key. Make an appointment with your counselor or advisor to review CTE programs in your area. Every high school student should update his or her SEOP, redefining goals and adjusting or enhancing plans to meet those goals.

Students should plan to take advantage of the following advanced opportunities while still in high school:
  • Concurrent Enrollment
  • Distance Learning
  • Early Graduation
  • Centennial Scholarship
  • New Century Scholarship
  • Tech Prep Programs
  • Internships, Apprenticeships and Other Work-based Learning Experiences
  • Service-learning
  • AP Classes

Use this website as a resource. You will find program descriptions, student testimonials, and contact information for most of the state's CTE programs.

Take Advantage of All You Can While Still in High School
Taking CTE classes in high school is a great way to explore different career paths. There are a number of things you can do to explore careers and advance your education. Take concurrent enrollments and earn both high school and college credit. Take an AP test to earn college credit. Explore college majors; learn how your high school classes will prepare you for continued studies in college. Visit our Resources page for more ideas on making your high school experience the best it can be.

 


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UtahCTE.org is a collaborative project of the Utah State Office of Education and the Utah System of Higher Education.