Career Pathway Programs of Study

The National Career Clusters® Framework serves as an organizing tool for Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, curriculum design and instruction. There are 16 career clusters in the National Career Clusters® Framework, representing more than 70 Career Pathways to help learners navigate their way to greater success in college and career. The framework also functions as a useful guide in developing programs of study bridging secondary and postsecondary systems and for creating individual student plans of study for a complete range of career options. As such, it helps learners discover their interests and their passions, and empowers them to choose the educational pathway that can lead to success in high school, college and career.

Career clusters identify groups of occupations in the same field of work that require similar skills. Each cluster contains several smaller groups called career pathways that connect to educational programs, industries and careers. While a career cluster paints a broad picture of a group of occupations, a pathway helps students focus on and develop a clear, more informed educational plan over time. The structure of the National Career Clusters® Framework of 16 career clusters and more than 70 related career pathways supports students’ growing career awareness and exploration.

For more information on career clusters, visit www.nccareers.org

CTE Concentrators

Concentrating in CTE can provide students a strong foundation of technical knowledge and employability skills to complement their academic studies and prepare them for both college and career options. To complete a CTE concentration, students must complete an approved career pathway program of study. Students completing a CTE concentration are designated as “CTE Concentrators” or “CTE Completers” and may be eligible for additional opportunities including:

Participation in the National Technical Honor Society
Career Endorsement on the North Carolina high school diploma
National Career Readiness Certification through ACT WorkKeys^® assessment system

The following career pathway programs of study are offered in one or more of our traditional high schools:

Career Cluster	Career Pathway	Required Courses for CTE Concentration
Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources	Animal Science	AA21 Animal Science I AA22 Animal Science II or AA23 Animal Science II Small Animal
Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources	Natural Resources	AN51 Natural Resources I AN52 Natural Resources II
Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources	Plant Systems	AP41 Horticulture I AP42 Horticulture II or AP44 Horticulture II Landscaping
Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources	Power, Structural, and Technical Systems	AS31 Agricultural Mechanics I AS32 Agricultural Mechanics II or AS33 Agricultural Mechanics II Small Engines
Architecture & Construction	Carpentry	IC00 Construction Core IC21 Carpentry I IC22 Carpentry II
Architecture & Construction	Interior Design	FI51 Interior Design I FI52 Interior Design II
Architecture & Construction	Masonry	IC00 Construction Core IC11 Masonry I IC12 Masonry II
Arts, Audio/Visual Technology & Communication	Adobe Academy	II31 Adobe Visual Design II33 Adobe Video Design
Business Management & Administration	Entrepreneurship	ME11 Entrepreneurship I ME12 Entrepreneurship II
Business Management & Administration	General Management	BF10 Principles of Business and Finance BB40 Business Management I BB42 Business Management II
Education	Teaching/Training	FE21 Teaching as a Profession I FE22 Teaching as a Profession II
Finance	Financial Securities and Investments	BF10 Principles of Business and Finance BF21 Financial Planning I BF22 Financial Planning II
Health Science	Biomedical Technology	HU40 Health Science I HB11 Biotechnical Technology
Health Science	Healthcare Professional	HU40 Health Science I HU42 Health Science II
Hospitality & Tourism	Culinary Arts	FH10 Culinary Arts & Hospitality I FH12 Culinary Arts & Hospitality II FH13 Culinary Arts & Hospitality III
Hospitality & Tourism	National Academy Foundation	CN50 Principles of Hospitality (0.5 credit course) CN53 Customer Service (0.5 credit course) CN52 Hospitality Marketing (0.5 credit course) CN54 Sustainable Tourism (0.5 credit course)
Hospitality & Tourism	Sports & Entertainment Marketing	MH31 Sports & Entertainment Marketing I MH32 Sports & Entertainment Marketing II
Hospitality & Tourism	Travel & Tourism	BF10 Principles of Business and Finance or MM51 Marketing MH42 Hospitality & Tourism
Human Services	Early Childhood Development	FE60 Child Development FE11 Early Childhood Education (2 credit course)
Human Services	Food & Nutrition	FN41 Food and Nutrition I FN42 Food and Nutrition II
Information Technology	Computer Science	BP41 Computer Science I BP42 Computer Science II
Information Technology	SAS Computer Programming	BP41 Computer Science I or 0A02 AP Computer Science Principles BP20 SAS Base Programming
Information Technology	AP Computer Science	0A02 AP Computer Science Principles 2A02 AP Computer Science
Information Technology	Electronics	IM31 Electronics I IM32 Electronics II
Manufacturing	Metals Manufacturing	IM41 Metals Manufacturing I IM42 Metals Manufacturing II
Marketing	Marketing Management	MM51 Marketing MA52 Marketing Applications
Marketing	Sales	MI31 Sales I MI32 Sales II
Transportation, Distribution & Logistics	Automotive Services	IT11 Automotive Service Fundamentals IT16 Automotive Service I IT17 Automotive Service II
Transportation, Distribution & Logistics	Drone Technology	ID11 Drone Technology I ID12 Drone Technology II

Questions regarding career pathway programs of study offered at each high school or completing a CTE concentration should be directed to the Career Development Coordinator at each school.

Career Clusters and Career Pathway Programs of Study