Career and Technical Education (CTE) provides the skills and training students need to be ready for work or college. It’s not only an important pathway to success, but it also supports local economic growth.

Today more than ever, employers are looking for entry-level workers who can hit the ground running. Thanks to regional CTE programs, Pierce County students graduate from high school each year with career goals and job skills and are prepared for the next step in their work or academic journey.

• • Pierce County Skills Center (PCSC). Rigorous technical and professional experiences prepare high school students for high demand, high wage jobs and post-secondary education. Juniors and seniors from 10 Pierce County school districts can earn certifications and/or college credit to prepare them for the modern workforce.
  • Jobs 253. Incoming juniors and seniors in the Tacoma School District have to opportunity to earn high school credit for graduation and gain meaningful work experience. The program provides students with a paid experience that develops leadership skills while benefiting the community in a meaningful way.
  • Seed Internships. The Seed Internship program provides a tailored path to professional success for homegrown talent and builds a sustainable pipeline of talent for companies that want to build more representative workplaces. The program pairs a 10-week, paid summer internship with a robust curriculum of professional development. For more information, contact Andrew N. Whitney at 253.359.6289 or whitney@degreesofchange.org.
  • Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC). This statewide nonprofit, registered apprenticeship organization currently operates two registered youth apprenticeship programs (Automation Technician and Production Technician) designed for high school juniors and seniors to develop career-ready skills in the advanced manufacturing industries.

For more information about Career and Technical Education programs, visit the Washington Office of Superintendent Public Instruction website.