Career and Technical Education

Overview

This Career and Technical Education certificate provides students with the knowledge and skills required by the New Hampshire Department of Education for career and technical educator certification. It fulfills the competencies required for Ed 610.01 Professional Education and Ed 507.02 Teachers of Career and Technical Education.

The certificate consists of eight courses, many of which are offered online. Students can apply the credits they earn in the certificate toward the college’s Associate in Arts degree in Teacher Education, its Associate in Science degree in an Interdisciplinary Studies, or a degree in a  Career and Technical program within the Community College System of New Hampshire, including WMCC. Additionally, students can apply these credits toward a bachelor’s degree or graduate degree in education at Plymouth State University.

Upon completion of the certificate, students are able to identify, evaluate, and assess students’ career and technical skills. Students also possess proficiency in teaching strategies and techniques for teaching diverse populations.

Health Considerations

Candidates for positions and careers in education should explore health requirements associated with employment in a school setting. Prospective students with special needs that may affect their learning are encouraged to contact the Disabilities Services Coordinator for accommodation options.

Character Expectations

The health and safety of children, adolescents, and other learners are of paramount concern to the program.  Prior to employment, applicants for teaching positions in public and private schools in New Hampshire must undergo background checks through the New Hampshire Department of Safety. For admission into the Teacher Education associate degree, the Special Education certificate, and the Career and Technical Education certificate, applicants must likewise undergo national criminal background checks. The cost of the background check is the responsibility of the student.  Applicants with a criminal record, depending on the nature of this record, may not be eligible for field experience or employment. Applicants are advised to discuss such matters during an admission interview to avoid confusion.

Technical Standards

Technical standards provide guidance to students about the skills and abilities they need to function successfully in the program and ultimately as teachers in the public and/or private school classroom.  Applicants who suspect they may be unable to meet one or more of the technical standards should contact program faculty members to discuss their concerns. Program faculty considers all academically qualified candidates, provided that the technical standards can be met with reasonable accommodations.  Students in the program must have:

• Sufficient strength, stamina, and motor coordination.
• Sufficient hearing and visual acuity to ensure a safe environment, along with an ability to respond quickly to emergencies.
• Sufficient verbal ability to express and exchange information and ideas, as well as to interpret important instructions to children, adolescents, colleagues, and parents.
• Sufficient writing skills to record students’ daily progress and milestones, and to compose a variety of reports.
• An ability to work with frequent interruptions, to respond appropriately to unexpected situations, and to cope with extreme variations in workload and stress levels.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to:

• Recognize the history, legislation and philosophy of career and technical education.
• Identify current and future trends relating to career and technical education.
• Plan and develop technical programs that include program advisory committees, goals and objectives, occupational analysis, community surveys, student follow-up studies, and evaluation techniques utilizing state performance indicators.
• Create career and technical curriculum that relate workplace cultural expectations to workplace skills and provide work-based learning opportunities.
• Implement a career and technical student organization that enables students to acquire workplace, leadership, and communication skills as an integral part of the curriculum.