Career & Technical Education

The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathway Completer designation shows prospective employers, scholarship boards, colleges, universities, training programs, and the military that a student has:

• Completed a comprehensive, in-depth, and applied course of study in a specialized area;
• Acquired transferable skills such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and perseverance through purposeful and meaningful learning experiences;
• Participated in learning opportunities that are diverse, rigorous, and connected to the world of work.

Students who take a number of CTE classes in the same pathway can become a completer in that CTE pathway. CTE pathway completers earn a cord to wear at graduation.

To be a pathway completer, a student must:

• Take at least three (3) credits in a single pathway* (refer to the "Career & Technical Education Pathways" link above); and
• Pass a concentrator course; and
• Pass each of the qualifying classes with a C or better; and
• Document their completed pathway on the CTE Pathways Completer Application--Class of 2026 (Seniors only).

*For example, to receive the Health Science completer status, a student could do the following:
      - Explorer Courses:  Intro. to Health Science (.50 credit) and Medical Terminology (.50 credit)
      - Concentrator Course:  Medical Anatomy and Physiology (1.0 credit)
      - Completer Course:  EMT (1.0 credit)
      Total credits in this pathway = 3.0

In an increasingly complex global economy, all students must be equipped with intellectual, technical, and social skills, so that they are prepared to compete and contribute meaningfully to their community. For most, this will mean completing some postsecondary education or training; for all, it will mean learning about themselves and the world of work.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) provides a pathway for students beginning in the middle grades, then progressing through secondary and post-secondary.  In the state of Utah, CTE is organized into 14 major industry sectors or career clusters:

1. Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering
2. Agriculture
3. Arts, Entertainment & Design
4. Business Management & Entrepreneurship
5. Construction
6. Digital Technology
7. Education
8. Energy & Natural Resources
9. Financial Services
10. Healthcare & Human Services
11. Hospitality, Events & Tourism
12. Marketing
13. Public Service & Safety
14. Supply Chain & Transportation

These career clusters are further specified into career pathways. A career pathway is a sequence of courses that provides students with an opportunity to acquire a durable skill set and experience necessary to be prepared for a variety of career options.  Pathways are designed to support an individual’s success as they begin navigating the economic and workforce demands.

For more detailed information on each of the aforementioned career clusters, please review the Utah State Board of Education’s (USBE) website here.

Our mission for the Park City School District (PCSD) Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is to cultivate the potential in all students by integrating rigorous instruction with relevant experiences that empower, guide, and inspire them beyond our education system. We will connect the academic, employability and technical skills that prepare our students for the challenges of post-secondary education and a globally competitive workforce.

 By participating in a CTE course and/or pathway, students:

• Experience a more personalized and relevant education;
• Acquire real-world knowledge and skills;
• Encounter opportunities for concurrent enrollment (college) credit;
• Prepare for high-wage, high-skill, and emerging in-demand career;
• Explore opportunities to earn industry recognized credentials;
• Become aware of multiple pathways to college and/or career;
• Potentially save time and money towards postsecondary training;
• Obtain skills today that will be used tomorrow;
• Maximize opportunities.

Utah CTE At-A-Glance

Park City CTE At-A-Glance

Industry and labor market trends often drive courses, as well as the strands and standards developed for those courses.  To learn more about the industry and labor market trends within the state of Utah, click here.

CTSO's were established with the commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of young people.  CTE integrates student leadership elements, which complements student participation in these courses and programs. 

Here in Park City, students have the opportunity to join the following CTSOs:

 Educators Rising

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

Future Healthcare Professionals (HOSA)

Technology Student Association (TSA)

Utah CTSO Information

Utah students have the opportunity to earn certifications while in high school through participation in CTE. Certifications are awarded through validation of skills in cooperation with a business, trade association, or other industry group. The Utah CTE Skill Certificate Program provides students, grades 9-12, with opportunities to receive instruction aligned with standards and objectives set by the state of Utah and by industry. Students' knowledge and performance is demonstrated as part of the CTE Skill Certification process.

Utah Credentials of Value