Getting Job-Ready: The Connection Between Career and Technical Education and Postsecondary Certificates

• In Event: Workforce Readiness

Abstract

Certificate programs have received little attention from researchers as a viable postsecondary option for students who want to get job-ready and obtain employment, and for those who want to advance in their current occupation. We addressed that issue and its connection to career and technical education. Using a logistic model, we examined the impact of different levels of CTE credit-taking in high school occupational programs on enrollment in Certificates. Using he High School Longitudinal Study of 2009, we found that different levels of CTE credit-taking do explain enrollment in Certificate programs, although the likelihood varies between those programs. We also found that dropout students have high odds of enrolling in Certificate programs, a clear alternate path to becoming job-ready.

Authors

• Oscar A. Aliaga, University of South Florida

• Amber D. Dumford, University of South Florida - Tampa

• Haley Reinheimer, University of South Florida