Career Tech
Oklahoma's Career Tech network of 29 technology centers on 62 campuses serves high school and adult learners with specialized career training in more than 90 instructional areas. High school students, living in a technology center district, attend full-time programs tuition-free, if accepted into a program. With the impact today's technology has upon the professional world, many students find themselves better prepared for college and careers after completing Career Tech instruction.
Short-term programs are programs taken at a career technology center that may or may not lead to an industry certification. These programs are shorter than full-time programs; they normally range from 6-8 weeks in length. Unlike full-time programs that are free for high school students to attend, short-term programs have a cost associated with them.
For students who did not apply in time for a full-time program, or did not get accepted into a full-time program due to varying circumstances, these short-term programs can still help students meet their career goals. Short-term programs can still count for Next Step requirements.
To qualify for Next Step:
The program must consist of industry training that will lead to a certification
The program must be at least 60 hours
If the program meets the above qualifications, the GSS will add this program to their schedule as an internship.
If the student has funds available in their learning fund, they will submit the invoice to the learning fund department by attaching the invoice in an email and sending it to activity@epiccharterschools.org.
If the student does not have funds available, the student will have to pay out-of-pocket.
Full-time programs are full-time high school programs that are taught by certified career tech instructors. These programs are typically one-year to two-year programs that lead to an industry certification. Students attend every day (M-F) for three hours a day during the school year. Some of the most popular programs are:
Cosmetology
Welding
Auto Service and Collision Repair
Health Care (pre-nursing, long-term health care aid, etc.)
Culinary Arts
HVAC
IT (cyber security, computer repair & network, programming, etc.)
Career technology centers offer many programs, including the ones listed above. It is important to check the website of your local career tech to see what programs are available.
In addition to hands-on training, students will earn 3 to 4 high school credits each year that they are enrolled in a full-time high school program at a career tech. In some cases, students can earn up to 32 college credits. Moreover, in some cases they are able to earn a fully transferable Associate’s degree. Students also receive employability training, including resume building, mock interviews, etc. 94% of students are able to find employment directly related to their training immediately after completing their program, or they can choose to further their education at a college or university.
Tuition is free to students who live in one of the school districts that a particular career technology center serves.
To check locations, visit here.
Tuition for full-time programs for out-of-district students can be quite expensive. Learning fund money would not be able to cover the cost. It is best to apply to the career technology center that serves the district in which the student lives. Alternatively, there may be a short-term program available with the industry training the student is seeking.
If you are close enough to another career technology center that does have a program you would like to apply for, you can apply to that career technology center and request a letter of transfer (letter of reciprocity). The advisors/counselors at each career technology center are aware of reciprocity agreements. For instance, Mid-Del Technology Center in Midwest City does not have a Basic Firefighter program. Metro Technology center in Oklahoma City does. A student who lives in the Mid-Del Tech center district could apply to Metro Tech and still attend for free. Metro Tech would just need to have the letter of reciprocity from Mid-Del Tech.
Step 1: Locate the Career Tech district in which you live
Click here to identify which Career Tech you qualify to attend.
Step 2: Schedule a Career Tech tour
Contact Hadley Miller - hadley.miller@epiccharterschools.org for a tour.
Step 3: Determine Career Tech deadlines
Step 4: Apply for Career Tech
Check your Career Tech's website for application steps
Step 5: Add your Career Tech courses to your high school schedule
Inform your teacher and Career Tech Counselor Hadley Miller of your acceptance.
Step 6: Use your Learning Fund to pay for your Career Tech costs
Learn more about using your Learning Fund here.
Step 7: Begin your Career Tech program
Students who are enrolled in a full time program at a career tech in their assigned district will not be charged tuition. Full time programs are free to high school students. Part time/Adult/Evening programs are not free and do not offer high school credit. These programs can still be very beneficial for students.
No, transportation is not automatically provided. However, in some instances, career techs may work with the individual family to allow the bus to pick up a student at a public location on the way in between the local high school and the career tech site. Another option may be if the local school district allows the student to get on the bus at the local school site and be transported with the local high school students. If a student needs transportation assistance and it is impeding on their ability to attend a program he/she was accepted into please contact Hadley Miller at hadley.miller@epiccharterschools.org
Yes.
Students on an IEP are welcome to apply for career tech programs.
Many programs are highly competitive and while this can be disappointing do not be discouraged! There is a possibility that the student can be accepted up until the 1st week of their technology center’s start date.
No, it is never too late for a student. We encourage all students to work with the local career tech to explore opportunities. Students can start a program during high school and if they graduate they may be able to continue after graduation and receive scholarships to cover the cost of tuition. Communication is key!
Yes.
Most career technology centers still accept applications past the priority enrollment deadline. Some career technology centers indicate when they have stopped accepting applications, but most still do after the priority enrollment deadline. The best thing to do is check the website for the career tech of interest.
The best time to apply to your local career tech is the fall semester before you intend to enroll. For instance, you would apply in the fall of your sophomore year to hopefully get placed in a full-time program at your career tech during your junior year. The application process takes a few months, so it is best to get your application in early before the priority enrollment deadline. See question above about missing the priority deadline.
Yes. If their program is a full-time high school program.
At many career technology centers, students have the option to enroll in short-term programs. The short-term programs are typically 6 weeks in length, and although they can lead to an industry certification, they are not typically taught by a certified CTE instructor, and are not approved by the State Department of Education (SDE) as eligible programs to yield high school credit.
Also important to note is that short-term programs are not free for students. Full-time high school programs are taught by certified CTE instructors, are approved by the SDE to yield high school credit, and are free for the student if they live in a qualifying school district.
The majority of career tech programs will yield 3 elective credits. Some programs include academic credit if they are enrolled in a class such as Biology, Fundamentals of Technology, Trig/Pre-Calculus, etc., as part of their career tech program. The student will earn the academic credit (computer science, science, or math) and elective credit depending on the program. Most programs at career technology centers are approved for 3-4 total credits. So, if a student will earn 1 full academic credit for Fundamentals of Technology that is included in their career tech program, they will receive 1 computer science credit and 2 elective credits for a total of 3 credits earned. For additional questions, feel free to contact Hadley Miller, the Career Tech Counselor at hadley.miller@epiccharterschools.org
The State Department of Education has a resource to help us understand which program can count for high school credit, elective or otherwise. It is called the Postsecondary Opportunities Guidance.