Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach vocational courses intended to provide occupational training below the baccalaureate level in subjects such as construction, mechanics/repair, manufacturing, transportation, or cosmetology, primarily to students who have graduated from or left high school. Teaching takes place in public or private schools whose primary business is academic or vocational education.

On the job, you would:

Observe and evaluate students' work to determine progress, provide feedback, and make suggestions for improvement.
Present lectures and conduct discussions to increase students' knowledge and competence using visual aids, such as graphs, charts, videotapes, and slides.
Supervise and monitor students' use of tools and equipment.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Career and technical education teachers must explain concepts in terms that students can understand.

Organizational skills. Career and technical education teachers must coordinate their time and teaching materials.

Patience. Working with students of different abilities and backgrounds can be difficult. Teachers must be even-tempered with students to develop a positive learning environment.

Resourcefulness. Teachers need to create different ways of presenting information and demonstrating tasks so that all students learn the material.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		93%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		92%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		91%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		90%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		85%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		85%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
		84%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		83%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		83%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		80%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		80%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		79%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
		78%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		78%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		77%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		75%	Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		100%	Social - Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
		72%	Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		67%	Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
		67%	Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
		67%	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
		56%	Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
		56%	Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		75%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		75%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		72%	Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
		72%	Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
		69%	Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
		69%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		66%	Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
		66%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		56%	Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
		56%	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
		56%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Skills \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		57%	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
		57%	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
		57%	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
		57%	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
		57%	Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
		57%	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
		57%	Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
		55%	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
		54%	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.

Monitor student performance.

Evaluate student work.

Apply multiple teaching methods.

Administer tests to assess educational needs or progress.

Maintain student records.

Prepare reports detailing student activities or performance.

Supervise laboratory work.

Supervise student research or internship work.

Assess educational needs of students.

Tutor students who need extra assistance.

Teach vocational courses.

Plan educational activities.

Develop instructional objectives.

Teach vocational courses.

Create technology-based learning materials.

Select educational materials or equipment.

Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.

Advise students on academic or career matters.

Attend training sessions or professional meetings to develop or maintain professional knowledge.

Serve on institutional or departmental committees.

Perform student enrollment or registration activities.

Schedule instructional activities.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		91%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		88%	Public Speaking - How often do you have to perform public speaking in this job?
		87%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		85%	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
		85%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		85%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		83%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		77%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		77%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		76%	Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
		72%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		70%	Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
		66%	Spend Time Standing - How much does this job require standing?
		65%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		64%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		63%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		61%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		55%	Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
		55%	Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos?
		51%	Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		92%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		86%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		82%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		81%	Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
		79%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		75%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		75%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		72%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		71%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		69%	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
		68%	Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
		67%	Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		67%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		67%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
		66%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		64%	Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
		63%	Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
		63%	Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
		61%	Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
		61%	Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
		61%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		60%	Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
		60%	Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
		59%	Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
		58%	Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
		58%	Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
		58%	Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
		58%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		57%	Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
		56%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		55%	Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
		54%	Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
		52%	Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment - Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
		52%	Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
		51%	Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment - Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.

What Career and Technical Education Teachers Do

Technical education teachers often work in classrooms and help students.

Career and technical education (CTE) teachers provide training in subjects such as auto repair, cosmetology, and culinary arts. They teach vocational and technical content to give students the skills and knowledge necessary to enter an occupation.

Duties

Career and technical education teachers typically do the following:

Create lesson plans and assignments
Instruct students on how to develop certain skills
Show students how to apply classroom knowledge through hands-on activities
Demonstrate and supervise safe and proper use of tools and equipment
Monitor students’ progress, assign tasks, and grade assignments
Discuss students’ progress with parents, students, and counselors
Develop and enforce classroom rules and safety procedures

CTE teachers help students explore and prepare to enter a career or technical occupation. They use a variety of teaching methods to help students learn and develop skills related to a specific occupation or career field. They demonstrate tasks, techniques, and tools used in an occupation. They may assign hands-on tasks, such as replacing brakes on cars, taking blood pressure, or applying makeup. Teachers typically oversee these activities in workshops and laboratories in the school.

Some teachers work with local businesses and nonprofit organizations to provide practical work experience for students. They also serve as advisers to students participating in career and technical student organizations.

The specific duties of CTE teachers vary by the grade and subject they teach. In middle schools and high schools, they teach general concepts in a classroom and practical exercises in workshops and laboratories.

In postsecondary schools, they teach specific career skills that help students earn a certificate, a diploma, or an associate’s degree and prepare them for a specific job. For example, welding instructors teach students welding techniques and safety practices. They also monitor the use of tools and equipment and have students practice procedures until they meet the standards required by the trade.

In most states, teachers in middle and high schools teach one subject within major career fields. CTE teachers combine academic instruction with experiential learning in their subject of expertise.

For example, teachers of courses in agricultural, food, and natural resources teach topics such as agricultural production; agriculture-related business; veterinary science; and plant, animal, and food systems. They may have students plant and care for crops and animals to apply what they have learned in the classroom.

For information about the programs for major career fields, visit Advance CTE.

Work Environment

Career and technical education teachers held about 212,100 jobs in 2022. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up career and technical education teachers was distributed as follows:

Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary	113,000
Career/technical education teachers, secondary school	88,000
Career/technical education teachers, middle school	11,100

The largest employers of career and technical education teachers were as follows:

Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private	45%
Junior colleges; state, local, and private	20
Technical and trade schools; state, local, and private	20
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private	7
State government, excluding education and hospitals	4

Career and technical education teachers typically work in middle, high, and postsecondary schools, such as 2-year colleges. Others work in technical, trade, and business schools.

Work Schedules

Career and technical education teachers in middle and high schools generally work during school hours. They may meet with parents, students, and school staff before and after classes.

Some career and technical education teachers, especially those in postsecondary schools, teach courses and develop lesson plans during evening hours and on weekends.

Teachers usually work the traditional 10-month school year and have a 2-month break during the summer. They also have a short midwinter break. Some teachers work for summer programs.

Teachers in districts with a year-round schedule typically work 9 weeks in a row and then have a break for 3 weeks before starting a new school session.

Getting Started

Education:

42%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)

20%

Bachelor's Degree

How to Become a Career or Technical Education Teacher

Teachers need years of experience in their field of expertise.

Career and technical education teachers typically need at least a bachelor’s degree and work experience in the subject they teach. Public schools may require a state-issued teaching certification or license.

Education

Career and technical education teachers generally need a bachelor’s degree in the field they teach, such as agriculture, engineering, or computer and information technology.

All states require prospective career and technical education teachers in public schools to complete a period of fieldwork, called a student-teaching program, in which they work with a mentor teacher and get experience teaching students in a classroom. For information about teacher preparation programs in your state, visit Teach.org.

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

Many career and technical education teachers need work experience in the field they teach. For example, automotive mechanics, chefs, and nurses typically spend years in their career before moving into teaching.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

States may require career and technical education teachers in public schools to be licensed or certified. Requirements for certification or licensure vary by state, but generally involve the following:

A bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade point average
Completion of a student-teaching program
Passing a background check
Passing a general teaching certification test, as well as a test that demonstrates their knowledge of the subject they will teach.

For information on certification requirements in your state, visit Teach.org.

Career and technical education teachers who prepare students for an occupation that requires a license or certification may need to have and maintain the same credential. For example, career and technical education teachers who teach welding may need to have certification in welding. In addition, teachers may be required to complete annual professional development courses to maintain their license or certification.

Some states offer an alternative route to certification or licensure for prospective teachers who have a bachelor’s degree or work experience in their field but lack the education courses required for certification. Alternative programs typically cover teaching methods, development of lesson plans, and classroom management.

Advancement

Experienced teachers may advance to become mentors or lead teachers, helping less experienced teachers to improve their teaching skills.

Teachers may become school counselors, instructional coordinators, or principals. These positions generally require additional education, an advanced degree, or certification. An advanced degree in education administration or leadership may be helpful.

Job Outlook

Overall employment of career and technical education teachers is projected to show little or no change from 2022 to 2032.

Despite limited employment growth, about 14,800 openings for career and technical education teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Some demand for these workers is expected over the projections decade due to continued interest in career and technical education programs in middle schools, high schools, and postsecondary institutions. However, this demand is likely to be tempered as schools continue to require students to take more academic classes.

In addition, public schools often depend on government funding for career and technical education programs. When budgets for these programs are reduced, employment growth for career and technical education teachers may be limited.

Contacts for More Information

For more information about career and technical education teachers, visit

Association for Career and Technical Education

Advance CTE

For more information about teaching and becoming a teacher, visit

Teach.org

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of career and technical education teachers.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals	Elementary, middle, and high school principals oversee all school operations, including daily school activities.	Master's degree	$101,320
High School Teachers	High school teachers teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the job market.	Bachelor's degree	$62,360
Instructional Coordinators	Instructional coordinators oversee school curriculums and teaching standards. They develop instructional material, implement it, and assess its effectiveness.	Master's degree	$66,490
Middle School Teachers	Middle school teachers educate students, typically in sixth through eighth grades.	Bachelor's degree	$61,810
Postsecondary Teachers	Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level.	See How to Become One	$80,840
School and Career Counselors and Advisors	School counselors help students develop academic and social skills. Career counselors and advisors help people choose a path to employment.	Master's degree	$60,140
Special Education Teachers	Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities.	Bachelor's degree	$62,950
Teacher Assistants	Teacher assistants work with a licensed teacher to give students additional attention and instruction.	Some college, no degree	$30,920
Adult Basic and Secondary Education and ESL Teachers	Adult basic and secondary education and ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers instruct adults in fundamental skills, such as reading and speaking English. They also help students earn their high school equivalency credential.	Bachelor's degree	$58,590
Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers	Kindergarten and elementary school teachers instruct young students in basic subjects in order to prepare them for future schooling.	Bachelor's degree	$61,620

Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary

Career or Technical Education Teacher

What they do: