About our Program

Career and Technical Education (CTE) in California offers students practical skills and knowledge across various industries, preparing them for both immediate employment and further education. The state's CTE programs encompass 15 industry sectors, including:

  • Health Science and Medical Technology
  • Information and Communication Technologies
  • Engineering and Architecture

Program Description

The CTE Credentialing Program is designed for both new and experienced teachers to earn their Designated Subjects Credential. This credential qualifies candidates who have successfully completed our program to teach CTE courses in grades twelve and below and in classes organized primarily for adults, including services to English learners in Specially Designed Academic Instruction Delivered in English (SDAIE) in career technical, trade or vocational courses.

As an approved Program Sponsor, The Orange County Department of Education recommends candidates to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) for the Preliminary Designated Subjects - Career Technical Education (CTE) Credential.

First-Time Credential Candidates

Within three years, must successfully fulfill the following requirements to obtain the clear Designated Subjects (DS) CTE Credential:

  • Complete the free, self-paced, online Early Orientation course within 30 days of receiving your preliminary credential
  • Complete the required courses in the CTE Teacher Preparation Program:
    • CTE 101 - CTE Teacher Preparation Course
    • CTE 102 - Instructional Practices of CTE
    • EL 100 - Teaching English Language Learners
  • Complete the Health Education for Teachers Course
  • Get CPR Certification for (Infant, Child and Adult)
  • Complete the U.S. Constitution requirement
  • Demonstrate competency in all Category II Program Standards
  • Verify four terms/two years of successful teaching from the date the preliminary credential is issued
  • Teachers with less than two years of successful teaching experience or those who have not met the CTE Category II Program Standards must complete the Advanced Teaching Methods and Strategies Course (CTE104) in order to qualify for the clear CTE credential.

Credential Holder Candidates

Within three years, must successfully fulfill the following requirements to obtain the clear Designated Subjects (DS) CTE Credential:

  • Must complete the required course:
    • CTE 100 - CTE Core course
  • Authorization to teach English learners

If the original teaching credential does not include an authorization to teach English learners or if the individual does not hold a separate English learner authorization (i.e. Clear CLAD/BCLAD Certificate, Certificate of Completion of Staff Development) then the individual must complete the coursework for the English learner authorization in addition to the other credential requirements.

  • Complete the Health Education for Teachers Course
  • Get CPR Certification for (Infant, Child and Adult)
  • Complete the U.S. Constitution requirement
  • Candidates must demonstrate competency in all Category II Program Standards by completion of the program in order to be recommended for a clear CTE credential.
  • Verify one additional year (two terms) of successful teaching from the date the preliminary credential is issued, in the industry sector listed on the credential. The experience must be a minimum of one course in each term.