Career Clusters Resources

The National Career Clusters™ Framework provides a structure for organizing and delivering quality CTE programs through comprehensive programs of study (POS). As an organizing tool for curriculum design and instruction, this national framework provides the essential knowledge and skills for the 16 Career Clusters™ and their Career Pathways. It also functions as a useful guide in developing programs of study bridging secondary and postsecondary curriculum and for creating individual student plans of study for a complete range of career options.

The resources available here were developed to assist the adoption and implementation of the National Career Clusters™ Framework. You can click on the specific areas of interest below or use the pop-out navigation menus for convenience if you prefer.

• Product Store:

  Official Career Clusters™ products are available here through Relevant Classroom to guide and assist in the implementation of quality CTE through Career Clusters™. NASDCTEc and NCEF have endorsed these products.

• Resources for Implementing Career Clusters™: A clearinghouse of valuable information and resources to assist in the development and implementation of quality CTE using the National Career Clusters™ Framework.

• Knowledge and Skills Statements: The latest Knowledge and Skills Statements for the 16 Career Clusters™ are available here for downloading. Also available here are the Knowledge and Skills Charts for each 79 Career Pathways.

• Plans of Study: Sample Plans of Study based on the Knowledge and Skills identified for each Cluster Cluster™ and Career Pathway. These sample plans include the Knowledge and Skills students require to the Pathway level.

• Crosswalks: A collection crosswalks to support the linkage or bridging of different coding systems with the 16 Career Clusters™ and Career Pathways to assist in reporting, research, and other applications.

• Career Clusters™ Frames: Career Clusters™ Frames provide a broad overview for each Career Cluster™, including Essential Knowledge and Skills, the types of educational topics studied within a particular Career Pathway, and a listing of sample Career Specialties or occupations.

• Credentials: A listing of credentials (licenses, certificates and post secondary degrees) for the 16 Career Clusters™, revised in 2010 from the Career Cluster™ Resources guide produced by the National Career Technical Education Foundation.

• Student Interest Survey: A career guidance tool that allows students to respond to questions and identify the top three Career Clusters™ of interest based on their responses. Available in English and Spanish as a pencil and paper tool with an online version in English.