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Career Clusters and Curriculum
A Career Cluster is a group of occupations that share similar features. The Career Cluster framework is developed by Advance CTE and helps CTE programs organize their curricula. They also help with planning and coordinating plans of study from secondary to postsecondary school. Virginia currently has 17 Career Clusters.
There are 83 pathways among the 17 Career Clusters in Virginia. Within each Career Cluster, there are multiple career pathways that represent a common set of skills and knowledge, both academic and technical, necessary to pursue career opportunities within that pathway – from entry-level to management, including technical and professional career specialties. Based on the skills sets taught, all CTE courses are aligned with one or more Career Clusters and career pathways.
You can find information about course using the search button on this page (enter a course title, keyword, or course code) or by selecting a Career Cluster and exploring each of the pathways. Once you find the course you're looking for, you will see a complete listing of information, from the description to concentration sequences to credentials associated with the course.
Related Video: How to Access Curricula...
Detailed information about Career Clusters in Virginia is available on the Virginia Department of Education's Career Clusters page.
No, you do not. From the course on the Verso website, you have two options to access the curriculum:
- Click on the "View Curriculum in Canvas" button. Once in Canvas, click on "Modules," on the left of the screen, then scroll to "Additional Course Information" and click on "Student Competency Records." There you can download Word or Excel files with the competencies.
- Click the "Download Course File" button. It will download a Common Cartridge file that can be uploaded/imported into most learning management systems.
Related Video: How to Access Curricula...
Through its Professional Learning Program, Virtual Virginia offers free resources to educators, including the Canvas Countdown, a self-paced course to help teachers familiarize themselves with the creation of lessons, grades, rubrics, and other content on the learning management system.
Also from Virtual Virginia is the Statewide LMS Success training.
Within your course in Verso are two links: "View Curriculum Framework in Canvas" and "Download Cartridge File." The first link will take you to Virtual Virginia, where you can view your course content. The second link is a downloadable Common Cartridge file that can be uploaded into Canvas or any other learning management system. For detailed instructions on how to bring course content into Canvas, click here.
Related Video: How to Access Curricula...
Use the Search bar to find your course on our website. Scroll down to the "Download Cartridge File" button and click. The file will download to your Downloads folder.
If your computer tries to open the file, simply click away from or close the window. You don't want to open it; you want to import it.
Follow these steps if you are using Canvas. Chose "Canvas Course Export Package" as the Content Type.
Follow these steps if you are using PowerSchool/Schoology.
Follow these steps if you are using BlackBoard.
Related Video: How to Access Curricula...
School Administration and Educators
Information once found in the Administrative Planning Guide (APG) — such as course descriptions, course sequences, credentials associated with a course, etc. — now can be found on each course page.
If you are on a course page and want more information about a credential/license, simply click on the credential title to see more. You can also search for credentials using the Search button, or by clicking the link in the Resources drop-down menu at the top of the page. Once you are on the Credentials page, you can search by title or keyword.
For help with program administration and management, go to the Virginia Department of Education Office of Career and Technical Adult Education Program Administration and Management page (https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/k-12-standards-instruction/career-and-technical-education-cte/administration). Also download the CTERS Manual on the VDOE's CTE website.
There are two ways to see whether teachers are eligible to take certain credential examinations. Each credential information page includes a notation on whether the teacher can take the examination. For teachers seeking initial licensure with endorsements in an area of career and technical education, go to the VDOE Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education's Pathway to Industry Certification page and see "Teacher Industry Credentials" section for a list of available credentials.
No, you do not. From the course on the Verso website, you have two options to access the curriculum:
- Click on the "View Curriculum in Canvas" button. Once in Canvas, click on "Modules," on the left of the screen, then scroll to "Additional Course Information" and click on "Student Competency Records." There you can download Word or Excel files with the competencies.
- Click the "Download Course File" button. It will download a Common Cartridge file that can be uploaded/imported into most learning management systems.
Related Video: How to Access Curricula...
Start by going to your course in Verso. Scroll down to the "Download Cartridge File" button and click. The file will download to your Downloads folder.
If your computer tries to open the file, simply click away from or close the window. You don't want to open it; you want to import it.
Follow these steps if you are using Canvas. Chose "Canvas Course Export Package" as the Content Type.
Follow these steps if you are using PowerSchool/Schoology.
Follow these steps if you are using BlackBoard.
Related Video: How to Access Curricula...
At the present, you cannot. Simply download the cartridge file for each course and then upload into your LMS.
Through its Professional Learning Program, Virtual Virginia offers free resources to educators, including the Canvas Countdown, a self-paced course to help teachers familiarize themselves with the creation of lessons, grades, rubrics, and other content on the learning management system.
Each year over the summer months, our courses roll over and newly revised and created courses are published. Review the newly revised and created courses for SY2024-2025.
You can find a view-only list of course sequences here.
Each year, the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education at the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) accepts nominations for CTE curriculum review committees. Currently, the 2024-2025 nomination period is open.
To find your framework, use the search button to look up your course by course code, SCED code, course title, or keyword.
Select your course from the list. Review the course description and other information to verify that you have the correct course. Then scroll down and click "View Curriculum." This will take you to the framework in Canvas/Virtual Virginia. No login is required.
Within Virtual Virginia, click the "Modules" link in the upper left and you will see your competencies and additional course information. Clicking on a competency will show you the definition, process/skill questions, and any other resources available for that competency.
You can also review navigating our website through this short video.
Students and Parents
CTE courses found on this website can be taken at public middle and high schools in Virginia. The CTE Resource Center works with the Virginia Department of Education Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education to create, validate, and revise courses. If you find a course on our website, check with your local school division to see whether it is offered.
Career and technical education (CTE) High-Quality Work-Based Learning (HQWBL) is comprised of school-coordinated workplace experiences that are:
- Related to students’ career goals and/or interests
- Integrated with instruction, and
- Performed in partnership with local businesses and organizations.
CTE HQWBL experiences enable students to apply classroom instruction in a real-world business or service-oriented work environment and are available throughout the school year. While many students work during the school year, experiences are also available during the summer months. Virginia's public schools offer the following work-based learning, from lowest to highest degree of engagement:
- Job shadowing
- Service learning
- Externship
- School-based Enterprise
- Mentorship
- Entrepreneurship
- Cooperative education
- Supervised agricultural experience
- Internship
- Clinical experience
- Youth registered apprenticeship
- Registered apprenticeship
Students often take credential examinations at the conclusion of their coursework. Some courses are associated with multiple credentials, and the educator will work with the student to determine the best credential examination to take. Some licenses are regulated by a state agency and may have a minimum age requirement to take the examination. The examinations can be offered online, in the school, or at a testing facility.
Services
The CTE Resource Center currently offers only remote professional development that covers how to access course information, how to use the website, and how to access course content on Canvas/Virtual Virginia.
To get the posters — which are free to Virginia's public school teachers — use the "Contact Us" button on this page to send a request. Be sure to include your name and school address. The posters will be mailed to you at no charge.
Upon request, the CTE Resource Center provides meeting rooms and catering services to local school divisions and state/local agencies. Use of Center facilities is generally restricted to groups affiliated with Career and Technical Education (CTE), Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS), and Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Meeting space is scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Go to our Meeting and Event Facilities page for more information.
Through its Professional Learning Program, Virtual Virginia offers free resources to educators, including the Canvas Countdown, a self-paced course to help teachers familiarize themselves with the creation of lessons, grades, rubrics, and other content on the learning management system.
