Career and technical education, or CTE, is education that directly prepares students for high-wage, high-demand careers. CTE covers many different fields, from information technology and construction to advanced manufacturing and homebuilding. CTE encompasses many different types of education, from classroom learning to certification programs to work-based learning opportunities outside the classroom.

Career and Technical Education Month, or CTE Month, is a public awareness campaign by the Association of Career and Technical Education, sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders, that takes place each February to celebrate the value of CTE.

How to participate: 

Week one - Participate in job shadowing. Businesses can host students for a day at their place of business, either individually or in small groups, so that students can see real-world examples of careers in action, as well as be exposed to the workplace.

• Invite students to experience a day in your life shadowing you at your work environment.
• Host a question-and-answer session to discuss local career opportunities for students.

Week two - Host a Career Exploration Panel at your company or office. Discuss local career opportunities for students.

• Have employees, owners, or partners share their career paths, day-to-day responsibilities, and advice for entering the industry.
• Partner with local programs or schools to host students on-site for a moderated discussion about in-demand roles, apprenticeship pathways, and long-term career growth in residential construction.

Week three - Donate equipment. You or your business may be in a position to donate equipment or supplies that meet industry standards, ensuring that students in secondary and post-secondary institutions have access to appropriate instruments for the respective career fields they hope to enter.

Week four - Teach a middle school lesson plan. Engage students at the middle school level, creating excitement for technical career pathways.

• Volunteer to lead a hands-on or interactive lesson that introduces students to skilled trades, construction careers, or technical problem-solving in an age-appropriate way.
• Work with teachers to align the lesson to real-world applications, showing how math, science, and creativity connect to technical and construction-related careers.