Quick Links
Missouri's Career and Technical Education (CTE) delivery system consists of 518 local education agencies. These local education agencies include 444 comprehensive high school districts (57 with area career centers), one state technical college, 12 community college districts (four with area career centers), seven four-year institutions, and two state agencies. The network of area career centers provides an economical source of occupational-specific skill training which is available to residents within each school's service delivery area.
Missouri CTE combines academics and occupational skill training to prepare students of all ages. Training programs are offered in Agriculture, Business, Health Sciences, Family and Consumer Sciences, Skilled Technical Sciences, Technology and Engineering, and Marketing and Cooperative Education.
| CTE Program Area with Webpage Link | Phone |
| Agriculture Education | 573-751-3544 |
| Business, Marketing, & IT Education | 573-751-4367 |
| Family Consumer Sciences & Human Services | 573-751-7964 |
| Health Science Education | 573-751-3407 |
| Skilled Technical Sciences | 573-522-6001 |
| Technology & Engineering Education | 573-751-7764 |
- CTE Resources
- Career & Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs)
Career and technical student organizations provide essential opportunities for students to develop and refine the skills required in their chosen occupational area. Student conferences, competitions, workshops, community service, and other activities make education more enjoyable and effective. CTSOs may be fully integrated into the instructional program as a supplement to regular classroom instruction. When properly planned and conducted, CTSO activities strengthen learning in the classroom.
The United States Department of Education (USDOE) recognizes the educational programs and philosophies embraced by the Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) as being an integral part of career and technical education (CTE) instructional programs.
Student Organizations
- CTE Show Me Learning That Works
Missouri career and technical education (CTE) opportunities are preparing young people and adults for the job market and/or further education. These programs combine academics and job-specific skill training to assist in narrowing the skills gap. Find out more on the Show Me Learning that Works page here.
- Map of Missouri Area Career Centers
- CTE Listservs
- Career Clusters
Missouri Career Education prepares Missourians for the 21st century to better serve the needs of students, parents, educators, and employers through challenging, relevant, and accountable programs.
Career Clusters provide a way for schools to organize instruction and student experiences around 14 broad categories that encompass virtually all occupations from entry through professional levels. These groupings of occupations are used as an organizing tool for curriculum design, a model for guidance and instruction, and a mechanism for seamless transition from secondary education to postsecondary and/or career.
"What's A Career Path?" Video
An 18-minute video introducing Career Paths to young students is now available online. Development of this timeless piece was sponsored by the Department in 1999 and originally distributed in VHS tape format. Similar to a Saturday morning fun show, this video is targeted to students in the 4-8 grade levels, yet is enjoyable for all ages.
Introduction | Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources | Architecture and Construction | Arts, Audio Visual Technology and Communications | Business Management and Administration | Education and Training | Finance | Government and Public Administration | Health Science | Hospitality and Tourism | Human Services | Information Technology | Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security | Manufacturing | Marketing | Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics | Transportation, Distribution and Logistics | Conclusion
Information Resources:
- Flyer for Students and Parents (Coming Soon!)
- Career Clusters Poster (2025)
- Career Clusters with Cluster Number (2025)
- CTE Perceptions Survey
The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Perceptions Survey was developed and administered by the University of Central Missouri from January through February 2025 under the direction of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).It was distributed as an electronic survey with data gathered in Qualtrics, a cloud-based platform that helps researchers create, distribute, and analyze surveys.
- Limited Access Grant
- Career Clusters
Missouri Career Education prepares Missourians for the 21st century to better serve the needs of students, parents, educators, and employers through challenging, relevant, and accountable programs.
Career Clusters provide a way for schools to organize instruction and student experiences around 14 broad categories that encompass virtually all occupations from entry through professional levels. These groupings of occupations are used as an organizing tool for curriculum design, a model for guidance and instruction, and a mechanism for seamless transition from secondary education to postsecondary and/or career.
"What's A Career Path?" Video
An 18-minute video introducing Career Paths to young students is now available online. Development of this timeless piece was sponsored by the Department in 1999 and originally distributed in VHS tape format. Similar to a Saturday morning fun show, this video is targeted to students in the 4-8 grade levels, yet is enjoyable for all ages.
Introduction | Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources | Architecture and Construction | Arts, Audio Visual Technology and Communications | Business Management and Administration | Education and Training | Finance | Government and Public Administration | Health Science | Hospitality and Tourism | Human Services | Information Technology | Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security | Manufacturing | Marketing | Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics | Transportation, Distribution and Logistics | Conclusion
Information Resources:
- Flyer for Students and Parents (Coming Soon!)
- Career Clusters Poster (2025)
- Career Clusters with Cluster Number (2025)
- Career & Technical Education Certificate
- Forms & Applications
Career and Technical Education
- Application For Approval of Career and Technical Education Programs Secondary/Adult Only (Revised 2025)
- Career & Technical Education New/Expansion Program Form
- Postsecondary Career Education Program Approval Request
Administrative/Financial
- 50/50 Form
- Guide for Computing Fees for Secondary Students - Postsecondary
- Construction Project Survey and Forms 1-3 for Area Career Centers
- FV-2 Form
- FV-4 Form
- Photo Permission Form
Mentoring Program
- Information moved to PD-Mentoring page
Technology and Engineering Education
- 2023-2024 Technology and Engineering Grant Award Program
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- Application For Approval of Career and Technical Education Programs Secondary/Adult Only (Revised 2025)
- Industry-Recognized Credentials (IRC) & TSA
DESE-Approved IRC, Stackable Credential, and TSA List
- New System Guidance - DESE-Approved IRC, Stackable Credential, and TSA Guidance Document (11/4/2025)
- The local education agency must use this document for students graduating in 2029.
- Previous System Guidance - DESE-Approved IRC, Stackable Credential, and TSA Guidance Document (11/4/2025)
- The local education agency may use this document or the new system guidance for students graduating in 2026, 2027, or 2028.
Industry-Recognized Credential (IRC) and Stackable Credential Applications
The window for submitting an IRC or Stackable Credential application opens May 1 and closes May 31 each year. Only Missouri local education agency administrators can submit an application for consideration.
- IRC Application 2026 (available May 1)
IRC RESOURCES
- 2026 IRC Application Questions (subject to change)
- The Missouri DESE-Approved Industry-Recognized Credentials Revamp
- IRC Rubric: This rubric will be used in the review process for all industry credentials submitted for recommendation to be added to the DESE-Approved Industry-Recognized Credentials (IRC) list. Based on points earned, each industry credential will be recognized as a stand-alone IRC or combined to equal a stand-alone IRC.
- Core Data and MOSIS Reference Manual
Contact Lori Brown at 573-526-4900 should you have any questions.
- New System Guidance - DESE-Approved IRC, Stackable Credential, and TSA Guidance Document (11/4/2025)
Professional Development
- New Teacher Institute (NTI)
NTI 2026
July 26-29, 2026, at the Stoney Creek Inn in Columbia, Missouri.
NTI is a four-day boot camp for new career and technical education teachers who are coming into teaching directly from industry. The purpose of NTI is to prepare novice teachers for their first day, week, and month of school with an eye toward a successful first year. School district administrative approval is required for all participants.
Eligible participants:
- do not have an education degree
- have never taught or have just finished their first year of teaching
- have been hired by a Missouri local education agency to teach in a DESE-approved CTE program
A $25 nonrefundable deposit is required for all participants, and registration is considered complete once that deposit and registration application is received by the department.
Contact Lori Brown at 573-526-4900 or [email protected] if you have any questions.
Register Here (registration closes June 30 at 11:59 pm - contingent upon registration count)
- $25.00 check made payable to "Treasurer, State of Missouri" and mailed to:
- NTI - Office of College and Career Readiness
P.O. Box 480
Jefferson City, MO 65102 - Please indicate "NTI" and name of teachers(s) on/with the check. (We receive numerous checks at DESE. We want to make sure the payment is applied appropriately.)
- A check does not guarantee a spot at NTI. You must register and then DESE will review the application to determine if you meet the qualifications to attend.
- NTI - Office of College and Career Readiness
- NTI Participant Checklist (Casual dress is acceptable.)
- NTI Agenda (not yet available)
TEACHER LEADERS
Are you, or do you know of, an experienced career and technical education (CTE) teacher who would like to assist as a teacher leader? This is a five-day commitment. A stipend is paid for teacher leaders and expenses are reimbursed at the state rate. Teacher leaders work with a cohort of 5-7 new teachers throughout NTI. Training and materials are provided. Interested CTE teachers should complete the application when it becomes available.
Teachers who have been retired for more than 3 years are not eligible to serve as a teacher leader.
TEACHER LEADER APPLICATION (closes April 30)
- Tech Centers That Work (TCTW)
TCTW is a program from the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) that “helps leaders and teachers adopt continuous improvement practices that foster rigorous academic and career pathway curricula, project-based instruction, work-based learning and personalized supports.”
FY 2027 TCTW
- FY 2027 TCTW Application (due May 15 by 1:00 p.m.)
- FY 2027 Grant Guidance
- First year awards will be based on the figures in the guidance document.
- Area career centers that will be in the 2nd-5th year of the grant in FY 2027 will be awarded as follows:
- 2nd Year - Up to $25,000
- 3rd Year - Up to $18,750
- 4th Year - Up to $15,625
- 5th Year - Up to $12,500
- Missouri Grant Handout
- SREB-TCTW Key Practices
- SREB-TCTW Career Pathway Review Guide
- Curriculum and Instruction Review Guide
FY 2026 TCTW
TCTW Grant Recipients
SCHOOL NETWORK PROGRAM YEAR Franklin Technology Center TCTW 1 (FY26) Boonslick Technical Education Center TCTW & HSTW 2 (FY25) Carthage Technical Center TCTW 2 (FY25) Lewis & Clark Career Center TCTW 2 (FY25) Carrollton Area Career Center & Carrollton High School TCTW & HSTW 3 (FY24) Northland Career Center and Smithville High School TCTW & HSTW 3 (FY24) Rolla Technical Institute TCTW 4 (FY23) Pike-Lincoln Technical Center & Troy-Buchanan High School TCTW & HSTW 4 (FY23) Dallas County Technical Center and Buffalo High School TCTW & HSTW 5 (FY22) Eldon Career Center and State Fair Community College TCTW & State Fair 5 (FY22) Hannibal Career and Technical Center TCTW 5 (FY22) Lex La-Ray Technical Center and Lexington Middle School TCTW & MMGW 5 (FY22) - CTE Mentoring Program
The Career and Technical Education Mentoring Program is offered to new CTE teachers and those teachers returning to the profession after extended absences. For more information contact Roger Barnes.