Career Technical Education (CTE) Credential

Program Overview 1 Year Online

Career Technical Education (CTE) Credential

Overview

Teaching in a Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway is where some of the most innovative teaching is happening today in education. Career Technical Education teachers are in high demand.

This is an opportunity for you to put your professional experience to use in the classroom. You will be an essential support for workforce development and help a young person set a path for their career. Our program will provide the information you need to know to transform your career knowledge into an educational curriculum.

While in the program, we will provide you with mentorship and advising as you transition from industry to the classroom or from a core academic teacher who is becoming a CTE teacher.

Work verification sample letter examples can be viewed here.

Benefits

  • Flexible courses allow teachers to complete the program while fulfilling their teaching responsibilities.
  • Course work directly supports your work as a teacher.
  • Lessons and discussion are taken from your work teaching.
  • A one-year program that makes you a fully qualified CTE teacher by the end of the program.
  • Courses are in the afternoon and early evening, given your role as a full-time teacher.
  • Program taught by experienced practitioners who are extremely knowledgeable about CTE and the teaching profession.

Audience

This program is for individuals who want to bring their industry experience into the classroom and become a member of the rewarding profession that is teaching.

It is also open to current teachers who have an opportunity to teach in a CTE pathway, but lack the proper credentials.

Structure

For individuals who do not have a teaching credential, students will take three courses in the program:

  • EDSS 291: Foundations of Career Technical Education
  • EDSS 392: Teaching Strategies for the CTE Classroom
  • EDSS 393: Assessments for Instruction in the CTE Classroom

These courses are offered fully online.

For individuals who have a valid teaching credential, students will take one course:

  • EDSS 291: Foundations of Career Technical Education

This course is offered in a hybrid modality.

For individuals who have been teaching on their preliminary CTE credential for two or more years and are hoping to clear their credential, students will take one course:

  • EDSS 394: Advanced Strategies for the CTE Classroom

This course is offered in a hybrid modality.

Advising and mentoring happens periodically, with meetings scheduled between the student and the mentor.

All course descriptions can be found in the catalog by clicking here.

Schedule

For individuals who do not have a teaching credential, students will take three courses in the program.

Each course is 10 weeks in length with online synchronous classes held from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays starting this FALL 2025:

  • EDSS 291: Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27, Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24, Oct. 1, and 8.
  • EDSS 392: Oct. 15, 22, 29, Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26, Dec. 3, 10, and 17.  
  • EDSS 393: Jan. 14, 21, 28, 2026, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11, and 18.

For individuals who have a valid teaching credential, students will take one course — EDSS 291 — offered in SPRING 2026.

This course is offered in a hybrid modality, meeting synchronously from 5 – 7 p.m. on Monday/Wednesday on Jan. 5, 7, 12, and 14. Then, students will meet in person once a month from 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on the following Saturdays: Feb. 7, March 7, April 7, and May 2.

For individuals who have been teaching on their preliminary CTE credential for 2 or more years and are hoping to clear their credential, students will take one course — EDSS 394.

This course is offered in a hybrid modality with classes held from Aug. 25 – Dec. 12, 2025. Further specifics regarding the schedule will be posted at a later time.

Fees

Each course costs $370 per unit or $1,110 per course.

Financial assistance is available for certain CTE sectors through grant funds.

Video
Explaining CTE’s Orientation for Incoming Students

Explaining CTE’s Orientation for Incoming Students

Dr. Veunta Dailey walks you through the orientation process for the Career Technical Education (CTE) credential program, outlining the steps for enrolling in classes, the program application fee policies, and the requirements for the preliminary and clear credentials.

Article April 22, 2024

Sac State’s College of Continuing Education Offering New CTE Credential

Determined to offer teachers the opportunity to put professional experience to use in the classroom and become an essential part of workforce development, Sac State’s College of Continuing Education (CCE) is now offering a CTE Credential. The only one of its kind in Sacramento County, this new educational resource is giving those who are currently having to travel to similar programs in Southern California a credentialing option much closer to home.