I want to learn a specific skill that will help me get a job 

What is it?

Attending Career Vocational Training or working toward a College Certificate can help you learn the skills you need to succeed in the job market. DCPS can offer you competitive opportunities to study the skills you will need for the specific job path that you select. If you have not yet received your high school diploma, DCPS can help you enroll in both a DCPS school for credit recovery and apply to one of our great Career Vocational Training partnership schools.

What are my options?

Certificate Track

If you are not on track to graduate from high school, the Certificate Track can help you learn the skills you need to succeed in the job market while you work toward obtaining a certificate at a local college. In the Certificate Track program, you would enroll with both DCPS and a local community college, if accepted, in the Workforce Development Program. With the Workforce Development Program, you could hone your skills and talents and receive a certificate for a trade. You could also have the opportunity to participate in an ABE/GED program and take non-credit classes in the Workforce Development Program. In both of these programs, you will access coursework that directly applies to your future career goals.

Career Vocational Training

If you are on track to graduate and are interested in learning workforce development skills in preparation for a rewarding career, then you may be interested in Career Vocational Training.

In the Career Vocational Training program, you could apply to a local community college and take courses to pursue specialized interests through Workforce Development Programs that supplement your high school experience. You could dually enroll in your neighborhood school to receive the specialized instruction supports identified in your IEP. If enrolled in a local community college, you have the option of working toward a certificate or associate’s degree.

Check out these Vocational Training Sites:

Community College of the District of Columbia (CCDC)

• Certificate Options:
  • Nursing Assistant
  • Office Technology
  • Practical Nursing
• Workforce Development Program (WDP)
  • Healthcare
  • Construction Trades
  • Hospitality Careers
  • Office Technology

Montgomery County Community College (MCCC)

• Career Development:
  • Associate of Applied Science
  • Certificate
  • Letter of Recognition (L.O.R.)
• Sample Programs:
  • Business and Entrepreneurship
  • Business Writing
  • Career & Work Skills
  • Computer Technology (ITI)
  • Driver Education
  • Event Management & Hospitality
  • Film & Music
  • Finance, Personal Finance & Investing
  • Real Estate
  • Sales & Marketing

Prince George’s Community College (PGCC)

• Sample Programs:
  • Accounting
  • Automotive Service and Repair
  • Aviation
  • Business Administration
  • Certified Nursing Assistance
  • Child Care Management
  • Computer Science
  • Cosmetology
  • Culinary Arts
  • Dental Assistance
  • Health Science Clinical
  • Personal Finance
  • Policy Academy

Additional Local Vocational Schools:

• ITT Tech
• The Art Institute of Washington:
  • Programs in Design, Media Arts, Culinary, and Fashion
• Culinary Arts
• Additional Listings

Why this might be a good fit

If you are interested in learning the practical skills needed to succeed in the job market and continuing on with additional academic and professional education, then Vocational Training may be a great fit for you.

How does this help me achieve my future goals?

Vocational training can help you learn the practical skills you need to succeed in your future career. 

Students with vocational training are more likely to be hired directly out of school than their peers without training. In fact, many studies have shown that general technical skills and occupation-specific skills learned in vocational training programs can help increase your productivity, ability to transfer skills to other jobs, and access to new and exciting career options. 

Upon completion of these programs, you would be prepared for a career.

Next Steps

Before deciding on vocational training or a certificate program, make sure you sit down and talk with your family and Placement Specialist. Let them know that this is something you’d like to explore.