Education and Training - Career Preparation

This section focuses on exploring postsecondary education, postsecondary training, and certification opportunities.

Career preparation and work-based learning is experience and instruction that occurs in the community, or brings community partners into the classroom, to help youth prepare students for postsecondary education and training options that culminate in degrees, certificates, and lifelong learning skills. This section focuses on exploring postsecondary education, postsecondary training, and certification opportunities.

The National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center (NSTTAC) has identified evidence-based practices in secondary transition planning that lead to positive post-school outcomes in the area of education and training which are offering a wide variety of career awareness opportunities and providing student supports.

Transition Planning: The Basics (PDF; 54MB)
School-based preparatory experiences are referenced on pages 12-21 and page 26.

These pages also provide information on how to comply with elements 1-6 of the Indicator 13 requirements of the California Annual Performance Report (APR) .

Postsecondary Education Exploration

California Colleges
The official site for college and career planning for California. Explore colleges, programs and financial aid.

California Career Center
Provides links to apprenticeship programs, private and technical schools, colleges and universities and state and national community service opportunities.

Open the Door to College
Provides information about California’s higher education options for students with intellectual disabilities and autism.

Explore College Majors
This site helps students explore college majors at University of California, California State Universities and Community Colleges.

Postsecondary Training

California Community Colleges
This site offers information about all of the community colleges in California. It provides information about what course offerings are available, degree and certificate programs, and financial aid. You can compare college offerings among the community colleges and Salary Surfer lets you explore earnings. Explore offerings for vocational certificates for specific career interest. Check out community education programs at the college you select. Some colleges offer classes in photography, wellness and fitness, writing, communication skills and a variety of other topics.

Certification Programs

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Offers 10 hour safety training that qualifies workers for jobs in construction and entry level positions that require handling tools, lifting, forklift operation and others. Training is provided by employers or career-technical education programs.

California Restaurant Association
This site is an example of training offered through various industries. Everyone who works with food is required to have a food handler’s permit that is offered through career-technical education or employers.

American Hotel and Lodging Association Educational Institute
This site offers information about the array of training that is available for hotel and lodging employees.

Questions: Programs and Partnerships Unit | 916-327-0878

Last Reviewed: Wednesday, March 8, 2023

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