eCTE Career Exploration
Standards are organized by career cluster and developed from National/AZ CTE high school standards. eCTE standards are reviewed by middle/high school teacher committees and piloted with students. Standards include age-appropriate technical, employability, and academic skills
Career Exploration and Introduction to Early CTE Knowledge and Skills
- Grades 6-8 - Download
The Arizona Career Literacy Standards were created in 2019 and updated and renamed Career Exploration and Introduction to Early (eCTE) Career and Technical Education for Grades 6-8 in June 2024. This update includes investigating career clusters, occupations, jobs, and employability skills, and introducing high school CTE programs.
eCTE Digital Arts, Media, Entertainment Career Exploration Standards
- Grades 6-8 - Download
Introduction to Digital Animation, Digital Communication, Digital Photography, Film and TV Production, Graphic Design, Music and Audio Production in preparation for high school and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Standards are aligned with Arizona Fine Arts Standards in Media Visual and Media Arts, and Music.
eCTE Family & Consumer Science Career Exploration Standards
- Grades 6-8 - Download
Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) Career Exploration standards introduce middle school students to Culinary Arts, Early Childhood Education, Ed Professions, Hospitality Management, and Fashion Design and Merchandising Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
eCTE Healthcare Career Exploration Standards
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Grades 6-8 Download
Healthcare Career Exploration standards introduce middle school students to Bioscience, Dental Assisting, Emergency Medical Services, Home Health Aide, Laboratory Assisting, Medical Assisting, Nursing Services, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
Note: eCTE Engineering & Manufacturing Standards scheduled for 2027 release
eCTE Curricular Resources
| Agriculture Careers Career areas: plant, animal, and water systems |
Technology Careers Career areas: software solutions, network, cybersecurity, IT support, data science |
| Business Careers Career areas: business, leadership, management, and entrepreneurship |
Engineering & Manufacturing Careers Career areas: engineering, robotics, industrial machinery, production |
| Construction Careers Career areas: architecture, equipment operation, and skilled trades |
Family & Consumer Science Careers Career areas: eCTE Culinary Arts, Early Childhood Education, Ed Professions, Hospitality Management, Fashion Design and Merchandising |
| Digital Arts Careers Career areas: eCTE Digital Animation, Digital Communication, Digital Photography, Film/TV Production, Graphic Design, Music and Audio Production, and Stagecraft |
Healthcare Careers Career areas: eCTE Bioscience, Dental Assisting, Emergency Medical Services, Home Health Aide, Laboratory Assisting, Medical Assisting, Nursing Services, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation |
| Workplace/Employability/Professional Skills Career areas: all |
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Please note: The Arizona Department of Education does not endorse curriculum. The curricular resources on this webpage are posted for teacher consideration and offer instructional ideas to teach Career Awareness.
Arizona High School CTE Programs and Standards
All Arizona middle school students will have access to high-quality, developmentally appropriate career exploration that sparks curiosity, broadens possibilities, and empowers students to discover unique future pathways to success. Through engaging, consistent experiences, family involvement, and a shared statewide language, students will be prepared to enter high school with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Advanced CTE Career Clusters and Resources: The National Career Clusters® provides a shared structure and language for educators. The 2024 Framework is designed to provide resources for evolving industry needs and is flexible for each state's needs.
ARIZONA@WORK: Explore in-demand career wages and employment information for key industries and occupations from around the state.
Association of Middle Level Educators (AMLE): Exploring Career Paths: A Guide for Middle Schoolers (and The People Who Care About Them). This free playbook is a collaboration from AMLE, ASA, and Canva for Education.
Career Addict: How to choose the right career path in 7 simple steps.
Career Explorer: Career matches based on interests, goals, history, workplace preferences, and personality.
Career Fitter: Assessment to determine work personality strengths and optimal work environments, leadership style, income potential, and career matches.
Career One Stop: Career assessments ask questions about your preferences and strengths to identify careers that might be the best fit.
Career Tree: The first generationally focused solution that delivers a fresh vision for purpose-driven education and passion-driven employment.
Defined Learning: Hands-on career experiences through ready-made project-based learning.
Edge Factor: Inspires people to explore, prepare, and connect on their Career Journey.
Junior Achievement of AZ-JA Inspire: Dynamic career development experiences provide middle school students access to local employers, post-secondary education opportunities, and interactive career activities. Empower the Future
Junior Achievement of AZ -Career Readiness: FREE in-person and virtual programs focus on career readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. Learn more about which program is right for your student!
Major Clarity: Students can quickly and easily try out careers through immersive activities and video content.
My Future AZ: Career exploration and discovery tool for Arizona middle school students. My Future AZ provides visibility of local high school CTE courses to enable students to make informed choices about high school.
O*Net Career Profiler: A set of self-directed career exploration/assessment tools to help workers consider and plan career options, preparation, and transitions more effectively
Xello: Students complete interactive career, personality, and learning style assessments to help them better understand their unique interests, skills, and strengths with relevant career options.
Junior Achievement of AZ-JA Inspire: Dynamic career development experiences provide middle school students access to local employers, post-secondary education opportunities, and interactive career activities. Empower the Future
Junior Achievement of AZ -Career Readiness: FREE in-person and virtual programs focus on career readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. Learn more about which program is right for your student!
Arizona Career Exploration and Development (ACED) Project: Curriculum developed for students to explore career pathways using career media and interactive activities suitable for both classroom and virtual learning settings. Explore our engaging curricula to impart inspiring real-life stories, assign interactive activities, and access downloadable lesson plans.
AVID Open Access: Free resources that support student agency and academic tenacity while practicing career skills.
AZ State Parks Career Exploration: Video Postcard Program facilitated by Post Pigeon EDU. Sign up for a free resource that enables your classroom to receive a personalized video postcard from a state park ranger! Getting started is simple: select an Arizona state park, fill out a short form, and receive ready-to-use curriculum materials. Students will learn about public lands, outdoor careers and state parks aligned to (eCTE) standards.
Exploring: Career Exploration Lessons for 6th – 7th grades. Aims to teach important life and career skills to young people from all backgrounds through immersive career experiences.
Educator Pro Connect: Providing teachers with industry and STEM professional connections. An online resource from the Maricopa County School Superintendent’s Office. Free to all teachers and professionals in Arizona.
Discovery Education: Giving educators innovative ways to design and deliver engaging learning experiences every day. Boeing Virtual Field Trip
iCEV Middle School Curriculum: Digital literacy and career exploration lessons tied to the AZ Career Literacy Standards.
American School Counselor Association (ASCA): Middle School Career Conversations: "When thinking of your future, are there any skills you would like to further develop?" - English ~ Spanish
Career Exploration: “What Problem do you want to solve?”
Please note: The Arizona Department of Education does not endorse curriculum. The curricular resources on this webpage are posted for teacher consideration and offer instructional ideas to teach Career Awareness.
2025 Arizona Career Exploration Partnership Plan: ADE, CFA, ABEC, ACTEAZ, AEF collaborated to create a vision for future forward career exploration.
Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE): Career Exploration in Middle School, Setting Students on the Path to Success
Advance CTE: Design Principles for Middle School CTE
America Student Assistance (ASA): National Analysis of Middle School Career Exploration
eDynamic Learning: How Career Exploration Can Change a Student's Path in Life
