Skip to main content

Arizona Department of Education Facebook Page

Arizona Department of Education LinkedIn Page

Arizona Department of Education Instagram

Arizona Department of Education Twitter

Arizona Department of Education YouTube

mobile menu
Arizona Department of Education Homepage
  • Home
  • Parents
    • Parents & Families
    • Arizona Purple Star School Program
    • Early Childhood & Preschool
    • Empowerment Scholarship Account
    • Military Career Information
    • School Report Cards
    • Transcripts & Test Scores
    • U.S. Senate Youth Scholarship Program
  • Educators & Administrators
    • Academic Standards
    • Accountability
    • Assessment
    • Business & Finance >
      • School Finance
      • State & Federal Grants
      • School Safety
    • Certification & Leadership >
      • Certification & Career
      • Educator Recruitment & Retention
      • Effective Teachers & Leaders (Trainings)
      • Training & Professional Development
    • Post-Secondary Resources
    • Support & Improvement >
      • School Improvement
      • School Support
  • Programs
    • Academic Achievement >
      • Academic Achievement
      • Afterschool & 21st Century Learning Centers
      • Character Education
      • English Learners | OELAS & Migrant Education Program
      • Homeless, Foster Care, & Refugee Programs
      • Title I
    • Adult Education
    • Arizona Purple Star School Program
    • Career & Technical Education
    • Educator Leadership >
      • Charter School Program
      • Effective Teachers & Leaders
      • School Safety
      • School Safety Program
    • Gifted/Advanced Learning >
      • Gifted/Advanced Learning
      • College Credit by Examination
      • Dual Enrollment
      • Gifted Education
    • Health & Nutrition Services
    • Office of Indian Education
    • Special Education
  • About ADE
    • About the Department
    • Accounting & Procurement
    • Data Governance
    • Contact Us
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Information Technology
    • News Releases
    • State Board of Education
    • State Board for Charter Schools
    • Submit a Complaint
  • Data & Systems
    • ADEL (Arizona Digital Educators Library)
    • APLD (Professional Learning and Development)
    • Public Educator Search
    • School & Student Data
    • School Report Cards
    • Teacher Input Application (TIA)
  • ADEConnect
    • ADEConnect
    • Common Logon
  • Search
  • Home
  • Career and Technical Education
  • Arizona CTE Professional Skills

Arizona CTE Professional Skills

Arizona CTE Professional Skills

The Arizona Professional Skills are taught as an integral part of all CTE programs. They are recognized by business and industry leaders as being the most critical knowledge and skills necessary to obtain the job, be successful in the job, and advance in any career pathway. They are the result of 11 focus groups conducted around the state by the Arizona Department of Education, Career and Technical Education, working in cooperation with the Arizona CTE Quality Commission, advocates for accountability and excellence in Career and Technical Education.

 

CTE Professional Skills Standards

Full Page - Word ~ PDF / Printable Cards - Word ~ PDF

These standards are designed to be incorporated in the instruction of the CTE program technical standards.

 

High School Professional Skills Assessment 

This assessment measures the quality of skills and behaviors needed to succeed in the workplace. Questions are written to reflect current student skills which may be experienced through entry-level work, school activities, and/or volunteering. Topics are sourced from the AZ CTE Professional Skills Standards/Rubrics and the 2022 Social Emotional Learning Crosswalk.

  • Printable Preassessment
  • Post Assessment Scoring and Upskill Resources

 

CTE Professional Skills Performance Rubric

Rubrics for each standard measurement criteria provide teachers with a tool to evaluate student performance based on nine standards’ core actions:

STANDARD 1 Complex Communication
          
Start Here: Foundational Skills for Complex Communication Checklist
          Rubric

STANDARD 2 Collaboration
          Rubric
STANDARD 3 Thinking and Innovation
          Rubric
STANDARD 4 Professionalism
          Foundational Skills for Professionalism Checklist
          Rubric

STANDARD 5 Initiative and Self-Direction
          Rubric
STANDARD 6 Intergenerational and Cross-Cultural Competence
          Rubric
STANDARD 7 Organizational Culture
          Rubric
STANDARD 8 Legal and Ethical Practices
          Rubric
STANDARD 9 Financial Practices
          Rubric

 

CTE Professional Skills Resources

  • Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO):  azed.gov/cte/ctso
    CTSOs work as an integral component of the classroom curriculum and instruction as they enhance student learning through contextual instruction, leadership and personal development, applied learning and real-world application.
     
  • Competitive Advantage Track:  markcperna.com/cat/
    This free, video-based learning series does more than teach students about vital professional skills—it shows them why these skills matter to the successful life they want to live. Equip your students to build a personal competitive advantage that will enhance their effort at school and prepare them for a great future.
     
  • Curriculum Consortium (CTECAZ):  ctecaz.org
    Collection of over 60 Professional Skills lessons incorporating best practices to support students in learning and mastering these valuable skills.
     
  • Soft Skills Aha:  softskillsaha.com
    Now more than ever, today's employers are seeking more than technical ability; they are looking for real team players who possess strong communication and problem-solving skills, and who demonstrate resourcefulness and leadership in the workplace. Soft Skills High is specifically designed to provide high school students a place and an online program to learn the soft skill curriculum, earn a certificate upon completion of the program, and demonstrate their knowledge in the workplace. Learn more:  www.softskillsaha.com
     
  • The Learning Prism:  thelearningprism.org 
    Free professional skills curriculum aligned to the CTE Professional Skills standards.
    Explore 10 modules with engaging videos and worksheets (online and printable). Module quizzes, course reviews, final assessments, and certification are offered after each course.
     
  • Find Your Grind - Future Ready Arizona:  Click for Information
    Find Your Grind units and badges are aligned to the AZ Professional Skills Standards. Life and career readiness curriculum provides bite-sized learning activities organized into flexible, comprehensive units. Teacher resources include lesson outlines and professional development.

Contact Information:

Susan Farretta
CTE Career Development Program Specialist
Arizona Department of Education
Career and Technical Education
Email:  [email protected]
Desk:  (602) 542-5540


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 CTE Professional Skills.

  • AZ CTE Home Page
  • CTE Programs and Standards
    • Program Standards
    • Approved Program List
    • ADE Quality and Compliance Monitoring Form
    • Local Occupational Programs
    • Embedded Academic Credit
  • CTED - Career & Technical Education District
  • CTE Postsecondary
  • CTE Industry Credentials
  • CTE Technical Skills Assessments (TSAs)
  • CTE Grants
  • CTE Data and Accountability
  • Arizona School Counselors
  • CTE Administrator Resources
  • CTE Work-Based Learning
  • Arizona CTE Professional Skills
  • K-8 Career Literacy
  • CTSOs
  • CTE Certification & Professional Development
Contact
  • CTE Main
  • (602) 542-5282
  • CTE State Director – Kevin Imes
  • (602) 542-5805
  • [email protected]
  • CTE Programs - Cindy Gutierrez
  • (602) 542-4365
  • [email protected]
  • Technical Standards, Technical Skills Assessment, Career Literacy - Judy Balogh
  • (602) 542-4155
  • [email protected]
  • Arizona School Counselors – Emily Brown
  • (602) 542-5353
  • [email protected]
  • CTE Student Organizations - Julie Ellis
  • (602) 542-5350
  • [email protected]
  • Fiscal / Grants - Bobby Neves
  • (602) 542-5137
  • [email protected]
  • Data / Accountability - Samuel Irvin
  • (602) 364-1946
  • [email protected]
  • Work-Based Learning - Robert Garcia
  • (602) 542-8789
  • [email protected]
  • About Us
  • Locations
  • Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • School Report Cards
  • State Board of Education
  • State Board for Charter Schools
  • Web Accessibility

© 2025 Arizona Department of Education

  • Statewide Policies
  • Site Map