College & career readiness

Build Your Future: Trades & Careers

College isn't the only road. Learners explore skilled trades and other career paths, from electrician, HVAC, plumbing and welding to manufacturing and more, and compare apprenticeships, certificates and college side by side.

4 sessions · adapts to all four learner tiers (K–college)

Start session 1 Print a Rep Card

Core tool

The Path Compare

For any path: what you'd do all day · how long the training takes and what it costs · how you can earn while you learn · what it pays and where it can lead.

Before you start: quick self-check

Rate each line from 1 (not yet) to 5 (definitely) before session 1, then again after your Real-World Rep.

I know at least three career paths that don't require a four-year degree
I have a next step for exploring a career

The sessions

4 sessions, three beats each.

Every session runs Hook → Rep → Reflect, so learners know what to expect each time.

  1. Session 1

    Hands-On Careers

    Hook5–10 min

    Guess the training time for five careers

    Rep10–30 min

    Explore three trades: what each does, the training and the job outlook, using the Occupational Outlook Handbook

    Reflect5–10 min

    Write one line on your Rep Card: what I tried, what happened, what I'll try next.

  2. Session 2

    Earn While You Learn

    Hook5–10 min

    An apprentice and a college student, four years later

    Rep10–30 min

    Compare an apprenticeship, a certificate and a degree with the Path Compare

    Reflect5–10 min

    Write one line on your Rep Card: what I tried, what happened, what I'll try next.

  3. Session 3

    Try It Out

    Hook5–10 min

    A day in the life of a tradesperson

    Rep10–30 min

    Do a hands-on challenge, like wiring a simple circuit or measuring and building, or set up a job shadow

    Reflect5–10 min

    Write one line on your Rep Card: what I tried, what happened, what I'll try next.

  4. Session 4

    Your Path Plan

    Hook5–10 min

    Choosing a direction without boxing yourself in

    Rep10–30 min

    Write a plan: classes, programs or apprenticeships to look into, and one person to talk to

    Reflect5–10 min

    Write one line on your Rep Card: what I tried, what happened, what I'll try next.

Real-World Rep

Talk to one person who works in a trade or career you're curious about, and write down three things you learned.

By age

How it adapts for each learner tier.

K–5

Sprouts

20 min sessions

Community helpers who build and fix things, and simple building challenges.

6–8

Builders

30 min sessions

A career interest quiz, tool and safety basics, and career and technical classes to look for in high school.

9–12

Launchers

40 min sessions

Apprenticeships, career and technical education, dual enrollment and industry certifications.

College & first-year adults

Leaders

50 min or self-paced sessions

Changing paths, short certificate programs, union and employer apprenticeships, and starting a trade business.

For teachers & facilitators

Invite local tradespeople, unions and community colleges to speak. Use the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (bls.gov/ooh) for current pay and job outlook.