WHAT IS TECH PREP?
Tech Prep is a program of study that allows you to explore careers you may be interested in, to take a series of courses that will prepare you for your field of interest, and to help you work towards college credits while in high school. The goal is to help you get better jobs for better pay!
WHY IS TECH PREP IMPORTANT TO TODAY'S HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS?
Recent statistics indicate that the employment opportunities, the workforce and the work environment will be changing significantly in the 21st century. Students must make connections between what they are learning in school and how they can use these skill sets in building successful careers.
- 80% of all careers require education and training beyond high school, but not necessarily a four-year degree.
- Of today’s high school students, 60% will work in jobs that currently do not exist.
- Students must learn to be adaptable since they will change careers numerous times throughout their lives.
- 44% of all jobs will include information management: collecting, analyzing, synthesizing, storing and retrieving data.
- New jobs will continue to shift to the service industries, with more than half of the new jobs in health, business and retail services.
- Tomorrow’s workers will need to perform a variety of tasks requiring a broader knowledge base, and skills will need to be transferable from one job to another.
- Workers will need to know how to access the job market, negotiate for competitive wages and maximize their opportunities.
WITH TECH PREP A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT CAN:
- Start a career pathway with an identified sequence of courses leading to employment.
- Increase his or her employability and technological skills. The skills learned in high school prepare the student for entry level employment while also attending college.
- Earn up to a full semester of college credits at NO cost, while in high school.
- Get a head start on his or her career and save money on college tuition by attending NOVA.
ARE TECH PREP GRADUATES PREPARED FOR COLLEGE?
Once you choose a career field, your teachers and counselors will work with you to make sure you incorporate the necessary academic and technical programs into your schedule. Teachers work with Tech Prep Partners from the various career fields to be sure that each program of study prepares you for the workplace and for continued education through college or an apprenticeship program.
For additional information and assistance with the application process, contact the director of Tech Prep at NOVA at phone: 571-226-7824 or rdbrown@nvcc.edu.
HOW DO STUDENTS ENROLL IN TECH PREP?
To participate in Tech Prep, high school students should contact their school guidance counselor to discuss their career interests and to select a career and technical program of studies.To get the most from the credits you earned in your high school program, you can enroll at Northern Virginia Community College and may be able to transfer the credits you earned in your career courses to your NOVA program.
Once at NOVA, you must contact the Tech Prep Director to have your Tech Prep credits transferred. You must apply for Tech Prep credit and successfully complete one course at NOVA within 24 months of high school graduation. Credits will not be reflected on your transcript until one course has been completed!