Guide

Launching a CTE Pathway: Sequence and Approvals Timeline

In review Last checked October 3, 2026

These pages summarize rules to help you plan. They are not legal advice. Before you place students at a work site or change a program, check with your state agency, your district's counsel and your insurance carrier.

About this guide: what has to happen, in what order

This guide puts the approvals, filings and preparation steps for a new CTE pathway in order and shows how far ahead each one has to start. It covers the eight pathways in this set (nurse aide, EMT, electrical, welding, construction and carpentry, HVAC, cybersecurity and networking, programming and computer science) in Michigan, Virginia, North Carolina, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Hawaii.

A new pathway needs approval from at least one agency, and often two:

The state education agency approves the CTE program. That approval is what makes the program eligible for state CTE funds and Perkins V.
A second agency approves the training itself when the pathway leads to a regulated credential. Nurse aide programs need the state nurse aide regulator in every state reviewed. EMT courses need the state EMS office. Trades and IT pathways usually need no second agency, but registered apprenticeships and work placements for minors bring their own filings.

How to use it. Start from the date of the first class and work backward with the template in this guide. The state tables give the fixed windows you cannot move, such as Missouri’s September 1 to May 1 application window. The pathway table gives the longest-lead items for each pathway.

Only published timing is used. Where an agency publishes a deadline or a review time, the guide states it. Where none was found, the guide says so, and you should ask the agency before you set a date. Each state fact carries one of three labels: Confirmed, Confirm with the agency or Changing. Rules were last checked October 2 and 3, 2026.

The six implementation toolkits (Staffing; Clinical and Work-Based Learning Partnerships; Approvals and Applications; Facilities and Equipment; Curriculum; Scheduling and Student Timing) hold the detail for each step. This guide puts them in sequence.

The launch sequence in five phases

Every pathway in this set moves through the same five phases. The phases overlap in practice, but each gate has to be passed before the work after it can be finished. The drawing is not to scale; the state and pathway sections give the actual lead times.

Approvals sit in the middle: plan before you file, build after

Show the steps as text

1. Decide: Labor market fit, local needs assessment and student interest Form the advisory committee; pick the program from the state list Name the credential and any second agency that must approve it
Gate: the board commits to the pathway
2. Staff and plan: Name a certifiable instructor; the applications ask for one Draft curriculum, lab plan and equipment list; line up clinical sites Start articulation or dual enrollment talks with a college
Gate: each application packet is complete
3. Apply: File the state CTE program application inside its window File the second-agency application (nurse aide program, EMT course) Request any credential or course additions; register apprenticeships
Gate: approvals issued in writing
4. Build and enroll: Install equipment; pass any regulator site visit Put courses in the master schedule; recruit once approval allows it Sign clinical and worksite agreements; file child labor paperwork
Gate: students scheduled; agreements and permits on file
5. Launch and report: First class; schedule credential testing for the right age and term Report enrollment and credentials in the state CTE data system Track renewal dates for approvals, permits and articulation agreements

launch sequence · five phases, four gates, not to scale

Instructor before application. Nurse aide applications in every state reviewed name an approved RN instructor. CTE program applications in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Missouri ask for a certified teacher. Start recruiting in phase 2 so the packet is complete when the window opens.

Recruiting after approval. Arizona’s Board of Nursing bars advertising and fee collection before a nurse aide program is approved. In other states, counselors may describe a planned pathway, but enroll students in a credential course only after approval is in writing or the review date is known.

Reporting set up before launch. Michigan pays Section 61a(1) added cost one year after the enrollment it is based on, and only for state-approved programs reported in CTEIS. Perkins counts credentials reported in the state system. Set up the program code, teacher assignment and credential reporting before the first day of class.

State CTE approval windows and fixed dates

These are the dates you plan around. Where a state publishes a window, file inside it for the school year you want; a late filing usually means a one-year delay or partial funding.

State	CTE program approval: who and when	Adding a credential to the state list	Funding dates tied to approval	Status
Michigan	New Program Application in the MDE CTE Portal. The CEPD administrator approves it before it goes to MDE OCTE. MDE describes a full-year planning process that starts in late summer; OCTE announces each year’s window by memo	“Request to Add Foundational Credential” form to OCTE; no window published. Report credentials earned in CTEIS by August 31	Section 61a(1) added cost goes only to approved programs reported in CTEIS and pays one year after the enrollment year. Section 61v Expansion Grant round 1 closed March 2, 2026 and round 2 closed July 1, 2026; the FY2026-27 budget (signed July 21, 2026) shows $0 for 61v	Process Confirmed. 2026-27 window: Confirm with the agency. 61v: Changing
Virginia	Programs run under the division’s annual CTE local plan, reviewed by VDOE (8VAC20-120-40). VDOE’s new program or course application form could not be opened	Industry Credential Submission Form; VDOE reviews on a rolling basis and the Board acts once a year	CTE Equipment Grant awards of $37,500 to 16 divisions each spring (May 2024 and May 2026 rounds)	Local plan Confirmed. New program form and deadline: Confirm with the agency
North Carolina	Annual Local Application in the CCIP. Courses come from the state CTE Course Inventory; a local course needs DPI approval. No new-course deadline found	CTE Credential Application opens October 1 and is due July 1, effective the next school year	State CTE funds (PRC 013 and 014) are released only after the local application is approved	. Local course deadline: Confirm with the agency
Arizona	No separate application. Choose a program from ADE’s approved list, published every two years from labor market data; the current list covers 2027	Apply February to March 13; review March 13 to 31; revisions due April 30	CTED funding for grade 9 and the year after graduation needs the program on the regional in-demand list for the year the student started (A.R.S. 15-393(X), (Z)); funding for grades 10 to 12 does not depend on the list. The program must lead to a credential where one exists. ADE reviews programs every five years (A.R.S. 15-393)	. The next list cycle: Changing
Pennsylvania	CATS application in My PDE Applications. Regulation: submit before August 1 for full-year reimbursement (22 Pa. Code 339.4). In 2023 and 2024 PDE opened CATS in spring with a May 31 new-program deadline. Level-one equipment must be bought for year one	No process found beyond a 2017 PDE resource guide	No CTE payments until the Secretary approves the program; late filings get partial-year reimbursement. Supplemental Equipment Grant applications for 2026-27 were due September 17, 2026	Regulation Confirmed. 2027 CATS dates: Confirm with the agency
Missouri	Form MO 500-2457 to DESE, submitted between September 1 and May 1 for the next school year. Curriculum must be finished before instruction; articulation in place within one year	IRC list window April 1 to 30, 2027 (LEA administrators only)	Enhancement Grant applications have closed in late winter (FY26 was due February 28, 2025); only approved programs in high-demand occupations qualify	Window Confirmed. Next Enhancement Grant date: Confirm with the agency
Hawaii	HIDOE runs secondary CTE as one statewide district. Programs of study are approved by the State Board for CTE; no school-level application was found	No K-12 list or request process found	HIDOE school Perkins plans are due November 30, with reviews November to May	(HIDOE CTE)

Programs on an existing state list move faster. In Arizona, a program on the approved list needs no application. In North Carolina, a course already in the state Course Inventory needs only the annual local application. Check the state list before you design a local course.

Second-agency approvals and lead times by pathway

The second agency usually sets the longest lead time in a launch. Nurse aide is the only pathway in this set where every state requires a separate program approval with a published review process. Cosmetology comes closest: in five of the seven states (Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Arizona and Missouri), hours count only in a board-licensed school, so your program needs a board school license or a licensed partner. North Carolina also requires Dental Board approval of a dental assisting course before students perform dental functions on patients.

Nurse aide: the regulator’s timeline by state

State	Regulator	Lead time to file	Review time	Status
Michigan	LARA Bureau of Community and Health Systems, online through MI-NATES. Secondary schools pay a $100 program fee; each trainer needs a $60 permit	None published	30 days to process a complete application; announced survey within 60 days of a complete application; report within 60 days of the survey. Permits run two years and expire in even years
Virginia	Board of Nursing (18VAC90-26)	At least 90 days before opening	Site visit before approval; no review time published
North Carolina	DHSR Health Care Personnel Registry, form HCPR-4510	None published	None published. DHSR approves each clinical site before it is used	Review time: Confirm with the agency
Arizona	State Board of Nursing	At least 90 days before the start date	Up to 120 days (30 administrative, 90 substantive), with a site visit. No advertising or fee collection before approval	. Whether the surety bond applies to public schools: Confirm with the agency
Pennsylvania	PDE Nurse Aide Training Program office (NATCEP application, PDE-3128G, PDE-3128C)	None published	None published. Later changes on a Report of Change take 30 days	Review time: Confirm with the agency
Missouri	DHSS Health Education Unit, form MO 580-2469	None published	Decision within 90 days; approval lasts two years
Hawaii	DHS Med-QUEST Division	None published	Decision within 90 days. High schools currently run as satellite sites under a certified college or private program

Where a published time exists, the regulator step alone takes at least 90 days, and up to about 150 days in Michigan if each window is used in full. File the nurse aide application at least four to five months before the first class, and name the instructor and clinical site before you file.

Other pathways

Pathway	Second agency or outside approval	Published timing	Plan for
EMT	The state EMS office approves EMT courses. Most high schools partner with an approved program, usually a community college, through dual enrollment or a CTE center	No course-approval lead time found in any state reviewed	NREMT accepts a course completed within the past two years. State certification ages differ (Arizona and Hawaii 18; Michigan 18 with bills for 17 in committee; North Carolina tests at 17 and certifies at 18). Schedule the course so students reach the age inside that window. See the EMT guide
Electrical	No second agency for the program. NCCER accreditation or a sponsor relationship if you use NCCER credentials	NCCER publishes no processing time. Michigan apprentices register with the Electrical Administrative Board within 30 days of hire	Instructor NCCER certification (virtual) and, in North Carolina, OSHA-10 before teaching
Welding	No second agency. AWS SENSE or NCCER test-site arrangements for credentials	None published	Articulation renewals: Michigan’s Mott Community College welding agreement expires November 1, 2026
Construction and carpentry	No second agency. NCCER accreditation or sponsor	None published	For a student-built house, settle who pulls the building permit and who is the contractor of record before the build year starts; see the construction guide
HVAC	No second agency for the program. EPA Section 608 testing needs an approved certifying organization and proctor; EPA sets no minimum age	None published	Order 608 test materials and schedule the proctor before the end of the course
Cybersecurity and networking	None	None	Testing center setup for CompTIA or Cisco exams. Michigan’s Mott statewide IT agreements expire November 1, 2026
Programming and computer science	None	None	Certiport exams require a signed parental consent form for candidates under 18. Michigan’s Baker College 11.0201 agreement expired July 31, 2026
Automotive service technology	ASE Education Foundation accreditation (voluntary; Virginia requires it for auto body only). In Michigan, co-op students who repair customer vehicles need a Secretary of State mechanic trainee permit or category certification. Hawaii licenses mechanics	ASE accreditation: self-evaluation, then a two-day on-site visit; five-year term; renew at least six months before expiry. Trainee permit: none published	Get trainee permits before paid placements start ($20, two years per category, not renewable). Confirm with MDE whether accreditation is a condition of 47.0604 approval. See the automotive guide
Medical and dental assisting	State dental boards set radiography rules: an exam before students expose radiographs in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Arizona, and training plus an equivalency exam in North Carolina. North Carolina students perform dental functions only in a Board-approved course. Arizona’s medical board requires a national certification exam before a CTED completer works as a medical assistant	None published	Build the radiography credential into the sequence before any patient X-rays. In Arizona, use CCMA or RMA. Michigan requires a radiography course; Missouri and Hawaii require none. See the medical and dental assisting guide
Cosmetology	State cosmetology board school license. Hours count only in a board-licensed school in Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Arizona and Missouri. Virginia accepts VDOE-approved programs. Hawaii requires high school completion to enroll	None published. Licensing includes a board inspection in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Arizona	Get licensed or partner with a licensed school before students start. Register students with the board before day one (Missouri counts no hours until it approves enrollment). See the cosmetology guide
Agriculture	No second agency for the program. State agriculture departments certify pesticide applicators	None published	Applicators and paid pesticide handlers must be 18 in nearly every state (Pennsylvania private permits at 16; Missouri 16-17 provisional for family farms). Land-lab work for course credit is outside the WPS. See the agriculture guide
Early childhood education	State child care licensing agency for a lab preschool. Exemptions are narrow and differ by state; Pennsylvania has no public school exemption	No licensing lead time published. Federal rules give states 45 days to complete background checks	Contact the licensing agency before enrolling children. Build fingerprint checks into the placement timeline for students who count as staff. See the early childhood guide
Culinary arts and hospitality	Local or state health department permit for a student restaurant, café, catering service or food truck that serves the public. No state food code checked exempts teaching kitchens	None published	Ask the health department before opening to the public and before any remodel (plan review). Name a certified food protection manager where the state requires one. See the culinary guide
Machining and mechatronics	No second agency in any of the seven states. Optional NIMS program accreditation; NIMS test-site registration of sponsors and proctors	NIMS accreditation: self-evaluation due within 3 months of applying, then an on-site evaluation; five-year term	Register the NIMS test site before testing. Accreditation costs $1,000 plus $250 a year and needs two advisory committees. See the machining guide
Engineering and drafting	No second agency in any state checked. PLTW requires Core Training before a teacher can access and teach its curriculum	None published. PLTW in-person Core Training runs about 40 hours over 5 days	Schedule Core Training ($2,400 per course) for every teacher of every course before the course year. See the engineering guide
Firefighting	The state fire training agency approves courses and certifies students (Michigan FFTC, Virginia VDFP, North Carolina NCOSFM, Arizona AzCFSE, Pennsylvania PSFA, Missouri DFS). Hawaii has no state certification	Arizona: application at least 60 days before the test date, at least 30 days for review, rosters 14 days before testing. Pennsylvania: most training agencies need at least six weeks. Michigan: before the council agenda deadline. Others: none published	Certification ages run 16 to 18, so plan a post-graduation testing step. Most routes need fire department membership through a cadet, explorer or junior program. See the firefighting guide
Law, public safety and corrections	No program approval. Ride-alongs follow the law enforcement agency’s own policy and forms; students are escorted visitors with no CJIS access	None published	Students cannot hold sworn, corrections, dispatch or guard jobs. Minimum ages are 18 for most roles, 20 for North Carolina police, deputies and detention officers, and 21 for police in Arizona and Missouri. See the law and public safety guide
Business management and marketing	None	None	Certiport exams require an authorized testing center and parental consent for candidates under 18
Entrepreneurship	No program approval. A school store or school-based enterprise runs under district sales tax registration and board policy. Food sold to students must meet USDA Smart Snacks standards	None published	Check sales tax treatment with the state revenue agency before launch; it differs by state. Virginia allows 30 exempt fundraiser days a year; ask the state child nutrition office elsewhere. See the entrepreneurship guide

Filings for students who work

Paid placements and registered apprenticeships bring their own lead times. North Carolina’s Supervised Practice agreement must be approved by NCDOL before the student starts; submit it about 60 days ahead. Hawaii registers apprentice and trainee agreements with DLIR within 30 days. North Carolina youth apprentices who graduate must enter registered apprenticeship within 120 days to keep the community college tuition waiver. The Working with Minors guide has every state’s filing.

Working backward from the first day of class

Fill in the template from the bottom up. Start with the first day of class, then use the state and pathway tables to set the latest date for each step. Where no review time is published, ask the agency and write their answer in the notes column.

Template

Step	Latest date	Set by	Owner	Notes
First day of class	[date]	School calendar
Students scheduled into the course	[date]	Course selection and master schedule calendar	Counseling	Recruit only after approval where the regulator requires it
Clinical, worksite and child labor agreements signed and filed	[date]	Pathway filings (for example, NC Supervised Practice approved before start, about 60 days ahead)	WBL coordinator
Equipment installed; regulator site visit passed	[date]	Regulator review time; vendor lead times	CTE director
Second-agency approval received	[date]	Published review time	CTE director
Second-agency application filed	[date]	Lead time to file, or review time if longer	CTE director
State CTE program approval received	[date]	State window	CTE director
State CTE application filed	[date]	State window (for example, Missouri by May 1)	CTE director
Instructor named and approved or certified	[date]	Must be in the application packet	HR	Include certification processing time
Clinical site or employer partner committed	[date]	Must be in the application packet for nurse aide	CTE director
Advisory committee formed; labor market case written	[date]	Required in the CTE application	CTE director
Board commits to the pathway	[date]	Local board calendar	Superintendent

Worked example: Arizona nurse aide program

A district plans a nurse aide program with its first class on Monday, August 9, 2027. Nursing Services is on ADE’s approved program list, so there is no CTE program application.

Arizona State Board of Nursing application. The Board requires filing at least 90 days before the start date (May 11, 2027) and can take up to 120 days to decide. File by April 11, 2027 so the full review fits before the first class.
Packet contents due before filing. The coordinator and instructor forms, written clinical agreements (at least 20 of the 120 hours in long-term care), a fire inspection report for the classroom and lab, the syllabus and policies. Name the RN instructor and sign the long-term care clinical agreement by March 2027.
Recruiting. The Board bars advertising and fee collection before approval. Spring course selection falls before an April filing would be decided, so list the course in the catalog as pending approval and confirm enrollment after the Board acts. Confirm with AZBN how it treats a public school’s course catalog.
Funding. CTED funding requires the program to lead to the credential. For grade 9 and the year after graduation, it also requires the program to appear on the regional in-demand list. Check both before the board commits.

The same method works for any pathway: the longest published lead time sets the latest filing date, and the packet contents set the steps before it.

Planning-year checklist by season

This checklist assumes a fall launch and a planning year that starts the summer or fall before. It fits Michigan’s late-summer planning start, Missouri’s September 1 to May 1 window and Pennsylvania’s recent spring CATS deadline. Move items earlier for a regulated pathway in a state with a long review, and check each date against your state row above.

Late summer and fall of the planning year

Write the labor market case and pull the local needs assessment (Perkins CLNA) findings for the pathway.
Form the advisory committee and record its first meeting; Michigan, Virginia, North Carolina, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Missouri all require one.
Confirm the program is on the state list (Arizona) or in the course inventory (North Carolina), and confirm the credential is on the state credential list.
Identify the second agency, if any, and get its current application form.
Board commits to the pathway. Approvals and Applications toolkit
Start instructor recruiting or an alternative staffing route. Staffing toolkit

Winter

Name the instructor and start any certification, permit or regulator approval (for example, a Michigan nurse aide trainer permit).
Approach clinical sites and employer partners; draft agreements. Clinical and Work-Based Learning Partnerships toolkit
Draft the curriculum or adopt the state curriculum; start articulation or dual enrollment talks. Curriculum toolkit
Finish the lab plan and equipment list; get vendor quotes and lead times. Facilities and Equipment toolkit
Check open grant windows that pay for equipment (state funding table in the Facilities toolkit).

Spring

File the state CTE program application inside the window (Missouri by May 1; Pennsylvania in the spring CATS window).
File the second-agency application at the lead time it requires (Virginia and Arizona nurse aide at least 90 days before start).
Set the course codes, schedule model and sections for course selection. Scheduling toolkit
Order equipment so it arrives before any regulator site visit.

Summer before launch

Install equipment and pass any regulator site visit.
Receive written approvals; set up the program code, teacher assignment and credential reporting in the state CTE data system.
Sign clinical and worksite agreements; file child labor paperwork for any student who will work. Working with Minors guide
Put renewal dates on the calendar: regulator approvals (Michigan nurse aide permits expire in even years; Missouri approvals last two years), articulation agreements, and credential list reviews.

Quick reference by pathway

Pathway	Longest-lead item	Start early	Guide
Nurse aide and patient care	Regulator approval of the program: 90 to 120 days where published, plus a site visit	RN instructor with long-term care experience; long-term care clinical site; lab built to the regulator’s list	Nurse aide guide
EMT	A partnership with an approved EMT program, usually a community college	Dual enrollment agreement; ambulance and hospital clinical sites; matching the course year to the state certification age	EMT guide
Electrical	Hiring a qualified instructor	NCCER instructor certification and accreditation or sponsor; North Carolina Supervised Practice approval before start (plan about 60 days); apprenticeship sponsor	Electrical guide
Welding	Lab build-out: booths, ventilation and power	Hiring; AWS or NCCER test-site arrangement; articulation renewals	Welding guide
Construction and carpentry	Hiring a qualified instructor	Lab or build-site arrangements; permit and contractor-of-record questions for a student-built house; Michigan school-employer agreements for paid placements	Construction guide
HVAC	Hiring a qualified instructor	Lab equipment and refrigerant handling; EPA 608 testing arrangement	HVAC guide
Cybersecurity and networking	Instructor certification in the technical credentials	Isolated lab network; testing center; articulation renewals	Cybersecurity guide
Programming and computer science	Teacher licensure or endorsement for the course	Course codes; parental consent for under-18 certification exams; dual enrollment	Programming guide
Automotive service technology	ASE Education Foundation accreditation, if you seek it	ASE-certified instructor (North Carolina: within 6 months of hire); Michigan trainee permits for co-op students; written lift and driving limits in placement agreements	Automotive guide
Medical and dental assisting	Clinical partners that let minors perform the required skills	Dental radiography credential where the state requires one; North Carolina Dental Board course approval; NHA testing within 12 months of graduation	Medical and dental assisting guide
Cosmetology	Board school license, or a partnership with a licensed school	Board student registration before day one; instructor with the board instructor license; a plan for hours beyond grade 12	Cosmetology guide
Agriculture	Hiring a qualified instructor	Safety plans for the land lab and home SAEs; written task limits for paid placements; pesticide work only at 18	Agriculture guide
Early childhood education	Child care licensing for a lab preschool	Fingerprint checks for students who count as staff; CDA eligibility through a recognized CTE program	Early childhood guide
Culinary arts and hospitality	Health department permit and plan review for a public-facing student restaurant	Student-learner agreements for slicers; manager certification where required; mentored work hours for the ProStart COA	Culinary guide
Machining and mechatronics	Vendor test-site and instructor training (NIMS, SACA, FANUC)	NIMS proctor and sponsor registration; placement task lists by machine type; Michigan school-employer agreements on file before work starts	Machining guide
Engineering and drafting	PLTW Core Training for every teacher of every course	CAD credential test-site setup; a written check of which courses count for college admission	Engineering guide
Firefighting	State fire training agency course approval and testing	Fire department cadet, explorer or junior program partnership; live-fire permissions; post-graduation testing step	Firefighting guide
Law, public safety and corrections	Agency agreements for ride-alongs and observation	Agency consent forms; written work-based learning agreement; escorted-visitor rules for CJIS areas	Law and public safety guide
Business management and marketing	Certiport testing center setup	Parental consent for under-18 exams; written cashier task limits for retail co-op placements	Business guide
Entrepreneurship	Board-approved plan for the school-run venture, including sales tax	Revenue agency check before launch; Smart Snacks review for food sales; separate school-run and student-owned ventures	Entrepreneurship guide

The longest-lead items for the trades, IT, agriculture and machining pathways are judgments drawn from the staffing and facilities research, not published review times. Adjust them to your local labor market.

Open questions for state agencies

Michigan MDE OCTE: the 2026-27 New Program Application window, whether a new program can generate Section 61a(1) added cost in its first year, and whether any 61v Expansion Grant funding continues after the FY2026-27 budget. Confirm with the agency.
Virginia VDOE: the current “Application for New CTE Program/Course,” its deadline, and whether VDOE approval is separate from the annual local plan. Confirm with the agency.
Virginia Board of Nursing: fees and required attachments on the nurse aide program application; the form could not be opened. Confirm with the agency.
North Carolina DPI: the deadline for a local CTE course option. DHSR: review time and approval period for a Nurse Aide I program. Confirm with the agency.
Arizona State Board of Nursing: the application fee; whether the surety bond and long-term care affidavit apply to public schools and CTEDs; how the Board treats a course listed as pending approval in a school catalog. Confirm with the agency.
Pennsylvania PDE: the 2027 CATS opening date and new-program deadline; NATCEP application contents and review time; the credential-add process. Confirm with the agency.
Missouri DESE: the next Enhancement Grant application date, and confirmation that program approval is the condition for state vocational aid and Perkins. Confirm with the agency.
Hawaii HIDOE: how a new program of study is approved for a school, and whether HIDOE keeps a credential list. Confirm with the agency.
State EMS offices: lead time for approving a new EMT course or a high school partner site. No state reviewed publishes one. Confirm with the agency.
NCCER: accreditation fees and processing time, and whether any of the seven state education agencies hold accreditation that schools can operate under. Confirm with NCCER.

Review status and sources

Last checked: October 2 and 3, 2026. Every date and review time in this guide comes from the sources below or from the pathway guides and toolkits, which carry their own sources. Funding windows change every year; recheck them before you publish a local plan.

See something out of date? Tell us.

About this guide: what has to happen, in what order

The launch sequence in five phases

State CTE approval windows and fixed dates

Second-agency approvals and lead times by pathway

Nurse aide: the regulator’s timeline by state

Other pathways

Filings for students who work

Working backward from the first day of class

Template

Worked example: Arizona nurse aide program

Planning-year checklist by season

Late summer and fall of the planning year

Winter

Spring

Summer before launch

Quick reference by pathway

Open questions for state agencies

Review status and sources

CTE program approval

Nurse aide regulators

Other pathways