Pathway guide
Programming and Computer Science Pathway Guide
At a glance
This guide covers a high school programming and computer science pathway in Michigan, Virginia, North Carolina, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Hawaii. It sets out the rules that differ by state. The how-to for staffing, partnerships, approvals, facilities, curriculum and scheduling sits in six implementation toolkits, linked in the launch steps at the end.
What the pathway leads to
Most of the jobs this pathway points to (software developer, web developer) usually require a college degree, so the pathway’s main job is to prepare students for college computing programs and give them an early start. High school students can still earn industry certifications in Python, Java and web development, and AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles offer college credit. Programming sits at the meeting point of CTE and academic computer science, so state CS policy shapes this pathway more than any other in this series.
The decisions you face
- CTE pathway, academic CS sequence, or both. The same courses may count as CTE, as a CS graduation requirement, or as a math or science credit, depending on the state.
- Who teaches it. Some states require a CS certificate or endorsement for CS courses (Pennsylvania for new hires since 2023); others accept a CTE IT credential.
- Which credentials. AP exams, Python and Java certifications, and web development certificates each carry different weight on state lists.
- What work-based learning looks like. Software internships for minors are scarce; projects for real clients and competitions often fill the gap.
Where the states differ most
| Topic | Range across the seven states |
|---|---|
| CS graduation requirement | North Carolina, for students who entered grade 9 in 2024-25 or later; none in the other six |
| Required high school CS offering | Missouri; Michigan from 2027-28; North Carolina through its requirement; Hawaii by 2018 law (sources conflict); Virginia requires CS in local curricula; not required in Arizona or Pennsylvania |
| CS counting as math or science | Allowed in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Arizona (math only) and Michigan (fourth math only) |
| CS teacher credential | Required for new CS hires in Pennsylvania; required for a primary CS assignment in Arizona; not required in Michigan |
Items are labeled , , or . Last checked October 3, 2026.
Jobs and pay
Software developer jobs grow while computer programmer jobs shrink in most states
Projected change in jobs, 2024 to 2034 (SOC 15-1252 and 15-1251)
Show the numbers
| State | Software developers | Computer programmers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | +20.9% | −13.6% |
| Arizona | +20.3% | +1.3% |
| Pennsylvania | +14.2% | −6.0% |
| North Carolina | +14.1% | −3.9% |
| Missouri | +12.8% | −5.2% |
| Michigan | +7.7% | −11.9% |
The job title matters. Software developer jobs are projected to grow in every state, while jobs classified as computer programmer are projected to shrink in five of the six states with published projections. Teach programming as a foundation for software development, problem solving and other computing careers, not as preparation for a narrow coding job.
| State | Software developers: median wage | Openings per year | Web developers: median wage | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | $125,570 | 2,450 | $98,470 | 140 |
| Virginia | $136,460 | 6,790 | $128,380 | 380 |
| North Carolina | $134,710 | 3,720 | $96,610 | 130 |
| Arizona | $129,690 | 2,670 | $76,230 | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $126,550 | 3,360 | $86,380 | 170 |
| Missouri | $126,120 | 1,420 | $103,750 | 80 |
| Hawaii | $124,040 | 120 | Not published | 20 |
| United States | 115,200 | 5,400 |
Software developers were on Michigan’s Hot 50 list through 2032 (bachelor’s degree typically required); confirm their place in the 2026 edition. Arizona lists Software and App Design (11.0202.00) on its 2026-27 in-demand program list. Wages are May 2025 medians from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state file.
Credentials and AP
AP courses
- AP Computer Science A (Java) was revised for 2025-26: the course went from 10 units to 4, inheritance was removed, and work with text files, datasets and AI topics was added. The exam now has 42 four-option multiple-choice questions and 4 free-response questions.
- AP Computer Science Principles is the broader introductory course; Virginia lists its exam as a credential for the Programming course.
Industry certifications
| Credential | Age rule | Notes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certiport IT Specialist (Python, Java, JavaScript, HTML and CSS, Software Development) | Under 18 needs a signed parental consent form for the testing center | Certifications issued from June 18, 2025 expire after 5 years. Schools can become Certiport testing centers. | |
| Python Institute PCEP (entry) and PCAP (associate) | Under 13 cannot test; 13 to 17 with parent or guardian consent | Online proctoring or through school testing partners | |
| Oracle Certified Foundations Associate, Java | Not found | Oracle Academy membership and curriculum are free for schools; exams cost money | |
| Unity Certified User | Certiport rules apply | Game and interactive development | |
| Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA), including Python 98-381 | n/a | All MTA exams retired June 30, 2022. Missouri’s list still carries MTA Python until 2028-29; check your state’s list for retired credentials. |
What each state counts
| State | Programming credentials on the state list | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | No credential list for 11.0201 or 11.0202 found | |
| Virginia | The Programming course lists the AP Computer Science Principles exam, PCEP and PCAP, CIW, Oracle and Unity credentials | : the May 2026 Board list |
| North Carolina | Python Programming I (CP10) aligns to PCEP and IT Specialist: Python; Python Programming II (CP11) to PCAP | |
| Arizona | 2026-27 list for Software and App Design includes the IT Specialist series, Oracle Java, CIW JavaScript, Swift App Development, Unity, WordPress and others; no MTA | |
| Pennsylvania | NOCTI Computer Programming assessment (test 4123); its mapping to Pennsylvania’s programming CIP is unconfirmed | |
| Missouri | Cisco Programming Essentials in Python, Certiport IT Specialist: Python, Tosa Python (stackable); PLTW end-of-course exams as a technical skills assessment. PCEP and PCAP are not listed. | |
| Hawaii | No list found |
Check your state list before you pick between Python Institute and Certiport Python: Missouri lists Certiport but not PCEP, while North Carolina aligns both.
Computer science policy and academic credit
State computer science policy decides how programming courses count, who can teach them and whether a school must offer them. These rules apply whether the course sits in CTE or in a math or CS department.
| State | Must high schools offer CS? | Graduation requirement | Can CS count as math or science? | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Yes, from 2027-28 (MCL 380.1166c). CTE CS courses count if offered in the high school, in the catalog and aligned to state CS standards. | None | As the fourth math credit, for courses meeting the Michigan K-12 CS standards | |
| Virginia | CS and coding must be in the state standards and local curricula (Va. Code 22.1-253.13:1); a course-offering mandate is not stated in the statute | None | Yes: a CS credit may count as a math, science or CTE credit on both diplomas (8VAC20-132-51) | . : the 2025 approved-courses list. |
| North Carolina | Effectively, through the graduation requirement | One CS credit for students who entered grade 9 in 2024-25 or later. Python Programming I and II and other CTE computing courses are on the list. Courses on the list cannot also count as core credits. | No double counting | |
| Arizona | No | None | The Algebra II-level math credit may be met by CS or CTE courses (R7-2-302) | |
| Pennsylvania | No | None | One CS or IT course can count as a math or science credit; the district chooses | |
| Missouri | Yes, since July 2023 (RSMo 170.018), in person or online | None | A district-approved CS course can fill one math, science or practical arts unit, and counts as science or practical arts for public college admission | |
| Hawaii | Required by 2018 law (Act 51), according to secondary sources; a 2024 Code.org summary conflicts | None | Not found |
Protecting college eligibility
A CS course counted as math may not meet a university’s math admission requirement. Missouri requires districts to tell families that some colleges expect four units of math. Before a student uses CS in place of a math or science course, check the admission rules of the colleges the student is considering.
Who can teach
Programming courses can be staffed two ways: through the academic computer science credential, or through the CTE IT route. Which one applies depends on the state and on whether the course carries academic credit.
| State | Academic CS credential | CTE route for an industry hire | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | No CS endorsement required. The old CS endorsement was discontinued in 2017; any teacher certified for the grade level who shows content knowledge can be assigned. | Annual Career Authorization with recent and relevant experience in programming or a related IT field | |
| Virginia | Computer Science endorsement: 36 semester hours, or 18 as an add-on (8VAC20-23-300). CodeVA runs a program preparing CTE teachers for the CS endorsement test. | Technical Professional License, Business and Information Technology (programming specialty): 2 years’ experience in the past 5, a business certificate or associate degree, 9 semester hours | . : a test-only add-on route. |
| North Carolina | No stand-alone academic CS license; a Computer Education add-on exists for fully licensed teachers | Computer Science and IT Education (765): related bachelor’s plus 2 years or associate plus 4. For a continuing license: Praxis 5652, or CCNA, Network+, Security+ or PCAP. A current teacher cannot add 765 by earning a credential; use an approved program, the state test, or 24 semester hours. | |
| Arizona | CS endorsements for PK-8, 6-12 and PK-12. In grades 6 to 12, required when CS is the teacher’s primary assignment. | Standard CTE Certificate in Business and Marketing or Industrial and Emerging Technologies | |
| Pennsylvania | Computer Science 7-12 certificate, added by passing Praxis 5652. Required for anyone newly hired to teach CS in grades 7 to 12 since January 1, 2023; earlier teachers are grandfathered with the same employer. | Career and Technical Instructional I for CTE programming programs | |
| Missouri | Computer Science K-12 endorsement (test 315) | Career Education Temporary Authorization Certificate | . : temporary and add-on routes. |
| Hawaii | Computer Science license fields (K-6, 6-12, K-12) reinstated in 2018, with a limited license route for industry hires (associate degree, 3 years of industry experience, 15 pedagogy hours) | CTE Permit or Standard Limited License in the Informational Technology and Digital Transformation field | : current CS field listing |
What this means for staffing
- If the course will count as math, science or a CS graduation credit, check whether your state ties that to a CS credential. Pennsylvania requires the CS certificate for new hires.
- Praxis 5652 (Computer Science) opens the CS credential in Pennsylvania, Hawaii and North Carolina’s 765 license. A CTE teacher who passes it gains flexibility across both routes.
- Programmers earn far more in industry than in teaching. The Staffing toolkit covers pay comparisons, part-time industry instructors and college partnerships.
Program, curriculum and work-based learning
| State | State program or courses | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Computer Programming (11.0201) on MDE’s IT cluster list | |
| Virginia | Programming (6640: 140 hours, grades 10 to 12) and Programming, Advanced | |
| North Carolina | AP Computer Science Principles (0A02, on the 2026-27 CS graduation list), AP Computer Science, Python Programming I and II (CP10, CP11), Computer Engineering, Data Science | |
| Arizona | Software and App Design (11.0202.00, Technical Standards 2024) | |
| Pennsylvania | No statewide programming program of study on the SOAR list | |
| Missouri | Approved through DESE’s career education application; PLTW Computer Science is used as a technical skills assessment | |
| Hawaii | Programming program of study, plus a separate Artificial Intelligence program, under Informational Technology and Digital Transformation |
Curriculum
Free, school-ready curricula are widely available. Oracle Academy (Java) is free to member schools, and Cisco Networking Academy offers free self-paced Python courses that Missouri lists as a credential. Whatever you choose, map it to your state’s CS standards if the course will carry CS or math credit, and to the certification objectives if students will test. The Curriculum toolkit has a review rubric.
No special room is required beyond a computer lab with development software. Budget for devices, licenses and testing fees rather than construction.
Work-based learning
No federal hazardous occupations orders apply to software work; state hour limits and work permits still do. No state program for paid software internships for high school students, and no software-specific youth apprenticeship, was found in the seven states. Options that work:
- Registered apprenticeship. Software Developer is a registered apprenticeship occupation with a competency-based national standard. Youth apprenticeship can start at 16 in North Carolina (with a community college tuition waiver) and Virginia (one credit per 280 hours of work in grades 11 and 12).
- Client projects. Students build a website, app or data tool for a local nonprofit, business or the district, with a professional mentor.
- Competitions and hackathons. These give students portfolio work where internships are thin.
Build a portfolio of real projects into every course so students can show their work to employers and colleges.
Credit after high school
| State | College credit | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | MDE lists statewide agreements for Computer Programming (11.0201) with Baker College, Mott Community College, North Central Michigan College, Oakland Community College and Washtenaw Community College. The Baker agreement (up to 12 credits) ran through July 31, 2026. | : check renewals and terms |
| Virginia | College and Career Ready Virginia offers eligible students the 15-credit Passport or the 30-credit Uniform Certificate of General Studies at no cost through the community colleges. | |
| North Carolina | Statewide articulation: Python Programming I and II together earn CSC-121 Python Programming at community colleges. | . : grade and assessment conditions. |
| Arizona | No statewide agreement found; dual enrollment by college agreement. | Confirm locally |
| Pennsylvania | No programming program of study on the SOAR list, so no statewide SOAR credit. | |
| Missouri | No statewide agreement found. | Confirm locally |
| Hawaii | Early College and Running Start statewide dual-credit routes. | Confirm locally |
AP credit
AP Computer Science A and AP Computer Science Principles give students a chance at college credit with a qualifying score, set by each college. Unlike a single college’s articulation agreement, AP credit policies apply at many colleges, so check the policies of the colleges your students attend.
Into college computing programs
Most software developer jobs typically require a bachelor’s degree. Talk with your state university computing departments and community colleges about how high school coursework, certifications and AP scores count, and share that with families early.
Launch steps
Work through these steps in order; several can run at the same time.
| Step | What to do | Toolkit |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Decide how courses will count | CTE, CS graduation credit, math or science credit, AP, or a mix. Check your state’s rules in the policy table above. | Curriculum toolkit |
| 2. Form the advisory committee | Include software employers, the district IT department, a community college and a university computing department. | Clinical and work-based learning partnerships toolkit |
| 3. File CTE program approval | Use your state’s process and deadline; confirm the certifications are on the state list. | Approvals and applications toolkit |
| 4. Staff the courses | Match the credential to how the course counts (for example, the Pennsylvania CS certificate for new CS hires). Fund Praxis 5652 and certification exams for teachers. | Staffing toolkit |
| 5. Equip the lab | Devices, development software, licenses and testing fees. | Facilities and equipment toolkit |
| 6. Set up testing and consent | Become a Certiport or testing partner site; collect parental consent forms for minors before test day. | Approvals and applications toolkit |
| 7. Build work-based learning | Client projects, mentors, competitions, and youth apprenticeship where available. | Clinical and work-based learning partnerships toolkit |
| 8. Get credit agreements in writing | College articulation, dual enrollment and AP credit policies; check that substitutions protect college eligibility. | Curriculum toolkit |
| 9. Plan the schedule | Sequence intro, AP and advanced courses across grades 9 to 12. | Scheduling and student timing toolkit |
Review status and sources
Last checked October 3, 2026. These items are open for reviewers:
- Virginia. The 2025 Board list of courses satisfying graduation requirements; a test-only route to the CS endorsement; credentials on the May 2026 Board list.
- Michigan. A state credential list for programming; renewal of the Baker agreement and terms of the other four college agreements; whether software developers appear in the 2026 Hot 50.
- North Carolina. Which license areas may teach AP Computer Science and Python Programming; articulation grade and assessment conditions.
- Pennsylvania. Whether NOCTI test 4123 maps to the state’s programming CIP; any programming program of study in development.
- Missouri. Temporary and add-on routes for the CS endorsement.
- Hawaii. Whether the 2018 law requires every high school to offer CS (sources conflict); current CS license fields.
- Arizona. Final status of 2025 SB 1028 on CS math credit.
- Apprenticeship. The Software Developer occupation code on apprenticeship.gov.
Sources
Jobs and pay
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (state file) and Projections Central
- Michigan Hot 50 Job Outlook through 2032
- ADE, 2026-2027 Regional In-Demand Programs
Credentials and AP
- AP Computer Science A future revisions
- Certiport test-candidate policy
- Python Institute PCEP testing policies
- Oracle Academy certifications
- Certiport, Unity Certified User
- NC CTE CMS, Python Programming I and Python Programming II
- ADE CTE credential list
- NOCTI Computer Programming blueprint
- DESE Previous System IRC guidance (February 2026)
- CTE Resource Center, Programming
Computer science policy
- MDE Computer Science Course Requirement Guidance
- 8VAC20-132-51 and Va. Code 22.1-253.13:1
- NC DPI, computer science graduation requirement
- Ariz. Admin. Code R7-2-302
- PDE, STEM and computer science certification FAQ
- RSMo 170.018
- Code.org Hawaii 2024 summary
Teachers
- 8VAC20-23-300 and CodeVA, CS for CTE
- NC DPI Areas of Licensure
- ADE Software and App Design program description
- MEGA requirements (Missouri)
- HTSB New Business Item 18-08
Program and credit
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