Pathway guide
Entrepreneurship Pathway Guide
At a glance
This guide covers a high school entrepreneurship 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
Entrepreneurship has no occupational license, age floor or second regulator in any of the seven states. Students learn to plan, launch and run a business, usually by running a real one at school. What students can earn in high school is an industry credential, most often Certiport’s Entrepreneurship and Small Business (ESB) certification, where the state lists it. After high school, students start or join a small business, go to work in management, sales or marketing, or continue in a business program at a community college or university.
Nationally, the 2024 Career Clusters framework places entrepreneurship in the Management & Entrepreneurship cluster, as the Entrepreneurship & Small Business sub-cluster. States report Perkins data on this framework starting with the January 2027 Consolidated Annual Report.
The decisions you face
- Which state program to use. North Carolina, Virginia and Hawaii have a named entrepreneurship course sequence or program of study, and Pennsylvania lists CIP 52.0701. In Michigan, Arizona and Missouri you run entrepreneurship inside a business or marketing program.
- Who owns the business students run. A school-run store or enterprise is a district operation with district tax registration, district accounts and board policy. A student-owned business is a private business that the family registers and runs. Keep the two separate.
- How you handle sales tax and food. Sales tax treatment of school sales differs by state, and food sold to students during the school day must meet USDA Smart Snacks standards unless it is an exempt fundraiser the state allows.
- Which credential and curriculum. ESB is on state lists in North Carolina and Virginia and claimed by Certiport for Michigan and Missouri (not on Missouri’s New System list), but not on Arizona’s or Pennsylvania’s list. INCubatoredu, NFTE and Junior Achievement supply full curricula.
- Whether students are paid. Unpaid work in a school enterprise is learning. If the enterprise pays students, they become district employees and child labor rules apply.
Where the states differ most
| Topic | Range across the seven states |
|---|---|
| State program | Named entrepreneurship sequence in North Carolina (ENTR), Virginia (9093 and 9094) and Hawaii (ENTRE); CIP 52.0701 in Pennsylvania; inside business or marketing in Michigan, Arizona and Missouri |
| Sales tax on school store sales | Collected in Pennsylvania and Virginia; capped exemption in Michigan; exemptions tied to school events or school functions in North Carolina and Missouri; tied to the school fund account in Hawaii |
| ESB on the state credential list | Listed in North Carolina and Virginia; claimed by Certiport for Michigan and Missouri (not on Missouri’s New System list); not on Arizona’s or Pennsylvania’s list; no Hawaii list found |
| Statewide college credit | Michigan Mott Community College agreement (expires November 1, 2026); North Carolina Career and College Promise approval; none found elsewhere |
Items are labeled Confirmed, Confirm with the agency, or Changing. Last checked October 5, 2026.
Jobs and pay
Why there is no single occupation
The federal wage survey (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics) counts wage and salary workers at businesses. It excludes the self-employed, so there is no wage or job count for business owners. The two tables below show related occupations that entrepreneurship students often move into: running operations for a business, and researching and marketing to customers. Read them as related occupations, not as earnings or demand for people who start businesses.
Related occupation: General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021)
| State | Median annual wage, May 2025 | Jobs in 2024 | Projected change, 2024 to 2034 | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | $99,530 | 89,630 | +1.5% | 7,090 |
| Virginia | $122,080 | 102,540 | +4.7% | 8,730 |
| North Carolina | $101,950 | 74,660 | +5.7% | 6,340 |
| Arizona | $94,800 | 104,560 | +14.5% | 10,160 |
| Pennsylvania | $103,130 | 148,350 | +3.9% | 12,220 |
| Missouri | $79,300 | 83,810 | +4.5% | 6,980 |
| Hawaii | $108,180 | 13,360 | +4.3% | 1,110 |
| United States | 3,712,900 | +4.4% | 308,700 |
Related occupation: Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists (SOC 13-1161)
| State | Median annual wage, May 2025 | Jobs in 2024 | Projected change, 2024 to 2034 | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | $66,780 | 25,130 | +2.9% | 2,190 |
| Virginia | $76,980 | 25,860 | +12.3% | 2,780 |
| North Carolina | $78,410 | 31,930 | +8.0% | 3,020 |
| Arizona | $71,940 | 19,650 | +15.3% | 2,060 |
| Pennsylvania | $68,760 | 35,170 | +6.0% | 3,220 |
| Missouri | $70,140 | 16,780 | +5.9% | 1,530 |
| Hawaii | $59,390 | 1,640 | +4.3% | 150 |
| United States | 941,700 | +6.7% | 87,200 |
Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state file, May 2025. Jobs, projected change and openings are from state long-term projections via Projections Central, 2024 to 2034.
Credentials students can earn
Entrepreneurship has no license, so an industry credential is what documents a student’s learning. One credential is common across states, and a few others appear on single state lists.
| Credential | How it works | What a school needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certiport Entrepreneurship and Small Business (ESB), version 2 | A 50-minute exam covering entrepreneurial concepts, marketing and sales, production and distribution, and business financials. Certiport recommends at least 150 hours of instruction. No age, grade or business experience requirement found. ACE recommends 3 semester credit hours in business. | Access to a Certiport testing center and exam vouchers | . : the exam fee |
| U.S. Entrepreneurship Certification Exam (USECE), CTECS | Twelve competency areas, including design thinking, lean startup, the business model canvas, finance, and ethics and risk | Access to CTECS testing | that the exam exists. : CTECS’s claim of 3 credit hours at community colleges |
| Virtual Enterprise Certification Assessment | Listed for Virginia’s Entrepreneurship, Advanced course | Virtual Enterprise program participation | for Virginia |
| DECA school-based enterprise certification | Certifies the school’s student-run business, not the student (see Running a real business at school) | A DECA chapter |
Students who pass ESB can add Intuit’s Design for Delight Innovator certification for a stacked “Master Certification in Entrepreneurship.” (: vendor source.)
What each state counts
| State | Entrepreneurship credentials on the state list | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Certiport lists ESB as approved for Michigan’s credential indicator. Not checked against MDE’s CTEIS list. | : the CTEIS list |
| Virginia | Entrepreneurship, Advanced (9094) lists ESB, USECE, the Virtual Enterprise Certification Assessment, CCRA+, NCRC and workplace readiness. | |
| North Carolina | ESB is the listed credential for Entrepreneurship II Honors (ME12). Entrepreneurship I (ME11) lists Venture Entrepreneurial Expedition as its aligned credential and has a 100-item state post-assessment. | |
| Arizona | ESB is not on ADE’s 2026-27 credential list. Business Operations (52.0408) lists MOS, QuickBooks Certified User, Google Project Management, Meta Digital Marketing Associate, NAFTrack, RISE-Up and two Mohave College certificates. | (2026-27 list, updated September 8, 2026) |
| Pennsylvania | ESB is not on the list for 52.0701. The list names CareerSafe Employability Skills, ASK Certification and TestOut Office Pro. | : whether the list is current |
| Missouri | Certiport lists ESB as approved for Missouri. ESB is not on DESE’s New System credential list for the class of 2029 and later. Confirm with DESE whether it counts under the Previous System for the classes of 2026 to 2028. | |
| Hawaii | No state credential list for Entrepreneurship (ENTRE) found. ESB is not on Certiport’s list of Hawaii approvals. |
In Arizona and Pennsylvania, you can still teach to ESB, but it will not count toward the state credential measure. Pick a listed credential for state reporting.
Working with minors
For the full federal and state rules, a task-by-task decision path and a student-learner agreement template, see Working with Minors in CTE Pathways.
Federal rules
For entrepreneurship students, federal child labor rules turn on whether the student is employed and by whom:
| Situation | Federal child labor status | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaid work in a school enterprise as part of a course | Learning, not employment | |
| Paid work in a school enterprise | The student is a district employee; federal hour limits and hazardous occupations orders apply | |
| Work in a business owned solely by a parent | Outside federal minimum-age rules, except in hazardous occupations and in manufacturing and mining (29 CFR 570.2(a)(2)) | |
| A student running their own business | Not employed by anyone; no federal rule found that addresses a minor’s own sole proprietorship | Confirm with counsel |
| Work-based learning at an outside business | Ordinary placement rules: written agreement, and the hazardous occupations orders as the safety floor |
State rules
| State | What a paid 16- or 17-year-old needs | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Youth work permit through LEO’s Youth Employment Permit Portal (from October 2, 2026); employers register before hiring a minor. Students under a written school-employer agreement are exempt from the state youth employment act, though federal law still applies. | . : the portal is new, and whether agreement students still need a portal permit is open |
| Virginia | No employment certificate at 16 or 17 (required at 14 and 15). No state hour limits found for 16- and 17-year-olds. | |
| North Carolina | Youth employment certificate for all employment under 18. No work from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. before a school day without written parent and principal approval. | |
| Arizona | No work permit. | |
| Pennsylvania | Work permit for every minor under 18, from the school district issuing officer. In school, 8 hours a day and 28 hours a school week, 6 a.m. to midnight. | |
| Missouri | No permit or hour limits at 16 or 17; work certificates apply under 16. | |
| Hawaii | Certificate of Age (eCL-3) online from DLIR. No hour limits except during required school hours. |
The practical effect: if your school enterprise pays students, handle permits and hours as the district would for any student employee. For North Carolina’s CTE Entrepreneurial Experience (WE11), confirm the placement rules with DPI before you place students (see Program, curriculum and lab).
Running a real business at school
No licensing board or second agency approves an entrepreneurship program. The outside rules come from running a business: who owns it, sales tax, food standards, contracts and money handling.
School-run and student-owned ventures
| School-run venture (school store or school-based enterprise) | Student-owned venture | |
|---|---|---|
| Who owns it | The district | The student, usually with a parent or other adult |
| Tax registration | The district’s sales tax registration | The family registers the business |
| Money | District accounts (activity fund or general fund, per board policy) | The family’s or the business’s own accounts |
| Rules that govern it | Board policy, district purchasing and audit rules | State business, tax and contract law |
| The school’s role | Operator | Teacher and coach only; keep the school out of the ownership chain |
Whether a minor may sign a sales tax or business registration application was not confirmed in any state. (Confirm with each state revenue department.)
Sales tax on school sales
| State | Rule for sales by a school | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | A school’s first $10,000 of fund-raising sales in a calendar year is exempt, only if the school’s total retail sales are under $25,000 a year (MCL 205.54o). The “school” is the individual building; a club is not a separate seller. Older district guidance cites a $5,000 threshold, which is out of date. | . (Treasury): whether enterprise sales count as fund-raising |
| Virginia | The schools exemption covers purchases, not sales by the school (textbooks and subsidized lunches aside) (23VAC10-210-4020). Plan to register and collect tax on store sales. Fundraiser sales with proceeds to the school are not taxed (Virginia Tax ruling 23-87). | . (Virginia Tax): the current basis for the fundraiser exemption |
| North Carolina | Sales not for profit at an event sponsored by a school are exempt when net proceeds go to the school (G.S. 105-164.13(26b)). | . (NCDOR): whether an ongoing store is an “event” |
| Arizona | A 1994 Department of Revenue procedure (TPP 94-1) treats school districts as outside transaction privilege tax; food served to students during school hours is separately exempt. | (ADOR): whether the procedure is current and covers charters and CTEDs |
| Pennsylvania | Schools collect and remit sales tax on most taxable sales to the public, including school store sales; cafeteria food and required textbooks are not taxed; clothing and candy are not taxable. Use one district license number (Sales Tax Bulletin 2004-01). | . : bulletin dated 2004 |
| Missouri | Sales to or by public schools in their educational functions and activities are exempt (12 CSR 10-110.955). | . (DOR): whether store sales are educational functions |
| Hawaii | Public schools and school-sponsored student groups are exempt from general excise tax on fundraiser income only when proceeds go through the school’s non-appropriated fund account; register anyway (Form BB-1). PTAs and booster clubs need their own exemption (Tax Facts 99-4, April 2025). | . : HB1437 would extend the exemption to private schools |
None of these rules covers a student-owned business. That business follows ordinary state sales tax rules.
Food sold to students
All food and drinks sold to students on campus during the school day, other than school meals, must meet USDA Smart Snacks nutrition standards. This includes school stores and vending. The school day runs from midnight before through 30 minutes after dismissal (7 CFR 210.11). The state agency sets how many exempt fundraisers a school may hold, and exempt fundraiser foods may not be sold in the food service area during meal service.
| State | Exempt fundraiser limit | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | No more than 30 exempt fundraiser days a school year; no sales from 6 a.m. through the end of breakfast or during lunch; divisions may be stricter (8VAC20-740-35) | |
| Arizona | ADE grants exemptions for fundraisers (A.R.S. 15-242); the number is set by ADE. Food sold for eating off campus and sales to adults are outside the standards. | . : the number |
| North Carolina | Former state statute repealed in 2022; no current limit found | (DPI School Nutrition) |
| Michigan, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Hawaii | Not found | (state child nutrition office) |
Students as business owners
Age 18 is the age of contract capacity in Missouri (RSMo 431.055), North Carolina (G.S. 48A-2) and Virginia (Va. Code 1-204). Under general contract law, a minor’s contracts can be cancelled by the minor, so landlords, suppliers, banks and online platforms often require an adult party. (Confirm with counsel.)
| State | Who may organize an LLC | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | Individuals 18 or older (15 Pa.C.S. 8821) | |
| Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia, Arizona, Hawaii | No organizer age stated | |
| Michigan | Statute not reviewed | (LARA Corporations Division) |
Where a student wants a legal entity, plan for a parent or other adult as organizer or co-party.
Money handling
No state rule specific to school enterprises was found. Model guidance (Nebraska’s school-based enterprise guide) recommends: a written proposal approved by the principal and board; a board-policy decision on activity fund or general fund; at least two people counting cash daily; deposits through the school office; a point-of-sale system; no student ringing their own sales; monthly inventory counts; profit use set at the proposal stage; and records kept five to seven years.
DECA school-based enterprise certification
DECA certifies student-run school businesses at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels against 10 standards (financial analysis, operations, marketing-information management, market planning, product and service management, pricing, distribution, promotion, selling, and human resources management). Only DECA chapters may apply. The fee is $25, and the 2026-27 deadline is January 14, 2027. Gold requires at least one full school year of student-managed operation. The guidelines ask for documentation that the enterprise follows school, district, county or state health and safety rules; they do not cover sales tax, food standards or money controls, so apply the rules above. ()
Who can teach
Entrepreneurship is usually taught by a business or marketing education teacher. Several states have an industry route as well. In most states, which certificate a state requires for the entrepreneurship courses specifically is not published and needs a call. For recruiting and pay, see the Staffing toolkit.
| State | Certificate or license | Experience required | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | CTE endorsement (R 390.1161): recommendation from an approved CTE preparation institution with at least 6 semester hours of CTE coursework. MDE qualifies 52.0299 teachers by related background (for example accounting or marketing education). Annual Career Authorization is the emergency route. | 2 years of recent and relevant occupational experience | |
| Virginia | Marketing education endorsement (8VAC20-23-260): bachelor’s plus an approved program, or a marketing major or 39 semester hours in marketing; first-time licensees earn an industry credential. Technical Professional License for specialized marketing areas. | One year of full-time marketing work can replace the internship; Technical Professional License needs 2 years of recent full-time experience plus 9 semester hours | for the routes. : which endorsement VDOE requires for 9093 and 9094 |
| North Carolina | 730 Marketing Education or 760 Business, Finance and Information Technology Education; Initial CTE Restricted license allowed, converted by the end of year three | Bachelor’s plus 2 years of related work, or associate plus 4 | for the license areas. : which area may teach ME11, ME12 and WE11, and whether self-employment counts as work experience |
| Arizona | Standard CTE Certificate Option C, or the Specialized CTE certificate (R7-2-612, R7-2-612.01); 15 semester hours of CTE professional knowledge | 6,000 verified clock hours on Option C, no degree required | . : the business certificate area code |
| Pennsylvania | Marketing (Distributive) Education PK-12 (area 1666), which covers small business ownership (CSPG 49); or Business, Computer and Information Technology PK-12 for academic courses | Per certificate | . : which certificate a 52.0701 CTE program requires |
| Missouri | Career Education Temporary Authorization Certificate (5 CSR 20-400.180); renewal needs 6 semester hours toward the career education certificate | Bachelor’s in the subject plus 4,000 hours in the last 10 years, associate plus 5,000, or 6,000 hours in the last 10 years | for the rule. : whether business and marketing assignments accept it |
| Hawaii | CTE license field Business Management, Finance, and Marketing, which names Entrepreneurship (effective July 1, 2025; current CTE teachers transition at renewal from January 1, 2026) | Add the field by licensure exam or, where none exists, 30 semester credits (15 at the 300 level or higher) | . : transition under way |
Instructor certifications worth funding
INCubatoredu’s license fee includes teacher training, and NFTE offers a Certified Educator badge. If your state’s route requires an industry credential for first-time licensees (Virginia), ESB is one option to check with the agency.
Program, curriculum and lab
An entrepreneurship program needs state CTE program approval like any other pathway. The Approvals toolkit lists each state’s process and deadlines.
Program codes by state
| State | State program | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | No stand-alone program; 52.0701 is not on MDE’s approved list. Run it inside Business Administration, Management and Operations (52.0299) or Specialized Merchandising, Sales and Marketing Operations, Other (52.1999), which names entrepreneurship as a skill. | |
| Virginia | Entrepreneurship (9093, grades 9-12, no prerequisite) and Entrepreneurship, Advanced (9094, grades 10-12), each 140 hours and 1 credit, form the Management & Entrepreneurship concentration. In 9094 students establish, market and maintain businesses. | |
| North Carolina | Entrepreneurship (ENTR) pathway in the Management and Entrepreneurship cluster, from 2026-27: Entrepreneurship I (ME11), then Entrepreneurship II Honors (ME12, the concentrator course), then a work-based learning option such as CTE Entrepreneurial Experience (WE11). WE11 runs 135 hours (block) or 150 (traditional) with at least 120 hours on the job, and requires two CTE credits including a concentrator course. | . : CIP and WE11 operating rules |
| Arizona | No stand-alone program. Entrepreneurship sits inside Business Management (52.0201.00) and as content in Business Operations (52.0408.00). | |
| Pennsylvania | Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies (52.0701) is listed as a CTE program. Entrepreneurship is also an academic standard (15.5) in the Business, Computer and Information Technology standards, so it can also be taught as an academic elective outside a CTE program. | . : whether any CTC runs 52.0701 |
| Missouri | No stand-alone program. DESE’s Business Education course objectives (Career Cluster 11, Management and Entrepreneurship) include Entrepreneurship Objectives. | . : CIP and course codes |
| Hawaii | Entrepreneurship (ENTRE) program of study in the Business Management, Finance and Marketing pathway | . : course names, codes and CIP |
In Michigan, Arizona and Missouri, schools now offer entrepreneurship as a business elective or inside a business program, often using a national curriculum (for example, an incubator class at Novi High School in Michigan). To formalize it, place the course in the nearest business or marketing program, staff it with a teacher who holds the right CTE certificate, add a credential on the state list, and register any store as a district activity. In Michigan, run the CIP self-review for the program you choose.
Where a state has a sequence (North Carolina, Virginia, Hawaii), map a national curriculum onto the state courses. For North Carolina’s WE11, get DPI’s Work-based Learning Resource Manual (go.ncdpi.gov/WBLRM) and confirm with the DPI work-based learning team whether a student-owned business can serve as the job site.
The lab
Entrepreneurship needs no specialized lab. The working space is a classroom with computers plus, if you run one, a school store or enterprise space with a point-of-sale system, secure cash storage and inventory storage. Food sales add the Smart Snacks limits above. See the Facilities toolkit for funding.
Curriculum
| Model | How it works | Status |
|---|---|---|
| INCubatoredu (Uncharted Learning) | Year 1 is a full-year course for grades 9-12 in which teams launch real businesses with volunteer coaches and mentors, ending in a pitch for investment funds. Year 2 (ACCELeratoredu, grades 11-12) focuses on growth. Schools pay a license fee, not per student, that includes teacher training. The vendor says Perkins funds can be used. | |
| NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship) | Grades 6-12 offerings include BizCamp, Tech BizCamp, Exploring Careers (grades 5-9), an ESB Prep course and the online Next-Level Startup (ages 13-17). | |
| Junior Achievement, JA Company Program | Grades 9-12; 9 volunteer-led sessions over a semester or year, in class, remote or after school. Students conceptualize, capitalize and manage a venture. Local JA offices run their own versions. |
None of these is a state program by itself. Each runs inside a state course or a local elective. Check that the curriculum covers your state’s course standards, and use the Curriculum toolkit’s review rubric. DECA and FBLA are the student organizations used for entrepreneurship events.
Credit after high school
| State | College credit | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Mott Community College statewide agreement for 52.0299: BUSN 104 Introduction to Business (3 credits) and MGMT 183 Small Business Management (3 credits). Requires a 3.0 or better in the high school course, enrollment within three years of graduation and 15 credits at Mott. Expires November 1, 2026. MDE lists agreements with other institutions for this cluster. | . : renewal |
| Virginia | No statewide agreement found. Local example: Kempsville High School reports 4 credit hours at Old Dominion University for INCubatoredu with a B or better. | Confirm locally |
| North Carolina | The ENTR pathway carries Career and College Promise approval (tuition-free college courses for eligible students). No entrepreneurship-specific college pathway was found at the college checked. | for the approval. : the matching college courses |
| Arizona | No statewide agreement found; dual enrollment by college agreement. | Confirm locally |
| Pennsylvania | 52.0701 is not a SOAR program. | |
| Missouri | No statewide agreement found. | Confirm locally |
| Hawaii | No high school articulation found; University of Hawaii community colleges offer entrepreneurship programs. | Confirm with the college |
At colleges that accept ACE credit recommendations, ESB can earn 3 semester credit hours in business. Ask each college you work with whether it honors the recommendation. Illinois Tech awards up to 6 credit hours for both INCubatoredu courses; whether this applies outside Illinois was not stated.
Academic credit
Entrepreneurship runs as an elective in the states checked, not as a substitute for a core academic course, so it does not reduce the courses students need for university admission. In Arizona, the state universities require one year of fine arts or CTE for admission, and the universities’ course approval system has approved at least one high school Entrepreneurship & Small Business course under that requirement. Submit your course to that system so it counts.
If you want an entrepreneurship course to carry math, English or other academic credit, confirm first that the substitution still meets state graduation and university admission requirements. No state crosswalk for entrepreneurship was found. In Michigan, use the S4IS CTE Crosswalk prototype (Product A) as interim guidance where a crosswalk gap exists. The Curriculum toolkit covers integration.
Launch steps
Work through these steps in order; several can run at the same time. The launch guide links all six toolkits.
| Step | What to do | Toolkit |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Choose the state program | Use the state sequence in North Carolina, Virginia and Hawaii, or 52.0701 in Pennsylvania. In Michigan, Arizona and Missouri, place entrepreneurship inside a business or marketing program. | Approvals and applications toolkit |
| 2. Form the advisory committee | Include local business owners, a lender or small business development center, and a community college business program. Recruit volunteer coaches and mentors if you use INCubatoredu or JA. | Clinical and work-based learning partnerships toolkit |
| 3. Decide the business model | Decide whether students run a school-run enterprise, student-owned ventures, or both. Write a proposal for any school-run enterprise and get principal and board approval. | Approvals and applications toolkit |
| 4. Settle tax, food and money rules | Confirm with your state revenue agency how school sales are taxed, register under the district’s number where tax applies, check Smart Snacks and fundraiser limits with the state child nutrition office, and set cash and deposit controls. | Facilities and equipment toolkit |
| 5. File CTE program approval | Use your state’s process and deadline; confirm the credential is on the state list. | Approvals and applications toolkit |
| 6. Choose the curriculum and credential | INCubatoredu, NFTE, JA or a state curriculum; ESB where the state lists it, or a listed alternative in Arizona and Pennsylvania. | Curriculum toolkit |
| 7. Hire or assign the instructor | Confirm with the state which certificate covers the entrepreneurship courses. | Staffing toolkit |
| 8. Arrange work-based learning | Written agreements for outside placements; in North Carolina, confirm WE11 rules with DPI. If students are paid, handle permits and hours. | Clinical and work-based learning partnerships toolkit |
| 9. Get credit agreements in writing | Michigan’s Mott agreement expires November 1, 2026; check its renewal. Elsewhere, ask local colleges about articulation and ESB credit. | Curriculum toolkit |
| 10. Pursue DECA certification | Once the enterprise is running, a DECA chapter can apply for school-based enterprise certification (2026-27 deadline January 14, 2027). | Curriculum toolkit |
Review status and sources
Last checked October 5, 2026. An independent check on October 5, 2026 tested 12 claims against official sources and corrected 0. These items are open for reviewers:
- Michigan. ESB on MDE’s CTEIS credential list (MDE OCTE); renewal of the Mott 52.0299 agreement after November 1, 2026 (Mott Community College); whether enterprise sales count as fund-raising under MCL 205.54o (Michigan Treasury); exempt fundraiser limit (MDE Office of Health and Nutrition Services); LLC organizer age (LARA Corporations Division); whether students under a school-employer agreement need a youth work permit (LEO Wage and Hour).
- Virginia. Which endorsement covers 9093 and 9094 (VDOE Office of CTE); the current basis for the school fundraiser exemption in ruling 23-87 and confirmation that store sales are taxable (Virginia Tax).
- North Carolina. WE11 operating rules, including whether a student-owned business can be the job site (DPI work-based learning team, CTECareerWorks@dpi.nc.gov); whether license area 730 or 760 teaches ME11, ME12 and WE11 (DPI Licensure); CIP for ENTR (DPI CTE); whether an ongoing store qualifies under G.S. 105-164.13(26b) (NCDOR); exempt fundraiser limit (DPI School Nutrition).
- Arizona. The business certificate area code (ADE CTE); the number of fundraiser exemptions ADE grants (ADE Health and Nutrition Services); whether TPP 94-1 is current and covers charters and CTEDs (ADOR).
- Pennsylvania. Date and currency of the 52.0701 credential list, whether any CTC runs 52.0701, and the certificate required for it (PDE Bureau of CTE); whether Sales Tax Bulletin 2004-01 is current (PA Department of Revenue); exempt fundraiser limit (PDE Division of Food and Nutrition).
- Missouri. CIP and course codes for entrepreneurship, ESB on the Previous System list for the classes of 2026 to 2028, and whether CTAC covers business and marketing assignments (DESE, certification@dese.mo.gov, 573-751-0051); whether store sales are educational functions (Missouri DOR); exempt fundraiser limit (DESE Food and Nutrition Services).
- Hawaii. ENTRE course names, codes, CIP and credentials (HIDOE CTE); exempt fundraiser policy (HIDOE School Food Services Branch); status of HB1437 (Hawaii Legislature).
- All states. Whether a minor may sign a sales tax or business registration application (state revenue departments).
- Vendors. INCubatoredu college credit outside Illinois (Uncharted Learning); USECE credit claim (CTECS); ESB exam fee (Certiport).
Sources
Jobs and pay
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (state file), and Projections Central long-term projections, 2024-2034
National framework and credentials
- Advance CTE, Management & Entrepreneurship cluster and Career Clusters FAQ (July 2025)
- NCES CIP 2020, 52.0703
- Certiport ESB overview and ESB endorsements
- CTECS, U.S. Entrepreneurship Certification Exam
- ADE Credentials List, 2026-27
- PDE Industry-Recognized Credentials for CTE Programs
- DESE New System IRC guidance
Running a real business at school
- MCL 205.54o
- 23VAC10-210-4020, Va. Code 58.1-609.10 and Virginia Tax ruling 23-87
- NCDOR, State Taxation and Nonprofit Organizations
- ADOR TPP 94-1 and A.R.S. 15-242
- PA Revenue Sales Tax Bulletin 2004-01
- 12 CSR 10-110.955
- Hawaii Tax Facts 99-4 and HB1437 HD2 (2025)
- 7 CFR 210.11 and 8VAC20-740-35
- RSMo 431.055, G.S. 48A-2, Va. Code 1-204 and 15 Pa.C.S. 8821
- Nebraska Guide for Starting and Managing School-Based Enterprises
- DECA SBE Certification Guidelines 2026-2027
Working with minors
- 29 CFR 570.2
- LEO, Youth Employment Permit Portal (October 1, 2026)
- Va. Code 40.1-84 and RSMo 294.024
Instructors
- Mich. Admin. Code R 390.1161
- 8VAC20-23-260
- NC DPI CTE Licensure Policies and Procedures Manual (2025)
- PDE CSPG 49, Marketing (Distributive) Education
- 5 CSR 20-400 and DESE CTAC
- HTSB NBI 24-24
Programs, curriculum and credit
- MDE Section 4, State-Approved CTE Programs
- CTE Resource Center, Entrepreneurship (9093) and Entrepreneurship, Advanced (9094)
- NCCTE CMS, Entrepreneurship pathway and NC DPI CTE Course Inventory 2026-27
- DESE Business Education course objectives
- Hawaii Career Pathways, Entrepreneurship
- Uncharted Learning, INCubatoredu, NFTE grades 6-12 and JA Company Program
- Mott Community College Business/Marketing/Accounting statewide agreement
- PDE Programs of Study (SOAR)
- ASU competency requirements and course approval record
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