State profile
Arizona CTE Pathway Profile
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.
Arizona at a glance
Arizona CTE runs on two tracks. Your district or charter offers state-approved programs on its own campus, and regional Career Technical Education Districts (CTEDs, sometimes called JTEDs) such as West-MEC, EVIT and Pima JTED add programs at central campuses they own or lease, or at satellite campuses inside member high schools (A.R.S. 15-393). CTEDs are voter-approved and funded by a secondary property tax levy plus a fractional share of student membership, so where a program sits (your campus, a satellite, or a central campus) changes who pays, who staffs it and how the schedule works. Confirmed.
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) CTE office publishes the list of approved programs every two years from labor market data, and you pick programs from that list based on your local needs assessment. There is no separate new-program application. For students in grade 9 and in the year after graduation, CTED funding also requires that the program appear on the regional in-demand list for the year the student started the program (A.R.S. 15-393(X), (Z)). Funding for grades 10 to 12 does not depend on the list. All eight wave 1 programs are on the 2026-2027 list in every region. Confirmed.
Every high school student must have an Education and Career Action Plan (ECAP) under Arizona State Board rule R7-2-302.05. The plan covers academic, career, postsecondary and extracurricular goals, is developed in consultation with the student and parent or guardian, and is reviewed at least annually. Confirmed.
Arizona has no single statewide articulation agreement for CTE. College credit runs through dual enrollment agreements between your district or CTED and a community college (A.R.S. 15-1821.01), and through community college certificates that appear on ADE’s credential list. For university admission, the Arizona universities review high school courses one by one, and an approved CTE course can meet the one-year fine arts or CTE requirement. Confirmed.
What is most different for someone starting a pathway: Arizona licenses contracting businesses, not individual electricians or HVAC technicians; its CTE teacher certificate has a no-degree route based on 6,000 hours of work experience; its child labor law exempts CTE students from the state list of banned jobs (federal rules still apply); and no work permits are required for minors. Confirmed.
Who approves what in Arizona
| Area | Agency | What it decides | System, form or rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTE program approval | ADE CTE | Which programs are approved (biennial list); program standards; CTED funding eligibility | ADE approved program list (covers 2027); A.R.S. 15-393. Confirmed |
| Credential list | ADE CTE | Industry credentials that count for A-F, CTED and Perkins | Online application, Feb. to Mar. 13; revisions by Apr. 30. Changing: recheck dates |
| Teacher certification | ADE Certification Unit | CTE certificates by area (for example SCTHC, SCTIET, SCTBM, SCTA) | R7-2-612; R7-2-612.01; ADE Certification Portal. Confirmed |
| Nurse aide programs | Arizona State Board of Nursing (AZBN) | Each training program, its RN instructor and RN coordinator | R4-19-802; R4-19-804; AZBN application checklist. Confirmed |
| EMS courses | Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), Bureau of EMS | Certifies EMT training programs; issues EMT certification at 18 | A.A.C. R9-25-301 et seq.; R9-25-403. Confirmed |
| Child labor and work permits | Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA) | Youth hours and banned jobs; no work permits | A.R.S. 23-230 to 23-235. Confirmed |
| Registered apprenticeship | DES Apprenticeship Office | Registers programs and apprentices (age 16; some industries 18) | DES apprenticeship registration. Confirmed |
| Trades licensing | Registrar of Contractors (ROC) | Licenses contracting businesses through a qualifying party; no licenses to minors | A.R.S. 32-1121, 32-1122; A.A.C. R4-9-106. Confirmed |
| Cosmetology | State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology | School license; student and instructor licenses | A.R.S. 32-506, 32-511, 32-514, 32-531, 32-551; 4 A.A.C. 10, Art. 3. Confirmed |
| Dental radiography and coronal polishing | State Board of Dental Examiners | Exam a dental assistant must pass before exposing radiographs or polishing teeth | A.R.S. 32-1291; A.A.C. Title 4, Ch. 11. Confirmed; student radiography: Confirm with the agency |
| Medical assisting | Arizona Medical Board | Training an MA must complete before working | A.R.S. 32-1456; R4-16-401, R4-16-402. Confirmed |
| Child care | ADHS Bureau of Child Care Licensing; DPS | Lab preschool licensing; staff ages; fingerprint clearance cards | A.R.S. 36-883.02, 36-884; R9-5-401, R9-5-404. Confirmed; lab preschool exemption and cards for staff under 18: Confirm with the agency |
| Fire training | Arizona Center for Fire Service Excellence (AzCFSE) | Fire Fighter I and II course approval and testing (age 18 to test) | AzCFSE IFSAC policies. Confirmed |
Opening a state-approved CTE program in Arizona
Arizona does not use a new-program application. ADE CTE publishes an approved program list every two years from Office of Economic Opportunity labor market data, and your district or CTED chooses programs from that list based on its local needs assessment. The current list covers 2027. Changing: recheck the list before each two-year cycle.
To run an approved program, you deliver the state’s coherent sequence and technical standards, integrate academic and professional skills, use a teacher with the right CTE certificate, provide industry-standard facilities and equipment, and keep an advisory committee, work-based learning and a career and technical student organization (ADE, Elements of an Approved CTE Program). Each program page on azed.gov/cte lists the technical standards, program description, test blueprint, instructional framework and equipment list. Confirmed.
The funding tie runs through CTEDs. For CTED funding, ADE must confirm the courses meet A.R.S. 15-391 criteria, the program must be on the regional in-demand list to fund students in grade 9 and the year after graduation, and the program must lead to an industry certification or license where one exists. Programs are reviewed every five years and lose CTED funding if out of compliance (A.R.S. 15-393). The 2026-2027 regional in-demand list was posted in December 2025 and is the most recent; a 2027-2028 list may post between December and February. Changing: recheck azed.gov/cte/cted in early 2027.
If the credential you want is not on ADE’s list, apply online between February and March 13; ADE reviews from March 13 to 31 and revisions are due April 30. Changing: recheck dates each year.
Second-agency approvals set the real timeline for some pathways:
- Nurse aide: submit the AZBN application at least 90 days before your start date. The Board lists up to 120 days (30 administrative, 90 substantive) and schedules a site visit unless it grants a one-year initial approval. You may not advertise, recruit or collect fees before approval. Confirmed.
- EMT: your course must be, or partner with, an ADHS-certified training program for students to become eligible for certification. Confirmed.
- Electrical and other trades: no second-agency approval for the program. Youth registered apprenticeship goes through the DES Apprenticeship Office. Confirmed.
A practical sequence for a nurse aide program: pick Nursing Services from the approved list in the spring of the year before launch, name your RN instructor and coordinator, secure written clinical agreements, then file with AZBN at least four to five months before the first class.
The full sequence across states is in Launching a CTE Pathway: Sequence and Approvals Timeline. Forms and checklists are in the Approvals and Applications toolkit.
Funding streams for Arizona CTE
| Stream | What it pays for | Amount or window | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perkins V (federal) | Equipment, technology, instructional materials; no more than 5% for administration; no construction listed | About $34.4M to Arizona in FY 2026 (JLBC estimate) | : recheck before use |
| CTED student funding (A.R.S. 15-393) | CTED courses, plus equipment and facilities that enhance, not supplant, CTE | 0.25 ADM per satellite course; up to 0.75 for central campus courses of 150+ minutes; combined cap 1.25 (satellite) or 1.75 (central) | |
| CTED property tax levy | CTED operations | Up to 5 cents per $100 secondary net assessed value (2018 Senate brief) | |
| CTED Class B bonds | CTED facility construction | Per CTED bond election (2018 Senate brief) | |
| CTED funding for grade 9 and the year after graduation (in-demand list required) | Programs on the regional in-demand list | 2026-2027 list posted Dec. 2025 | : recheck before use |
| State Block Grant for Vocational Education | Block grants to districts and charters with CTE programs | $11,939,100 in FY 2027 | : recheck before use |
| CTE State Priority Grant | Program support allocated 75% by prior-year enrollment, 25% by placements | Amount not confirmed; may be the same money as the block grant | |
| CTED Certification Exam Fee Reimbursement | Student industry certification and licensure exam fees | $1,000,000 in FY 2027 | : recheck before use |
| CTED Completion Grants | Students finishing a CTED program after graduation | $1,000,000 in FY 2027 | : recheck before use |
| CTED Soft Capital and Equipment | Equipment for CTEDs under 2,000 ADM | $1,000,000 in FY 2027 | : recheck before use |
| Early Education and Career Exploration Program (SB 1209, 2023) | Career exploration and a statewide career-mapping tool | $5,000,000 one-time in FY 2024; $0 in FY 2025 | : not a current stream |
| Dual Enrollment Student and Teacher Development Funds | Dual enrollment costs and teacher credentials | $0 in FY 2025 (funds eliminated) | : not a current stream |
CTED money pays only for CTE courses. A course required for graduation, or any version of it, including honors, cannot be a CTED course, and a CTED course must spend most of its time in a lab, field or work-based setting (A.R.S. 15-391(2)(d), (e)). Fund integrated English, math and science courses from your district budget. Satellite courses earn 0.25 ADM each, with a 1.25 combined cap, and the money must add to, not replace, the CTE courses you already ran (A.R.S. 15-393(D)(7), (N), (O)). Confirmed.
Capital costs mostly fall on you. ADE’s CTE Equipment Guidelines put any wiring, ventilation or other infrastructure changes on the grant recipient, and the guidelines use $5,000 as the capital equipment line. ADE labels the Nursing Services equipment list as guidance, and says the items need not be bought with Perkins or State Priority funds. For a sink, power drops or ventilation, plan on local capital funds, district bonds or CTED Class B bonds. Confirmed for the guidelines; bond use Confirm with the agency.
Perkins rules for your district have not changed, but day-to-day federal administration moved to the U.S. Department of Labor under a May 2025 interagency agreement. Changing.
Equipment lists and cost guidance are in the Facilities and Equipment toolkit.
Pathway rules at a glance
All eight programs below are on ADE’s 2026-2027 regional in-demand list in every region. Confirmed. Certificate codes: SCTHC and SSCTEHC (Health Careers), SCTIET and SSCTEIET (Industrial and Emerging Technologies), SCTBM and SSCTEBM (Business and Marketing).
| Pathway | State program or course code | Second agency | Key age or hour gate | Instructor route | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse aide | Nursing Services, 51.3902.00 | AZBN | 120 hours (40 classroom, 20 lab, 40 clinical with at least 20 in long-term care, and 20 more the program assigns); 10 students per clinical instructor; age 16 to practice (A.R.S. 32-1645). Confirmed | RN with 1 year (1,500 hours) direct care and a teaching qualification, plus SCTHC or SSCTEHC. Confirmed | Nurse aide |
| EMT | Emergency Medical Services, 51.0904.00 | ADHS Bureau of EMS | State certification at 18 (R9-25-403). Confirmed. Course of 130 hours (R9-25-305). Confirm with the agency | SCTHC, SSCTEHC, SCTIET or SSCTEIET. Confirmed | EMT |
| Electrical | Electrical and Power Transmission Installation, 46.0301.00 | None for the program; DES for apprenticeship | No state journeyman or apprentice license; registered apprentice at 16. Confirmed | SCTIET or SSCTEIET; no electrical license. Confirmed | Electrical |
| Welding | Welding Technologies, 48.0508.00 | None | State bar on metal-forming machines and power saws for under 18, lifted for CTE students (A.R.S. 23-235). Confirmed | SCTIET or SSCTEIET. Confirmed | Welding |
| Construction and carpentry | Carpentry, 46.0201.00 | None | State bar on woodworking machines, saws and roofing, lifted for CTE students; no ROC license to minors. Confirmed | SCTIET or SSCTEIET; no contractor license. Confirmed | Construction |
| HVAC | Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, 47.0201.00 | None (EPA 608 is federal) | EPA 608 has no age floor; rooftop work needs a student-learner agreement under federal HO 16. Confirmed | SCTIET or SSCTEIET; no EPA 608 or license required of the teacher. Confirmed | HVAC |
| Cybersecurity and networking | Network Security, 11.1999.00 (no separate cybersecurity program) | None | No age gate; keep hacking practice in an isolated lab (federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act). Confirmed | SCTBM, SSCTEBM, SCTIET or SSCTEIET. Confirmed | Cybersecurity |
| Programming and computer science | Software and App Design, 11.0202.00 | None | No age gate. Confirmed | SCTBM, SSCTEBM, SCTIET or SSCTEIET; a computer science endorsement applies to academic CS assignments. Confirmed | Programming |
Wave 2 pathways
| Pathway | What stands out in Arizona | Status | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive | Automotive Technologies, 47.0604.00; ASE student certifications, EPA 609 and community college certificates are on the 2026-27 list; state bars minors from hoists and limits driving; no mechanic license; no ASE certification required of the teacher | Automotive | |
| Medical and dental assisting | Medical Assisting Services, 51.0801.00: no MA license, but an MA from a high school program must pass an NCCA- or ANSI-accredited exam before MA work (R4-16-401); CCMA and RMA are on the 2026-27 list, NCMA is not. Dental Assisting, 51.0600.00: a Board-approved exam is required before exposing radiographs or polishing teeth (A.R.S. 32-1291) | ; student radiography in a course: Confirm with the agency | Medical and dental assisting |
| Cosmetology | Cosmetology and Related Services, 12.0400.00; license needs 1,500 hours in a Board-licensed school and age 16 with two years of high school; the exam may come before hours are finished; a school license needs a $10,000 bond and inspection, with no public school exemption | ; which CTEDs hold a Board school license: Confirm with the agency | Cosmetology |
| Agriculture | AgriScience, 01.0000.00, and Veterinary Assisting, 01.8301.00, both with a TSA; pesticide applicator certification at 18 (R3-3-208); under 16, no ladder work above 5 feet (stricter than federal); A.R.S. 23-235 exempts vocational agriculture and 4-H trained students | Agriculture | |
| Early childhood | Early Childhood Education, 13.1210.00; lab preschool needs an ADHS license unless it runs 2.25 hours a day, 3 days a week or less; 16-17-year-olds in high school can be counted assistant teacher-caregivers; students under 16 are student-aides not counted in ratio | ; lab preschool exemption and fingerprint cards for staff under 18: Confirm with the agency | Early childhood |
| Culinary and hospitality | Culinary Arts, 12.0500.00, and Hospitality Management, 52.0900.00; state bars meat-processing and bakery machines (lifted for CTE students); serving or selling alcohol at 18 (A.R.S. 4-244); Maricopa County requires food handler cards | ; program credential lists: Confirm with the agency | Culinary and hospitality |
| Machining and mechatronics | Precision Machining, 48.0510.00, and Automation and Robotics, 14.4201.00; NIMS, MSSC CPT, FANUC and SACA are on the 2026-27 list; Precision Machining is on the in-demand list in every region | Machining and mechatronics | |
| Engineering and drafting | Engineering, 15.0000.00; 31 credentials on the 2026-27 list, PLTW not among them; ASU approved PLTW IED as CTE, not lab science; drafting codes conflict between ADE pages | ; drafting codes and an embedded math or science crosswalk: Confirm with the agency | Engineering and drafting |
| Firefighting | Fire Service, 43.0202.00; AzCFSE tests Fire Fighter I and II only at 18; EMR, BLS, HazMat and CPAT are A-F credentials students can earn; course application 60 days before testing | Firefighting | |
| Law and public safety | Law and Public Safety, 43.0100.00; DPS security guard card at 18, with guard training only from DPS-certified instructors; peace officer at 21 | ; state corrections officer age: Confirm with the agency | Law and public safety |
| Business and marketing | Five programs (52.0201, 52.0301, 52.0408, 52.0801, 52.1801); ESB and IC3 are not on the 2026-27 list; embedded economics crosswalks exist for Business Management and Marketing only | Business and marketing | |
| Entrepreneurship | No stand-alone program; taught inside Business Management or Business Operations; ESB is not on the 2026-27 list; ASU has approved a high school entrepreneurship course for the CTE admission requirement | ; sales tax on student-run businesses: Confirm with the agency | Entrepreneurship |
Working with minors in Arizona
Permits. Arizona requires no work permits or age certificates for minors. Where federal and state law both apply, the Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA) applies the stricter one. Confirmed.
School-year hours. State hour limits apply only under 16: 18 hours a week and 3 hours a day while school is in session, 40 and 8 when it is not, and no work from 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. before a school day (A.R.S. 23-233). Arizona sets no hour limits for 16- and 17-year-olds, and federal law sets none at those ages. Confirmed.
State hazardous-work bars beyond federal. A.R.S. 23-231 bars everyone under 18 from power-driven woodworking machines, power-driven saws, metal-working, forming, punching and shearing machines, roofing (including equipment on roofs), wrecking and demolition, and most excavation. ICA also lists power-driven hoists and elevators, meat-processing and bakery machines, and limits driving to two hours a day or 25 percent of the workday and under 50 miles a day. Under-16 workers may not do construction (A.R.S. 23-232). The state list does not include electrical work or health care work. Confirmed.
The exemption route. A.R.S. 23-235 exempts from the state child labor sections minors in career education programs, minors in vocational or technical training programs under Title 15, Chapter 7, Article 5, registered apprentices, and minors who completed an ADE-approved vocational program directly related to the job. There is no state filing. Confirmed.
Federal rules still apply. The state exemption does not lift the federal hazardous occupations orders. For a paid placement where a 16- or 17-year-old will touch covered equipment, you need a written student-learner agreement between the employer and your school under 29 CFR 570.50(c). That agreement unlocks only 7 of the 17 orders and never covers driving, lifts and forklifts, or demolition. A registered youth apprentice can do covered tasks under the same seven orders with close journeyworker supervision. Confirmed.
Pathway notes. Rooftop HVAC service counts as roof work under federal HO 16. A CNA student under 18 may help an adult with a powered patient lift but may never run one alone. Electrical students under 18 may not ride or run scissor lifts, boom lifts or bucket trucks. Confirmed.
Agreements and supervision. ADE’s Work-Based Learning Guide (January 2024) gives a sample training agreement and training plan with 6 to 12 targeted competencies, and a site-visit pattern of weekly for two weeks, every two weeks through week 12, then monthly. ADE does not count job shadowing as work-based learning. Confirmed.
Insurance for unpaid students. No Arizona statute assigns workers’ compensation for unpaid work-based learning students. ADE’s sample letter says unpaid students carry the same coverage at the worksite as at school, which implies district coverage. Confirm with the agency and your risk pool.
Background checks. Many clinical sites ask students for a DPS Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card, and child care settings require one before any work (A.R.S. 36-883.02). Whether DPS issues cards to applicants under 18: Confirm with the agency.
Placement checklists and agreement templates are in Working with Minors in CTE Pathways and the Clinical and Work-Based Learning Partnerships toolkit.
Teacher certification routes for CTE in Arizona
Arizona issues CTE teaching certificates by area under A.A.C. R7-2-612. The areas confirmed on ADE program descriptions are Agriculture (SCTA), Business and Marketing (SCTBM), Health Careers (SCTHC) and Industrial and Emerging Technologies (SCTIET), each with a Standard Specialized version (for example SSCTEHC). Confirmed. The July 2026 state module also names Education and Training and Family and Consumer Sciences areas. Confirm with the agency.
The Standard CTE certificate has four options (R7-2-612, effective February 26, 2018). Confirmed:
- Option A: a bachelor’s degree in the field plus 240 hours of work experience.
- Option B: an existing Arizona teaching certificate plus 240 hours of work experience and added coursework. This is how an academic math or science teacher can add a CTE certificate.
- Option C (business and industry professional): 6,000 clock hours of verified work experience, no degree, plus 15 semester hours of CTE professional knowledge. Option C is the only no-degree Standard option and is open to every CTE area.
- Option D: completion of an approved CTE teacher preparation program (bachelor’s degree) plus 240 hours of work experience.
The Option C coursework deadline needs checking. The rule says within three years; ADE’s May 2026 checklist treats the 15 hours as a deficiency due within four years of the certificate date, which means the certificate issues first. Confirm with the agency.
The Standard Specialized CTE certificate (R7-2-612.01) requires five years of work experience plus one of: a degree in the field, an associate degree in the field, an ADE-approved industry certification or license, or two years of postsecondary teaching. Holders are exempt from the constitution, professional knowledge and subject knowledge exams and the SEI endorsement. Whether an RN license or an electrical credential is on ADE’s approved list for this route: Confirm with the agency. ADE also accepts reciprocity from other states. Confirmed.
You apply in the ADE Certification Portal after getting a DPS Identity Verified Prints (IVP) fingerprint clearance card, which loads to the portal within 48 hours of DPS processing. Confirmed.
No ADE source reviewed describes a provisional or emergency CTE certificate, or a safety exclusion for health programs. Confirm with the agency before you rely on one. Arizona has no adjunct or guest-instructor statute for CTE. Confirmed.
Pathway add-ons.
- Nurse aide: the instructor must be an RN with an active license, at least one year (1,500 hours) of full-time RN direct care, and a teaching qualification (an adult-learning course, a 40-hour continuing education program, a year of teaching, or a year supervising nursing assistants). The program coordinator must be an RN with two years of nursing experience including one year in long-term care. AZBN approves both. An RN without a bachelor’s degree can reach the CTE certificate through Option C. Confirmed.
- EMT: the ADE certificate (Health Careers or Industrial and Emerging Technologies) covers the CTE side; ADHS sets training program director and lead instructor requirements (24 hours of instructional methodology and two years of experience for the program director). Lead instructor rules (R9-25-303 to 305): Confirm with the agency.
- Trades: ADE requires no electrical, contractor or mechanical license and no EPA 608 for the teacher. Whether your state agency or CTED holds NCCER accreditation you can operate under: Confirm with the agency.
- Cosmetology: a Board instructor license (licensed in the subject, one year of practice, 350 hours of instructor training, exams) on top of the ADE CTE certificate. Confirmed.
- Fire service: the program needs SCTIET or SSCTEIET from ADE. AzCFSE approves adjunct instructors separately, and its skills evaluators need Fire Fighter II, an instructor credential and practical instruction within the last 18 months. Confirmed.
Staffing models, including CTED sharing and dual enrollment faculty, are in the Staffing toolkit.
Graduation credit and college eligibility in Arizona
Embedded academic credit. Under State Board rule R7-2-302, your local board may award embedded academic credit to students in a CTE program: 0.5 credit of economics, 1.0 credit of fourth-year math, or 1.0 credit of science. The academic credit replaces the CTE credit after the first two courses of the sequence, and only for programs whose crosswalk the State Board has approved. ADE teacher committees build the crosswalks. Confirmed. Approved crosswalks confirmed so far: Business Management (52.0201.00) economics, approved May 2022, and Marketing economics. Nursing Services and Electrical do not appear on ADE’s embedded-credit page. Whether Engineering has an approved math or science crosswalk: Confirm with the agency. No economics crosswalk was found for Business Operations (52.0408.00): Confirm with the agency.
Algebra II-level math through CTE or computer science. R7-2-302 lets the Algebra II-level math credit be met by computer science, CTE or vocational education courses, as a local decision. A.R.S. 15-701.01 also lets a rigorous computer science course fulfill a math course required for graduation, subject to conditions on course content and school capacity. Confirmed (live check, October 3, 2026).
Economics and personal finance. State law requires at least 0.5 credit of economics that includes financial literacy and personal financial management (A.R.S. 15-701.01). There is no separate personal finance course requirement in the current statute. A 2024 bill (SB 1058) proposed a separate 0.5-credit personal finance course starting with the class of 2030; the current statute text does not include it. Changing: recheck each session. A Business Management or Marketing completer can earn the 0.5 economics credit through the embedded crosswalk. Confirmed.
Career plan. Every student in grades 9 to 12 must complete an Education and Career Action Plan before graduation, with academic, career, postsecondary and extracurricular goals, developed with the student and parent or guardian and updated at least annually (R7-2-302.05). The rule requires consultation, not a parent signature. Confirmed.
Effect on university admission. Arizona Board of Regents Policy 2-105 (effective February 19, 2026) sets the competencies for ASU, the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University. Confirmed:
- Four math credits: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and one credit in quantitative methods with Algebra II or a comparable course as a prerequisite.
- Three lab science credits, one each in three of chemistry, physics, earth science and biology.
- One year (two semesters) of fine arts or CTE. An approved CTE course meets this, and the universities’ course approval system has approved high school CTE courses such as Fire Science and Law and Public Safety.
- ASU does not admit a student with deficiencies in both math and lab science.
- English: four years of composition or literature. An integrated or career-themed English course counts only if the universities approve that course title.
- Social science: two years, including one of American history. Second language: two years of the same language.
- Course approval: submit each course title through the universities’ course approval form (courseapproval.asu.edu). Reviews take two to three weeks, and you may submit up to seven courses every two weeks. An approved title counts at all three universities. Submit integrated courses a year before students enroll.
What this means for your pathway:
- An embedded science credit counts as a university lab science only if the universities accept the course as chemistry, physics, earth science or biology. Check before you award it.
- An embedded fourth math, or a CS course used for math, counts as quantitative methods only if it has Algebra II as a prerequisite and the universities accept it. Check before you award it.
- Replacing Algebra II with a CTE or CS course creates a university math deficiency. Do not use the Algebra II route for a student who may apply to an Arizona university without advising the family.
- Whether a CTE-embedded economics credit is accepted as a social science for admission: Confirm with the agency (ABOR).
Curriculum mapping guidance is in the Curriculum toolkit.
Articulation and dual enrollment in Arizona
Dual enrollment. A.R.S. 15-1821.01 lets a community college teach college courses at your high school under an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with your district. Students in grades 9 to 12 who meet the course prerequisites may enroll. Courses must be above high school level and either transferable or part of an occupational program, faculty must meet the college board’s standards, and the IGA must set the funding split and tuition policy. Confirmed. A CTED may also contract with community colleges or universities through IGAs that spell out finances and accountability (A.R.S. 15-393). Confirmed.
Community college certificates as credentials. ADE’s 2026-2027 credential list includes community college certificates for many programs (for example Mohave, Eastern Arizona, Yavapai, Pima and Glendale certificates for HVAC, welding, automotive and business programs). These are the most common formal bridge from a CTED program to a college credential. Confirmed. Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management credentials: Confirm with the agency.
Statewide articulation. Arizona has no statewide secondary-to-postsecondary articulation agreement for CTE programs. None was found for electrical, cybersecurity and networking, engineering, business or entrepreneurship. Confirmed as not found. No expiring statewide agreements were identified.
Pathway examples.
- EMT: West-MEC runs its EMT program with a Maricopa community college site at Deer Valley (13 college credits; the college name differs between sources) and Paradise Valley Community College (14 credits), leading to the National Registry exam. Maricopa colleges enroll EMT students at 18, or younger with program director permission. Confirm your partner’s age policy before you build the course. Confirmed.
- Nurse aide: a dual enrollment course must meet both college and AZBN standards for its hours to count toward the 120-hour requirement. Which colleges have active articulation for Nursing Services completers: Confirm with the agency (CTEDs and colleges).
University side. The Arizona universities approve individual high school courses for admission competencies. An approved CTE course meets the one-year fine arts or CTE requirement. Confirmed. Whether general education blocks (AGEC) earned through dual enrollment transfer to all three universities: Confirm with the agency.
State dual enrollment funding. The Dual Enrollment Student Development Fund and Teacher Development Fund received $0 in FY 2025 after the funds were eliminated. Plan dual enrollment costs through your IGA. Changing: recheck before use.
Scheduling models for split-day CTED attendance and college courses are in the Scheduling and Student Timing toolkit.
Open questions for Arizona agencies
- AZBN, nursing assistant program staff: Can a 16- or 17-year-old high school completer test and be placed on the CNA registry, given A.R.S. 32-1645(D) sets 16 to practice? The AZBN license page now shows an age of 18 only for medication assistants (CMA). Also ask about R4-19-806 and whether Arizona has a test-within window after training.
- AZBN: What is the nursing assistant program application fee, and do the $15,000 surety bond and long-term care affidavit apply to public schools and CTEDs?
- AZBN: Can classroom theory for a nursing assistant program be delivered online or hybrid?
- ADE Certification Unit: Does a provisional or emergency CTE certificate exist, and are health programs excluded from it?
- ADE Certification Unit: Is the Option C coursework deadline three years (R7-2-612) or four years from the certificate date (May 2026 checklist)? Are an RN license and electrical credentials on the approved industry credential list for the Standard Specialized certificate? Which certificate area applies to Law and Public Safety, Culinary Arts and the business programs?
- ADHS Bureau of EMS: Must a high school or CTED be certified as an EMCT training program itself under R9-25-301, or may it deliver through a certified college partner? What are the lead instructor requirements (R9-25-303 to 305), and does the 130-hour course rule in R9-25-305 match current text?
- ADE CTE: Which credentials on the 2026-2027 list apply to Nursing Services, EMS, Welding, Carpentry and Electrical, and which count for A-F versus CTED funding?
- ADE CTE: Is a 2027-2028 regional in-demand list due, and when? Is the CTE State Priority Grant the same money as the State Block Grant for Vocational Education, and what is the current allocation?
- ADE CTE: Does Engineering (15.0000.00) have a State Board-approved embedded math or science crosswalk? Can an industry credential substitute for the Technical Skills Assessment? Which drafting codes are current (15.1300 and 15.1306 on the program pages, 15.1303 and 15.1306 on the credential list)? Which credentials apply to Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management?
- ADE CTE: Do NCCER accreditation or sponsor arrangements exist at the state or CTED level that schools can operate under?
- Arizona Board of Regents and the universities: Which high school CTE and CS courses count as quantitative methods or lab science under Policy 2-105, and is a CTE-embedded economics credit accepted as a social science?
- Your district’s risk pool or ADE: Who carries workers’ compensation and liability for unpaid work-based learning students, given ADE’s sample letter implies school coverage?
- DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card Unit: Does DPS issue Level One cards to applicants under 18, for clinical placements?
- Local jurisdictions (Phoenix, Tucson and others): Do any require local electrical or mechanical licenses for workers that affect student placements?
- State Board of Dental Examiners: Is the DANB Radiation Health and Safety exam the Board-approved radiography exam under A.R.S. 32-1291? May students expose radiographs or polish teeth under supervision in a course, and must the instructor hold the Arizona radiography certificate? Also ask ADHS about X-ray equipment registration for school labs.
- State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology: Which district and CTED programs, such as Pima JTED, hold a Board school license? A.R.S. 32-551 has no public school exemption from the license, bond and inspection.
- ADHS Bureau of Child Care Licensing: Does a high school lab preschool qualify for the A.R.S. 36-884 exemptions, and is a student-aide in a curriculum placement treated as personnel or a volunteer? Your fingerprinting FAQ has staff apply for a clearance card before turning 18; how are staff under 18 screened?
- AzCFSE and CTEDs: How do CTEDs schedule Fire Fighter I and II testing for students who turn 18 after the course?
- ADHS and county environmental services: Do county food handler card rules or Food Code provisions apply to school teaching kitchens and student-run catering? Maricopa County’s page does not mention schools, and other counties were not checked.
- Arizona Department of Revenue: Is TPP 94-1 (school districts not liable for transaction privilege tax) still current, and does it reach charter schools, CTEDs and student-run businesses?
- ADCRR Human Resources: What is the minimum age for a state Correctional Officer I?
Review status and sources
Last checked: October 2-3, 2026. Wave 1 facts come from the Arizona and federal verification ledgers (October 2, 2026) and the toolkit research verified October 2, 2026. Funding amounts, the personal finance statute, the ECAP rule and the AZBN age page were rechecked live on October 3, 2026. Wave 2 rows were verified in a second research round on October 3, 2026; open items are listed above. Labels used: Confirmed; Confirm with the agency; Changing.
CTE program approval and funding
- ADE CTE Programs and Standards
- ADE, Elements of an Approved CTE Program
- A.R.S. 15-393 (CTEDs)
- A.R.S. 15-391 (CTED course definitions) and Arizona universities’ course approval form (last checked Oct. 3, 2026)
- ADE 2026-2027 Regional In-Demand Programs for CTED 4th Year Funding
- ADE CTE Industry Credentials and 2026-2027 Credentials List
- JLBC FY 2027 Appropriations Report, Department of Education and FY 2025 report
- ADE CTE State Priority Grant Allocation Formula
- ADE CTE Equipment Guidelines (rev. 11/19/19)
- Arizona Senate brief on CTEDs (2018, secondary)
- SB 1209 (2023) Senate fact sheet
- 20 U.S.C. 2355 (Perkins V local uses)
Program pages and descriptions
- Nursing Services and program description
- Emergency Medical Services and program description
- Electrical and Power Transmission Installation, Welding Technologies, HVAC, Network Security, Software and App Design
- Carpentry program description
- ADE CTE Programs with Embedded Academic Credit
Health regulators
- A.A.C. R4-19-802 and R4-19-804
- AZBN Nursing Assistant Program application checklist (2024); AZBN Apply for a License
- A.R.S. 32-1645
- A.A.C. Title 9, Ch. 25 (ADHS EMS); R9-25-403
- NREMT June 2019 board action (age)
Trades licensing and apprenticeship
Minors and work-based learning
- A.R.S. 23-231; A.R.S. 23-235
- ICA Youth Employment FAQ; ICA occupational restrictions
- ADE CTE Work-Based Learning Guide (Jan. 2024)
Teacher certification
Graduation, college eligibility and dual enrollment
- A.R.S. 15-701.01; A.A.C. R7-2-302; R7-2-302.05 (ECAP)
- ABOR Policy 2-105; ASU competency requirements
- A.R.S. 15-1821.01
Wave 2
- A.R.S. 32-1456 and A.A.C. Title 4, Ch. 16 (medical assisting)
- A.R.S. 32-1291 (dental radiography)
- A.R.S. 32-511 and A.R.S. 32-531 (cosmetology)
- A.R.S. 36-884 and A.R.S. 36-883.02; A.A.C. R9-5-401 and R9-5-404 (child care)
- AzCFSE IFSAC accreditation (fire training)
- ADE Automotive Technologies; ADE Engineering program description; ADE Precision Machining; ADE AgriScience; ADE Early Childhood Education; ADE Cosmetology; ADE Business and Marketing; ADE Fire Service; ADE Culinary Arts; ADE Medical Assisting Services; ADE Dental Assisting; ADE Law and Public Safety blueprint; ADE 2026-2027 Credentials List
CareerConnectedSchools.org guides and toolkits
- Pathway guides: Nurse aide · EMT · Electrical · Welding · Construction and carpentry · HVAC · Cybersecurity and networking · Programming and computer science
- Wave 2 pathway guides: Automotive · Medical and dental assisting · Cosmetology · Agriculture · Early childhood · Culinary and hospitality · Machining and mechatronics · Engineering and drafting · Firefighting · Law and public safety · Business and marketing · Entrepreneurship
- Working with Minors in CTE Pathways · Launching a CTE Pathway
- Toolkits: Staffing · Clinical and Work-Based Learning Partnerships · Approvals and Applications · Facilities and Equipment · Curriculum · Scheduling and Student Timing
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