A Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) is a group for students that enhances student learning through contextual instruction, leadership and personal development, applied learning and real world application.  These are not extracurricular clubs but instead work through integration with the curriculum and classroom of CTE programs.

CTSOs help guide students in developing a career path and provide opportunities in gaining the skills and abilities needed to be successful in those careers through CTSO activities, programs and competitive events. In addition, students have opportunities to hold leadership positions at the local, state, and national level and attend leadership development conferences to network with other students as well as business and industry partners.

CTSOs provide a strong foundation of leadership and employability skills.

Business Professionals of America is the leading CTSO (Career and Technical Student Organization) for students pursuing careers in business management, office administration, information technology and other related career fields.  The goal of the program is to provide all business students with the opportunity to demonstrate workplace skills learned through business education curricula. Students prepare for and compete in contests in over 90 categories under finance; business administration; management information systems; digital communication and design; management, marketing, and communication; and health administration.

CTE Programs That Can Participate:  Entrepreneurship, Merchandising, Information Technology, Computer Graphics, Media Production

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.  DECA enhances the co-curricular education of members through a comprehensive learning program that integrates into classroom instruction, applies learning, connects to business and promotes competition.

CTE Programs That Can Participate:  Entrepreneurship, Merchandising

Educators Rising is cultivating a new generation of highly skilled educators by guiding young people on a path from middle/high school through college and into their teaching careers, by working with future educators who reflect the demographics of their communities and who are passionate about serving those communities through public education.

CTE Programs That Can Participate:  Early Childhood Education, Teacher Education

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work and societal issues through family and consumer sciences education. Chapter projects focus on a variety of youth concerns, including teen pregnancy, parenting, family relationships, substance abuse, peer pressure, environment, nutrition and fitness, teen violence and career exploration. Involvement in FCCLA offers members the opportunity to expand their leadership potential and develop skills for life—planning, goal setting, problem solving, decision making and interpersonal communication—necessary in the home and workplace.

CTE Programs That Can Participate:  Early Childhood Education, ProStart

There are more than three-hundred distinct careers in the agriculture, food and natural resources industries. Agricultural Education and the National FFA Organization work in tandem to connect our members to those career opportunities through the Three Circle Model of Ag Education. Our model combines the strengths of classroom education, work-based experiential learning and career preparation and leadership through FFA.

CTE Programs That Can Participate:  Animal Systems; Plant & Biotechnology Systems; Power, Structural & Technical Systems

HOSA is a global student-led organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services and several federal and state agencies. HOSA’s mission is to empower HOSA-Future Health Professionals to become leaders in the global health community, through education, collaboration, and experience. HOSA actively promotes career opportunities in the health industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people.

CTE Programs That Can Participate:  Health Science Fundamentals