Welcome to AZ Career and Technical Education

Career and Technical Education (CTE) is a premier educational model that equips students with the technical skills, knowledge, and real-world experience needed to earn industry-recognized credentials and college credit. These opportunities prepare students to enter the workforce or pursue further occupational education and training, while simultaneously strengthening academic knowledge, career literacy, and problem-solving abilities. CTE programs are offered through students’ home schools, career and technical education districts (CTEDs), and community colleges.

Designed to reflect the modern workplace, CTE prioritizes college and career readiness by partnering closely with employers to develop and deliver high-quality, dynamic programs. Program offerings are aligned with current, emerging, and projected labor market needs, ensuring students gain relevant, in-demand skills.

All program standards are developed in collaboration with Arizona business and industry leaders. In accordance with state statute, these standards are reviewed and approved by the Arizona Career and Technical Education Quality Commission (ACTEQC), which serves as the final authority and is composed of additional industry representatives.

The National Career Clusters Framework (link to https://careertech.org/career-clusters/) is an organizing structure used in Arizona Career and Technical Education (CTE) to group careers with similar skills and industries into distinct pathways.

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Construction
• Supply Chain & Transportation
• Arts, Entertainment, & Design
• Hospitality, Events, & Tourism
• Financial Services
• Education
• Healthcare & Human Services
• Public Service & Safety
• Agriculture
• Energy & Natural Resources
• Digital Technology
• Marketing & Sales
• Management & Entrepreneurship

• CTE Main Number - (602) 542-5282
• State Director for Career and Technical Education - Kevin Imes / (602) 542-5805 / [email protected]
  • Arizona School Counselors - Emily Brown / (602) 542-5353 / [email protected]
  • CTE Programs and Standards - Michelle Martinez / (602) 542-4365 / [email protected]
  • CTE Student Organizations (CTSO) - Julie Ellis / (602) 542-5350 / [email protected]
  • CTE Data and Accountability - Charles Jarvis / (602) 364-1946 / [email protected]
  • Fiscal - Bobby Neves / (602) 542-5137 / [email protected]
  • Grants - Bobby Neves / (602) 542-5137 / [email protected] 
  • Technical Standards, Technical Skills Assessment, Career Development - Judy Balogh / (602) 542-4155 / [email protected]
  • Work-Based Learning - Robert Garcia / (602) 542-8789 / [email protected]

• Becoming a CTE Teacher
• For information about CTE Teacher Certification, go to /educator-certification/forms-and-information/certificates, then scroll down and select the blue bar titled Career and Technical Education (CTE) Certificates.
• Arizona Perkins V State Plan
• Arizona CTE Strategic Plan
• Without Limits:  A Shared Vision for the Future of Career Technical Education
• Arizona Career and Technical Education Quality Commission
• Arizona CTE Quality Commission Meeting Agenda - Summer Conference 2026:
  /sites/default/files/2026-07/Arizona%20CTE%20Quality%20Commission%20Meeting%20Agenda%20-%20Summer%20Conference%202026.pdf