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Career Clusters & Programs Of Study

Career Connected Learning and Career and Technical Education's Purpose. Information and links to NMPED Career Clusters® Framework and webpage, Advance CTE's National Career Clusters® Framework. Link to NM Career Pathways website. NM Content Standards, Benchmarks, and Performance Standards. The Career Clusters® Guidebook and Guidebook Archive.

How Career Connected Learning & Career & Technical Education Interact with Career Clusters & Programs of Study 

Career Connected Learning (CCL) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) are designed to equip students for both college and career success by offering hands-on learning and real-world experiences across a wide range of career pathways. 

Aligned with New Mexico’s current and future workforce needs, CTE blends core academic subjects like math, English, science, and social studies with industry-focused guidance. Making learning more engaging and relevant for all APS students.

CCL acts as the bridge that brings everything together. CCL helps students connect what they’re learning in school to their future, so students can graduate ready to thrive, no matter the path they choose.

The Career Cluster Framework

The Career Clusters classification system is designed to help students explore careers by organizing similar career fields into larger groups based on shared skills, knowledge, and work environments. This system makes it easier for APS students to discover careers that best match their interests, strengths, and goals and helps students to start planning for their futures while still in school.

How does the Career Cluster Framework Benefit Students?

    • Helps inspire and begin student career exploration.
    • Supports course and career planning.
    • Creates real-world academic and career opportunities.
    • Encourages goal setting and post-grad readiness.

Cluster Groupings

To help students connect their personal interests and goals with real-world careers, AKA choosing a Career Cluster, Advance CTE has created six broad Cluster Groupings:

  • Building & Moving
  • Caring for Communities
  • Connecting & Supporting Success
  • Creating & Experiencing
  • Cultivating Resources
  • Investing in the Future

These groupings help students think about their individual passions and the impact they want to make within their community. Once students connect their interests and goals to a Cluster Grouping, they can then move into exploring related Career Clusters and it's Sub-Clusters.

Career Clusters

Career Clusters are broad groupings of similar industries that reflect the student's area of interest. These clusters are organized based on recognized systems like the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) and the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). 

For example, a student whose interests align with the Cultivating Resources group might choose a Career Cluster in Agriculture or Energy & Natural Resources. After selecting a Career Cluster, students can then explore more specific paths by choosing a related Sub-Cluster.

The 14 Career Clusters

There are 14 Career Clusters, all helping students align their passions with real-world career paths. 

Sub-Clusters

Sub-Clusters focus on related career areas requiring similar skills, knowledge, and work conditions. Once a student selects the Career Cluster that best represents their interests and goals, the student can then narrow their focus by choosing a Sub-Cluster. This Sub-Cluster becomes the student’s area of specialization and helps guide them throughout their Program Of Study. Choosing a Sub-Cluster allows students to explore their chosen field in greater depth and gain more targeted knowledge and experiences in that field.

For example, a student in the Advanced Manufacturing Career Cluster might choose a Sub-Cluster such as Engineering or Robotics.

Career Clusters Framework Grid

The Career Cluster Grid diagram illustrates how broad  Career Groupings contain related Career Clusters, and how each Career Cluster can be divided into more specific Sub-Clusters.

Programs of Study

Once a student selects a Career Cluster and Sub-Cluster, they can then follow one of the related CTE-Approved Programs of Study. Programs of Study are a sequence of high school courses and work-based learning experiences designed to build the skills and knowledge needed for success after graduation is that field or similar. Choosing a Program of Study adds purpose and relevance to a student’s education. It allows students to explore their interests in depth, stay engaged in school, and graduate on time with a stronger sense of direction.

Why Following a Program of Study Is Important

Students who engage in a Program of Study are more likely to:

    • Graduate on time.
    • Experience a smoother transition into post-secondary education and/or the workforce.
    • Have the ability to develop a professional network while still in school.
    • Gain valuable certifications and real-world experience.
    • Receive increased academic and social support.

Program Structure

A four-course sequence is the typical structure for any Program Of Study in order to completely master all common career technical core standards. Students who complete two courses in a sequence are considered Concentrators. Concentrators who also take a capstone course are considered Completers.

Framework Breakdown

  • Cluster Groupings: Six broad groupings to help student connect their personal interests to and goals to real world occupations.
  • Career Clusters: These are large groups of related careers, like Supply Chain Transportation, Financial Services, Education, Healthcare & Human Services, etc. Each cluster is connected to high-demand occupations in New Mexico and reflects the skills and knowledge needed for each Sub-Cluster.
  • Sub-Cluster: Within each Career Cluster are more specific Sub-Clusters.
  • Programs of Study: After choosing a Sub-Cluster, students can focus on a Program of Study, selecting high school courses and experiences like internships, apprenticeship programs, job shadow experiences, and earning certifications that support their field of interest.

Career Cluster Guidebook

The Career Clusters Guidebook compiles the key information of the updated National Career Clusters Framework, including descriptions of framework layers, graphics, new term definitions, and a crosswalk of Career Clusters from the original framework to the modernized framework.

The National Career Clusters® Framework

The National Career Clusters® Framework has been updated, serving as the foundation for designing consistent, high-quality CTE and career pathway programs. Explore the updated design resulting from a multi-year initiative led by Advance CTE to make CTE more industry responsive and student-centered. 

New Mexico Career Pathways

NM Career Pathways is a website that allows educators, parents, and students to explore information and statistics about their local school districts, labor markets, and career clusters. Helping students make a more informed decision on the career path that best fits them

NM Content Standards, Benchmarks, and Performance Standards

Each program of study is reflective of New Mexico’s labor analysis and includes:

  • A strong academic core aligned to NM Graduation Requirements and content standards set by NMAC 6.29.3.

  • An intricate system that links each level of learning to the next.

  • Opportunities like on-the-job training, mentorships, internships, apprenticeships, etc.