Vocational and Technical Education

Vocational and technical education is offered at both the secondary and postsecondary levels in the United States. This type of instruction is provided both for unlicensed and licensed occupations, and ranges from general and basic skills to complex technical programs requiring extensive postsecondary level study and practice. In addition, vocational and technical programs are frequently offered by employers, unions, professional associations, and private training services as well as by traditional educational institutions, and they are among the most popular types of education to offer via distance education technologies.

General Information

The nature of vocational and technical education often crosses the boundaries between educational levels or ignores them altogether. Many of the resources below provide information on vocational and technical education and training at more than one level and in more settings than just educational institutions.

Occupations in the U.S. Economy

One of the first information requirements concerning vocational and technical information is to learn what types of occupations exist in the United States and what the general requirements are for working in them.

America's Job Bank is an online job search service maintained by the Public Employment Service, a national employment information organization sponsored by state governments.

DOL Occupational Information Network is a database service maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor that provides information about the various occupations that exist in the American economy, including the skills and training needed for them.

National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee (NOICC) is an independent federal agency that serves as a central information and referral point for state and local employment information and counseling offices.

Vocational Education in General

The following resources can provide you with general information on the nature and status of vocational and technical education in the United States, as well as current developments.

American Vocational Education Research Association (AVERA) is a national association of researchers and scholars in the field of vocational education and pedagogy.

ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education provides comprehensive information and reference services on vocational and technical education, among other topics.

National Center for Research in Vocational Education (NCRVE) is a federally sponsored research center on all aspects of vocational education located at the University of California at Berkeley.

Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) is the principal office of the U.S. Department of Education responsible for vocational and technical education programs.

Vocational Training Standards

Much work is being done to maintain and improve standards in vocational and technical education. Every state is responsible for developing skills standards for both general programs and those related to specific occupations. Professional associations and business and industry representatives have also cooperated with the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor in developing model national standards.

National Skills Standards Board (NSSB) is the federal advisory board responsible for overseeing the creation of new national skills standards and related policies.

National and State Skills Standards provides information on both national and state skills standards for different occupations and broad types of work.

Skillsnet is a Web site providing extensive information and links on topics related to vocational and technical education standards, both educational and industrial.

Training and Technology Resource Center (TTRC) is an information center on all aspects of occupational skills requirements and is maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor.