Pathway
Skilled Trades & Applied Technology
Electrical, HVAC, welding, plumbing, automotive, machining. Paid apprenticeships, no student debt required, and demand that has outrun supply for a decade.
Majors
- Apprenticeship (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, pipefitting)
- Welding Technology
- Automotive Technology
- Industrial Maintenance / Mechatronics
- Construction Management (if you later want the office side)
Jobs people do
- Electrician
- HVAC technician
- Welder
- Plumber
- Automotive / diesel technician
- CNC machinist
- Lineworker
Watch out
The choices that quietly close a door here
Letting anyone tell you this is the path for people who can't do school.
It leads students to skip the math, and then they fail the apprenticeship entrance exam, which is algebra-heavy and competitive.
Instead Take Algebra II. Apprenticeships are selective and the math test is where people get cut.
Enrolling in an expensive private trade school without comparing alternatives.
Some cost as much as a bachelor's for training a union apprenticeship would pay you to receive.
Instead Check union apprenticeships and community college programs first. Compare total cost, wages during training, and job placement rates in writing.
Not starting the CTE pathway until junior year.
Multi-year pathways with certifications need the full sequence. Starting late means graduating without the credential.
Instead Get into the pathway by 10th grade so the certification lands before you graduate.
Course ladder
Grade by grade
Course names differ at every school, and graduation requirements differ by state. Take this list to your counselor so the two of you are working from the same page.
Grade 8
- Algebra IWorth doing
Trade math is real math. Apprenticeship entrance tests include algebra.
- Any shop or intro tech electiveWorth doing
Grade 9
- GeometryLoad-bearing
Layout, angles, and measurement are geometry every single day.
- Intro CTE course in a trade that interests youLoad-bearing
- English 9Load-bearing
Grade 10
- Algebra IIWorth doing
Required for many union apprenticeship applications.
- Trade pathway course, year 2Load-bearing
- Physics or Physical ScienceWorth doing
Electrical and HVAC work is applied physics.
Grade 11
- Advanced trade pathway / co-op placementLoad-bearing
- Technical math or statisticsWorth doing
- Start earning industry certificationsLoad-bearing
OSHA 10, EPA 608, AWS welding certs, depends on the trade. These carry real weight.
Grade 12
- Complete the CTE pathway and earn the credentialLoad-bearing
Pathway completion plus a certification is what apprenticeship programs actually look at.
- Paid co-op or work-based learningLoad-bearing
- Business or entrepreneurship electiveIf you have room
Most trades lead to running your own shop eventually. Learn the business side early.
Outside class
SkillsUSA
Competitions in dozens of trades, with scholarships and direct employer contact. The single best-connected organization on this path.
From grade 9
Pre-apprenticeship program
Many union locals and community colleges run them for high schoolers. It's the front door to a paid apprenticeship.
From grade 11
Summer work with a contractor
Even as a helper. Reputation travels fast in the trades, and yours starts now.
From grade 10
Build or restore something end to end
A vehicle, a shed, a piece of equipment. Photograph the process.
From grade 9
Things to build
Earn one industry certification before graduation
OSHA 10 is cheap and universally useful. Then a trade-specific one. These are worth more than most electives.
From grade 10
Shadow someone in three different trades
Electrical, HVAC, and welding are very different days. Pick based on the day, not the wage chart.
From grade 9
Is this actually a fit for you?
Ten minutes of questions, and Bearing turns this into a plan that starts from the grade you're in.
Take the survey