Career Tech Student Organizations (CTSOs) are a vital part of a CTE program and teach students critical leadership skills, preparing students to be productive citizens, providing training and realistic learning experiences that directly prepare students for future careers.

“CTSOs play an important part in preparing young people to become productive citizens and to assume roles of leadership in their communities. These organizations provide a unique program of career and leadership development, motivation, and recognition for secondary and post-secondary students.”  - Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE)

CTSO activities

• Improve and expand occupational competencies       
• Enrich and enhance classroom learning
• Help students gain personal and leadership skills

How You Can Help! None of this is possible, however, without strong industry partner involvement with the CTSO. Industry partners can support the CTSO as a mentor, speaker, providing site visits and sponsorships. 

CTSO Lettering

Work-Based Learning

• 10 hours for the entire year (including the summer time prior to the start of the school year) 
  • This can include ISPs.
• Can cover the full continuum from an in class  guest speaker to a full internship. 
• Out of class opportunities set up by students
• In-class opportunities - students must complete some kind of follow up activity that goes above and beyond what is required of all students in the class (for example: getting the contact information from an industry professional and following up with an interview or shadowing, presentation on the experience to a small audience, etc.) 

Community Service

• 10 hours required for the year
• A maximum of 10 WHS volunteer hours 
• Service hours may not count for the CTSO and other organizations, only one or the other and hours may only count for 1 CTSO. 
• Court ordered community service hours will not be accepted
• Students must keep an accurate log, signed off by an adult supervising the service
• All community service done outside of WHS must be completed through a formal organization and students may not be compensated for their work. 

Member in Good Standing 

• Paid dues
• Role Model 
• Eligibility 
• Attendance (school rate/attending meetings)  

Contest Participation (program specific) 

Automatic Lettering

• State contest winner - 1st, 2nd, 3rd and/or qualifying for state if the CTSO has regionals 
• State or district office