Health Science Career Cluster : New Jersey : The Career & Technical Education Partnership

Guidance Counseling, Academic Advisement, and Career Exploration

Career Counseling: Secondary school districts must ensure that all career counseling or guidance personnel have access to up-to-date information about the programs of study operating at the school district to help students make decisions regarding their career aspirations. Career counselors or guidance personnel are responsible for: (1) helping students identify their career interests and career options; (2) offering resources to students to help them explore their career interests and aptitudes in order to select a POS that meets their career aspirations; (3) providing parents with up-to-date information to help their daughters and/or sons prepare for college and careers (including college requirements and financial aid applications); and, (4) offer WEB-based resources and tools to assist students and parents in obtaining student financial assistance. Career counselors and advisory personnel are the “gatekeepers” of CTE programs of study. Without their endorsement and support, the POS will not realize success and endure over time.

Additionally, students should complete a Personalized Student Learning Plan . Developing personalized student learning plans provide an opportunity for career counselors and guidance personnel to guide students through the learning process, and to make learning more meaningful. These plans also help students establish academic, career and personal goals, and explore options for their future.

A Personalized Student Learning Plan is a formalized plan and process that involves students setting learning goals based on personal, academic and career interests, beginning in the middle school grades and continuing throughout high school with the close support of adult mentors that include teachers, counselors and parents. (N.J.A.C. 6A:8)

Career Exploration Experiences: Secondary teachers and career counseling or guidance personnel will also identify career exploration experiences that can be offered to students enrolled in CTE programs of study. Career exploration experiences means “learning experiences, including structured learning experiences, that assist students in clarifying career goals, exploring career possibilities, developing employability skills, developing the foundational knowledge necessary for success in the workplace, and making the transition from school to careers, including postsecondary education or training and employment identify career exploration experiences (6A:19-4.2 Definitions).”

Develop and implement a plan to provide students with a variety of opportunities to engage in career exploration to help them choose viable career options;
Provide students with structured learning experiences to help them understand all aspects of business and industry for careers in health science, and explore different career options under the Health Science Career Cluster.
Identify advisory board members (e.g., business and industry representatives) who will work with students in the classroom on projects, mentor students, and/or provide students with opportunities to participate in job shadowing or internship opportunities in the career area of their choice to enhance real-world problem-solving skills.
Provide students with preparatory services such as: career preparation activities; tutoring programs; transitional programs that prepare students for the ACCUPLACER or SAT exams; summer institutes offered by postsecondary partners; or transitional programs that prepare students for entry into the ninth grade, or postsecondary education.
Consider whether it is feasible to develop an on-campus or off-campus–based enterprise.