What is Tech Prep?
Tech-Prep is College Prep for Technical Careers!
Tech-Prep is a way to start a college technical major in high school. In a Tech-Prep program, you begin your course of study in high school and continue in a community or technical college. The result is a certificate or associate degree in a career field.
Tech-Prep programs combine the academic courses needed for success in college AND technical courses that begin to prepare you for a career.
Program and Course Articulation
A key component of Tech-Prep is program articulation, which is a planned process linking educational institutions and educational experiences to assist students in making a smooth transition from one level of education to another without experiencing delays or duplication in learning.
A program articulation agreement is a signed document that indicates the specific responsibilities of the secondary school, the postsecondary institution, and the student. The agreement also includes an outline of a Recommended High School Graduation Plan and a two-year degree or certificate. Together these are called a 6-year or Tech-Prep plan.
Within articulated Tech-Prep programs are articulated courses, high school courses that contain the same course content as an equivalent college course, and for which a postsecondary institution has agreed to award college credit if the student meets requirements outlined in the course articulation agreement, either through the Advanced Technical Credit program or in a local articulation agreement.