Career and college prep will take your students from classroom to career, college, and beyond. ​ No matter where your student is in their journey, they’ll get the chance to explore careers, earn high school and college credit simultaneously, develop confidence, and get the right opportunities to prepare for life in the real world.

They’ll experience qualified teachers and staff with an in-depth understanding for career and college curriculum, expert career planning, college prep advice, learn how to apply for jobs, and more. The program also helps students learn skills such as teamwork, project management, and leadership. Plus, they can earn job-ready and career certifications to help prepare them for what’s next.

Yes! Every student has different outcomes and a different path. We provide valuable academic and professional learning experiences so that all students will be well prepared for success. We will help your child explore and create an intentional plan that includes employment, enrollment into college or trade school, or enlistment into the military – informing them of the education, skills, and opportunities needed to make it happen. Connect with your local school counselor for additional details.

Our career and college prep schools have exclusive access to our career coaching team. Through LIVE group and 1:1 sessions, webinars, and career exploration tools, students can learn how to create a resume, interview with confidence, professionally communicate, apply for internships, begin college preparation and admissions, and more. Sessions are school specific and offered at various times throughout the year, including during national career and college fairs.

Yes! Your student will get the opportunity to participate in several online career and college fairs where they can learn about internships, open jobs, future opportunities in different industries, college admissions, work-based learning opportunities, and more. Your student will be exposed to organizations and colleges of all sizes. We even work with select national colleges that offer tuition discounts to K12 graduates. Local opportunities at your school will vary based on program and industry – speak with your counselor for more details.

Career fields are broad categories of similar jobs, like health and medicine or engineering and technology. Career pathways are specific routes within these fields that show how to progress from one job to another, often with increasing skills and responsibilities. Our curriculum is designed to help your student gain the specialized skills and education they need to succeed in their career field and chosen pathway through focused coursework and hands-on learning. Understanding career fields and pathways helps individuals identify their interests, set goals, and stay motivated by having a clear plan for life after high school.

K12 provides options for home-based education, but they’re not all the same as traditional homeschooling. Traditional homeschooling means parents choose the curriculum and are responsible for instructing their children. While K12 offers purchasing options for homeschooling curriculums, they also offer full-time education options like K12-powered tuition-free public schools with a set curriculum and state-certified teachers, just like traditional public schools. Some of these schools offer the career and college prep program. K12 Private Academy also offers a tuition-based option for career-focused classes, including both a full-time and part-time option. The part-time option offers more flexibility for students who want to stay at their local school while adding career courses and other activities to their existing schedule.

Depending on your needs and location, the cost of attendance can vary. K12-powered online public schools offering the career and college prep program are available tuition-free in many states. K12 also powers a selection of private school options, each with its own fee structure. K12 Private Academy offers a part-time, more flexible option where students can stay at their local school and take part in career-focused courses and activities. There are also supplementary and independent homeschool classes available for direct purchase. Check schools in your area to find out where the career and college prep program is offered.

Students can stay at their local school and add career-focused classes to their existing schedules through K12 Private Academy’s part-time option. This tuition-based opportunity lets students take career electives, prepare for industry certification exams, and access support services such as internships, networking opportunities, and career clubs, all while completing their local curriculum. Please note there is a fee associated with this flexible career and college prep program option.

Yes! We understand that as students explore different careers and options through our program, they sometimes choose to change their pathway to fit their evolving career goals. The career and college prep program helps them explore different occupations and find the career pathway that interests them the most.

The career and college prep program is not required for graduation. Some courses may fulfill elective requirements and, therefore, count toward graduation requirements. Check with your school counselor for specific details.

Yes, students graduating from a K12-powered school will receive their state’s sanctioned high school diploma.

Our career and college prep program prepares students to take one or more industry-recognized certification exams, depending on the selected career pathway and how many courses they successfully complete.† An industry-recognized certification is a way your student can demonstrate to college admissions officers and employers that they have the skills and technical expertise to be successful in a particular field. They are often classified as job-ready certifications, which prepares students for specific or specialized entry level jobs in a particular field, or career certifications, which prepares students for an industry by learning concepts, technical programs, or overarching skills.

Most certifications require students to take an exam to show their mastery of the content learned throughout their course of study. Exam requirements may include a hands-on component. Test preparation is a part of the career and college prep program, which supports students in their efforts to obtain the hands-on/practicum they’ll need to be prepared for the certification exam. Certifications or credentials are issued by various certifying bodies, including Adobe®, Microsoft®, NOCTI®, and ACTE®.†

Most certifications require students to take an exam that may include a hands-on component to show their mastery of the content learned throughout their course of study. The career and college prep program includes test preparation for pathway-specific certification exams. Most career pathways consist of four to six specialized courses followed by some work-based experience. Typically, students need to be in a pathway for two years to complete these specialized courses in addition to core subjects. However, certain certifications, such as Adobe® Photoshop or Microsoft® Excel, can be obtained after completing a single course.† Exam fees vary and may be paid for by the school. Check with your counselor for details.

Students do not typically need an internship to graduate, however a hands-on or work-based learning component may be required set by your specific state department of education and administered through your local school. Students may also be required to complete hand-on learning requirements to prepare for certification exams.† Check with your school counselor for direct requirements.

Students have live, online, teacher-led sessions called Class Connects regularly each week. The number of Class Connects a student must attend depends on the course and the progress they’re making in the curriculum.

Students can contact their teachers during Class Connects or at any time by email. Teachers may also offer additional ways to communicate. Students should check with their teachers for their preferred methods of communication.

A typical school day will vary depending on the student’s grade, course load, and chosen career pathway. In general, students can expect a mix of individual coursework, teacher-led instruction, assessments, and project collaboration with other students. This learning environment prepares students for the modern workforce. Visit A Day in the Life to see how K12-powered students spend their days.