Program Areas

To encourage more students to work towards selected industry credentials or state licenses while pursuing a high school diploma, the High School Credentialing program was developed.

A credential is defined as:

• State-Issued Professional License required for entry into a specific occupation as determined by a Virginia state licensing agency (Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Cosmetology);
• Industry Certification from a recognized industry, trade, or professional association validating essential skills of a particular occupation (A+ Examinations (CompTIA), ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification (National Restaurant Association)); and/or Stackable Industry Certifications which may consist of multiple entry-level exams as a component of a suite of exams in an industry certification program leading toward full certification (ASE- Automotive Service Excellence Entry-Level Certification Tests (National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence), Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Examinations (Microsoft));
• Occupational Competency Assessment, a national standardized assessment of skills/knowledge in a specific career and/or technical area, (Architectural Drafting Assessment (NOCTI), Electrical Level One Assessment (National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER));
• Workplace Readiness Skills (WRS) for the Commonwealth Certification (Career and Technical Education Consortium of States (CTECS)); most valuable when given in addition to appropriate course specific credentials that demonstrate mastery of valuable CTE Skills.

CTSOs enhance Career and Technical Education in Virginia through the co-curricular network of programs, business and community partnerships, and leadership experiences at the school, state, and national levels.  Virginia students enrolled in career and technical education courses are members of the local CTSO related to their courses and area of interest. They are given opportunities to apply academic, technical, and employability knowledge and skills necessary in today’s workforce.

Each of these CTSOs attracts students from different CTE curriculum areas. CTSOs extend Career and Technical Education in Virginia through networks of programs, business and community partnerships, and leadership experiences at the school, state, and national levels and provide Virginia students with opportunities to apply academic, technical, and employability knowledge and skills necessary in today’s workforce. Virginia CTE students are served through DECA, Educators Rising, FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, HOSA, SkillsUSA, and TSA.

Dual enrollment courses are taught at the high school and offer college credit through agreements with Danville Community College.  Dual Enrollment courses allow high school students to earn credit toward their high school diploma and college credit simultaneously.  Courses offered at Danville Public Schools through CTE are Nurse Aide, Dental Careers, VA Teachers for Tomorrow, Automechanic Technology, and IB Management.