The Education and Training cluster is about using your ability to motivate and your love of people to provide education and training that reaches individuals of all ages and across a range of industries. Careers include 
teaching in a classroom, leading as a college president and serving in your community as a social worker.
Increased enrollment in middle schools and larger class sizes should increase the employment of middle school teachers. During this time period, a number of older teachers are expected to retire, which is expected to improve job prospects for younger educators. Employment also is expected to increase for preschool teachers due to higher enrollment. The increased emphasis on early childhood education is driving the demand for pre-school teachers. Job prospects should be better for teachers with a bachelor’s degree and those who have prior experience working with preschool-aged children. Sports are increasingly becoming more popular, which is generating the need for coaches and scouts. With the popularity of athletic programs in high schools and colleges, coaches will be needed to train student-athletes.
Education & Training Career Cluster PDF
Middle School Courses
High School Courses
- Early Childhood Education and Services I & II: #8285, #8286 (ACE)
- Teacher Apprenticeship (ACE)
- Introduction to Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow: #9061
- Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow I & II: #9062, #9072
Do You Like To…
- Help people learn new things?
- Work with children?
- Show empathy and compassion to others?
- Use your creativity?
- Communicate and motivate others?
Sample Careers
- Superintendent, Principal or Administrator
- Teacher or Instructor
- Preschool or Kindergarten Teacher
- Clinical, Developmental or Social
- Psychologist
- Social Worker
- Counselor
- Teacher Assistant
- Parent Educator
- Child Care Worker
- Coach
- Recreation Worker
- Sign Language Interpreter
High school certifications, licenses and related college majors:
| High School/Industry Certifications | Certificate/License | College Degree Examples |
| NOCTI Early Childhood – Basic | Child Development | |
| NOCTI Early Childhood Education – Advance | Speech Pathology | |
| ParaPro | Counseling | |
| Early Childhood Education | ||
| Teaching English as a Second Language | ||
| Special Education |
In Demand Careers
| Education Needed | Occupation | Median Salary | Job Growth Over next 10 years | Job Openings Projected over next 10 years |
| High School Diploma + Certification | Teacher Assistants | $27,920 per year | 4% (As fast as average) | 50,500 |
| High School Diploma + Certification | Child Care Worker | $24,230 per year | 2% (Slower than average) | 19,500 |
| Associates Degree | Preschool Teachers | $30,520 per year | 2% (Slower than average) | 13,500 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or more | Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals | $96,400 per yea | 4% (As fast as average) | 11,100 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or more | High School Teachers | $61,660 per year | 4% (As fast as average) | 40,200 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or more | School and Career Counselors | $57,040 per year | 8% (Much faster than average) | 26,800 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or more | Psychologists | $80,370 per year | 3% (As fast as average) | 5,700 |
Student Leadership Organizations
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a national Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) for young men and women in Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) education. The FCCLA helps students and teachers focus on a variety of youth concerns, including parenting, family relationships, substance abuse, peer pressure, sustainability, nutrition and fitness, teen violence, and career preparation in four specific Career Pathways.
Work-Based Learning
Work-Based Learning (WBL) is comprised of experiences related to students’ career interests, based on instructional preparation, and undertaken in partnership with local businesses or organizations. WBL enables students to apply classroom instruction in a real-world work environment. Work-Based Learning promotes Career Awareness, Career Exploration, and Career Preparation.
Career Ambassadors
The Career Ambassador Program offers high school seniors an opportunity to represent and share their experiences with career exploration and our CTE programs to prospective students and community supporters through elementary school Career Fairs, middle school Career Clubs, and district-wide events.