Bachelor of Science in Education: Career and Technical Education  

Prepare to become a secondary school teacher. Upon successful completion of this degree program, you will receive an Institutional Recommendation (IR) for secondary certification in one of the following areas:

  • Business Education
  • Family and Consumer Science
  • Industrial Technology Education

Why CTE certification matters

In order to teach in an Arizona classroom, you need to be a certified teacher.  To teach in a CTE classroom you can be:

  • CTE certified
  • secondary certified
  • both CTE and secondary certified

Most CTE teachers seek "CTE" certification for funding

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You do not have to be CTE certified to teach in a CTE classroom in Arizona.  You also do not have to be secondary certified to teach in a CTE classroom in Arizona. 

You do have to hold some type of recognized Arizona Department of Education certification; under most circumstances, this means you must have CTE or secondary certification. 

If you hold a secondary certification, but not CTE certification, your program area will not generate state dollars and your program area cannot use state or federal dollars to support the program. 

This is a very important issue for school districts.  So although it is legal for you to teach CTE classes with only secondary certification, it costs the school district money. 

In addition, you cannot legally use CTE funds (state or federal) to support an unapproved program.  For these reasons, CTE certification is important to school districts who receive CTE funds. 

If you don’t want secondary certification

If your career goals do not require secondary certification, consider our Bachelor of Science in Education: Career and Technical Education with an Occupational Education emphasis. 

Degree requirements

To earn this degree, you must complete a total of 120 credit hours: 

  • 35 units of liberal studies requirements
  • 54 units of major requirements
  • 34 units of teacher-preparation requirements
  • elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units

Visit the academic catalog to learn more about specific requirements for this degree.

Business Education emphasis

Choose this emphasis if you are interested in teaching business or computer classes in a 7-12 grade setting. When you’ve completed this program, you will:

  • be eligible to receive secondary education certification in the State of Arizona (if you’ve successfully passed the appropriate AEPA exams)
  • be eligible to receive Career and Technical Education Business and Marketing certification in the State of Arizona, provided that you also complete 240 clock hours of work experience in a business or marketing position

Additionally, with this emphasis you will have completed a minor in business administration IF the coursework was completed at Northern Arizona University rather than transferring in from a community college. 

Visit the academic catalog to learn more about specific requirements for this emphasis.

Family and Consumer Science emphasis

Choose this emphasis if you are interested in teaching FACS education courses in a 7-12 grade setting. When you’ve completed this program, you will:

  • be eligible to receive secondary education certification in the State of Arizona (if you’ve successfully passed the appropriate AEPA exams)
  • be eligible to receive Career and Technical Education Family and Consumer Sciences certification in the State of Arizona, provided that you also complete 240 clock hours of work experience in a FACS position

Industrial Technology emphasis

Choose this emphasis if you are interested in teaching technology or trade courses in a 7-12 grade setting. When you’ve completed this program, you will:

  • be eligible to receive secondary education certification in the State of Arizona (if you’ve successfully passed the appropriate AEPA exams)
  • be eligible to receive Career and Technical Education Industrial Technology certification in the State of Arizona, provided that you also complete 240 clock hours of work experience in a trades area

Visit the academic catalog to learn more about specific requirements. 

More information

Download our handy one-page PDF on the occupational education program. 

Additional class registration information

Undergrads need to have a signed "Override Authorization/Out of Career" form to take 500-level classes.

Graduate students need the same form to take a 400-level class and have it count towards a degree program. Complete the form (PDF version) (Word version) and fax it to Laura Cook at 928-523-1929. 

NAU courses for ADE certification 

2-Year Course Planner 

Undergraduate advising

Nicole Hampton
nicole.hampton@nau.edu 
928-523-2560