Skip to main content
Career and Technical Education

CTE Content Areas

Oversight and Guidance

Requirements for the CTE and CDOS Graduation Pathways, and CDOS Credential

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathway 

Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) Credential 

Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) Pathway 
A 4+1 approved pathway to meet graduation requirements.  A stand-alone credential that may be a supplement to a Local or Regents diploma, or, if the student is unable to meet diploma standards, the credential may be awarded as the student’s exiting credential.  A 4+1 approved pathway to meet graduation requirements. 

Meet the minimum diploma requirement of 22 credits 

Pass 4 required Regents exams, one each in ELA, math, science and social studies 

Successfully complete a NYSED-approved CTE program of study that includes:  

  • passing a minimum of 3.5 CTE credits 
  • passing each part of a 3-part technical assessment (written, demonstration, project components) [CR 100.5(d)(6)(i)(b)] 

No minimum credit requirement 

No Regents exam requirement but students need to have access to Regents coursework 

Option 1 

  • A completed Career Plan 
  • Demonstrate achievement of the CDOS learning standards 1, 2, & 3a 
  • Successful completion of at least 216 hours of CTE coursework and/or work-based learning experiences (of which at least 54 hours must be in work-based learning) 
  • A completed employability profile 

Option 2 
Meet the requirements for one of the nationally recognized work readiness credentials including, but not limited to: 

  • ACT Work Keys, ACT NCRC 
  • SkillsUSA Career Essentials: Career-Ready Assessment 
  • National Work Readiness Credential (NWRC)/ NWRC Assessments 
  • Workforce Skills Certification System 
  • Precision Exams 21st Century Success Skills (300) 

Meet the minimum diploma requirement of 22 credits 

Pass 4 required Regents exams, one each in ELA, math, science and social studies 

Complete the CDOS Credential requirements (Options 1 or 2) 
Students exit school with Local, Regents, or Regents with Advanced Designation diploma and a Technical Endorsement.  Students exit school with the CDOS Credential as a stand-alone credential or in addition to a Local, Regents, or Regents with Advanced Designation diploma.  Students exit school with Local, Regents, or Regents with Advanced Designation diploma and a CDOS Credential.