Career and Technology Center, or CTC, is an option for all high school students in Frederick County. Students can study the fields of construction technology, technology, mechanical/ technical, and service programs. The programs, prepare students for jobs in the STEM fields. Nursing, or the Academy of Health Professions, is one important program included in CTC.

Specific programs that are very popular to take are classes like criminal justice, cosmetology, culinary arts, automotive service technology, carpentry, computer technician analyst, etc. All of the programs offered at CTC are career beginning paths. Many students follow the course work with successful internships and part- or full-time jobs.

Students can start some of the programs as early as sophomore year.  Nursing is one program open to sophomores. Classes are half day in the morning or the afternoon. There is a bus to transfer to and from the school to CTC.

In the application process, the student must have a strong GPA and good attendance.

To be accepted the first step is the shadowing program. This allows students to see the program and get an idea of the requirements.

Once you are at your scheduled date for shadowing, you are interviewed by the teacher and given a packet with questions to answer along with an essay to complete and return for review.

Each essay and interview is processed and usually around spring break the student will receive an acceptance letter in the mail. Only a couple of students from each high school are selected for each program.

“I learned a variety of different things from the nursing program. For example taking vital signs, learning the functions of the human body and how to care for residents with diabetes, Alzheimer’s and other illnesses. My second year at the program we learned how to assist residents with their activities of daily life such as bathing, eating, dressing and brushing their teeth. It helped me begin my career by giving me the proper knowledge and experience to earn my certifications and using them to obtain my job at a nursing home,” says senior Madesyn Harrington who graduated from the CTC nursing program.

In today’s society, healthcare job demands are growing. As the population ages, the the needs of healthcare rise. Nursing students are decreasing, which is why CTC is taking a huge leap by providing classes to high school students.

“Many of my students have gone on to get a degree in nursing while working as a nursing assistant throughout college,” say Academy of Health Professions instructor, Jacqueline Pieterse.

Students usually worry of the social aspect of losing time at the home high school.  This might keep them from taking programs at CTC. Looking at it from a different angle, CTC allows you to socialize with students across Frederick County. Each program has students from different schools and creates a new classroom with diverse students to work and collaborate.

“I personally did not feel disconnected from my home school. I met a lot of other students and made a lot of friends that I would have never made if I wasn’t accepted into the program,” says Harrington.

When signing up for classes February, consider CTC as a choice. The variety of programs and set up will be an opportunity you don’t want to miss.