The Lehigh Valley’s workforce is bolstered annually when more than 1,000 students complete certificate programs from the region’s three career and technical education schools.

February is Career and Technical Education Month®, a time to recognize the important role those educational institutions play in the Lehigh Valley’s economy. The national public awareness campaign is hosted by the Association for Career & Technical Education and sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders. 

“Career and Technical Education is key to the Lehigh Valley’s success. Employers frequently need employees trained with specific skills and experiences that prepare them for today’s workplaces. Students attending these schools learn those in-demand skills and get those real-world experiences that make them prime candidates for jobs and build our region’s economy one student at a time,” said Karianne Gelinas, Vice President of Regional Partnerships & Talent Strategies at Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. (LVEDC).

The Lehigh Valley’s career and technical education schools are:

Lehigh Career & Technical Institute: Pennsylvania's largest career and technical school, founded in 1971, LCTI provides more than 45 skills-based programs for about 2,700 students, as well as training and credential programs for working adults, on its 47-acre campus in North Whitehall Township.

Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School: The student-centered career and technical facility serves a diverse student population of about 1,300 who are engaged in 26 programs of study. Additionally, its Division of Continuing Education has provided short-term occupational training for more than 30,000 adults in the Lehigh Valley and beyond since 1992.

Career Institute of Technology: Offers nearly 20 programs of study in construction, engineering, information technology, health & human services, and manufacturing, as well as adult education and certification programs at its campus in Forks Township.

(Photo courtesy of LCTI)