CareerTechNJ

County vocational-technical schools prepare students for careers in all aspects of the construction industry, including architecture, drafting and design, building trades, and facilities maintenance and operations. Students in these high-demand fields develop hands-on technical skills, as well as experience in planning, designing and estimating project costs. The field of construction, with a high rate of entrepreneurship, also requires training in safety, related mathematics and science, and small business skills.

Here are some of the career opportunities in this industry:
Architect
Building Manager
Carpenter
Cabinet Maker
Electrician
Engineer
Energy Efficiency Expert
Energy Technician
General Contractor
Iron/Metal Worker
HVAC Technician
Plumber
Project Manager

Around Our Schools
At Middlesex County Vocational-Technical School School of Construction Technology, students use a single construction laboratory to collaborate on the completion of one building project, just as they would in the field.

With support from PSEG, students in the Green Energy Academy at Bloomfield Tech in Essex County are learning about sustainability while gaining hands-on experience with solar and other types of renewable energy in a program that emphasizes STEM concepts and principles.

County vocational-technical schools in Bergen, Camden, Cape May, Hunterdon, and Passaic Counties are developing a program of study in Sustainable Design, Construction and Energy that will educate students about sustainability and the environment as part of their career training.  Supported by the NJ Department of Education, the program will provide a sequence of academic and CTE courses that link to postsecondary programs and prepare students for careers in the construction and energy industries.

Videos and More Information
NJNextStop helps students and parents learn more about career interests and options, and the occupations and skills that are in demand in New Jersey.  Each industry page has several videos about the jobs that people in that field do. Here’s the link for the NJ Next Stop Architecture and Construction Page.

The National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical Education (NASDCTEc) has a web site that explains what students need to know and what courses they should take in high school in order to enter specific career areas.  Here’s the link for National resources for Architecture and Construction