About the National Career Clusters Framework
About the National Career Clusters® Framework
The Framework provides structural alignment and a common language to bridge education and work, empowering each learner to explore, decide and prepare for dynamic and evolving careers.
Career Clusters
Click each Cluster for Cluster definitions and implementation resources.
The modernized Framework reflects the needs of both employers and learners. With its industry-centered language, purpose-driven groupings, interdisciplinary nature, and inclusion of all aspects of the modern world of work, the Framework seeks to transform career readiness in CTE and beyond. When its innovations are fully implemented, the Framework has the potential to transform:
- Pathways to be more personalized and better meet the needs of learners, industry, and communities.
- Systems by breaking down silos between sectors, disciplines, and systems.
- Lives by preparing learners of all ages and backgrounds for dynamic and high-opportunity careers
Explore the history of the Framework and the modernization process.
Uses of the Framework
The Framework provides a consistent architecture that can be used by education and industry to support:
- CTE course content and sequencing
- State-approved and local CTE programs of study
- Alignment across secondary, and postsecondary, and workforce systems
- Labor Market Information connection to CTE program design
- Priorities for work-based learning experiences based on Framework content
- Common terminology across CTE programs and communications for local advisory boards and postings for jobs, apprenticeships, internships, and other experiences
- Content for career interest and aptitude surveys
- Organizing structure for career exposure and exploration activities
- Evaluation tool for work-based learning content and curricular alignment
- CTE educator credentialing guidelines
- Organizing structure for Cluster-based staff positions
- Alignment with Career Technical Student Organizations
Users of the Framework
The Framework is for and benefits everyone in the CTE community. Explore how each partner can use and contribute to a successful Framework and access role-specific resources.
Learn more about the information sources that guided key decisions for the design of the National Career Clusters Framework.
