Career Education programs provide opportunities for students to explore new paths

The district's Career Education department offers 19 district programs and six academic dual-credit courses for students to gain hands-on experience with different trades and explore potential future careers. (Photos by Jacob Zinn)

Surrey Schools is now accepting applications for 19 district programs and six academic dual-credit courses running in the 2023-24 school year, offering Grade 12 students a chance to explore their career options with hands-on experience before graduation.

The Career Education programs and courses give students an opportunity to begin training in a particular career while still attending secondary school, without the commitment of enrolling in a college or university program. Many of the offerings are delivered in partnership with local post-secondary institutions, with the advantages of free tuition for their program or course, and both secondary and post-secondary credits for completing dual credit courses.

“There are a variety of programs and courses to choose from, and we want students to be aware of these opportunities,” said Mark Flynn, principal of Career Education. “These programs and courses provide student with opportunities to begin training for a career while still in high school and to explore career and post-secondary options”

The program and course offerings, with application deadlines, are as follows:

District Partnership Programs:

• Automotive Service Technician (April 14)
• Baking and Pastry Arts (April 6)
• CADD/Drafting (April 6)
• Carpentry (April 6)
• Collision and Refinishing Common Core (April 6)
• Culinary Arts (April 14)
• Early Childhood Education (ECE) (April 28)
• Education Assistant (April 21)
• Electrical (April 6)
• Explorations in Aviation Careers (April 14)
• Hairstylist (April 21)
• Heavy Mechanical Trades (April 14)
• Horticulture (April 21)
• Metal Fabrication (April 14)
• Millwright (April 6)
• Painter (April 28)
• Piping (April 14)
• Tah-tul-ut Indigenous Education Pathway (April 28)
• Welding (April 14)

Dual Credit Courses:

• Community and Public Safety (April 21)
• Graphic Design (April 14)
• Headstart in Art (May 26)
• Introduction to Health Science (April 6)
• Introduction to Legal Office Procedures (April 21)
• Introduction to Practice for Child and Youth Care Counsellors (April 6)

“Many of the District Partnership programs have a skilled trades focus and enable students  to begin technical training in a trade.  Students who complete these programs often walk right out of the programs into a job and an apprenticeship” said Flynn. “There is a real demand for skilled trades workers right now and companies are waiting for our students to graduate so they can be hired.”

For more information and to obtain an application package, students should visit the career centre in their school.  More information about the district programs and academic dual credit courses is available at surreyschools.ca/careereducation

Students and parents are also welcome to contact Career Education at CAED-Office@surreyschools.ca or 604-595-6175 if they have any questions about the programs on offer.