NC Career Launch

Fuel Your Future.

NC Career Launch programs provide students with opportunities to gain valuable knowledge, experience and credentials that lead to high-demand jobs with growth and a living wage.

High school students and graduates:
find your career match.

Learn how to get there. Step-by-step along with our career pathways. With access to real, on-the-job learning, apprenticeships and certifications.

(And yes, you can get started in high school!)

Enter the workforce ahead of the rest.

Real-life learning takes off with NC Career Launch.

Learn by doing.

What is work-based learning?

Work-based learning is an educational strategy where students get to practice what they're learning in school by working alongside real employers and professionals in a real work environment. Students gain experience, technical skills and mentorship that will assist them in making informed decisions about their future path. NC Career Launch programs aim to:

Build student awareness of local job industries
Grow students' technical skills
Foster mentoring relationships between students and professionals

Create a talent pipeline for local businesses
Increase statewide postsecondary credential attainment

Pre-apprenticeship (high school)

Enroll in a qualifying pre-apprenticeship program for a chance to earn pre-apprenticeship certifications and transferrable college credits.

Apprenticeship (college)

Enroll in a registered apprenticeship program within 120 days after high school graduation to get paid on-the-job experience, grow your professional network and meet mentors.

Program completion

Complete your program and use your certifications and experience to land full-time employment or pursue a full-time education.

I do believe that this program will prepare me for my future career because nursing is where I want to go. And so it's just getting me a step ahead of where I'm needing.

Hailey Dunninger

12th grade, Nursing Fundamentals

This program has really given me a base starting point to see what other programs I need to get into, what other programs I want to get into. And I think that this program will really help me show that I know what I'm talking about whenever I'm wanting to apply to internships and show that I can do what I say that I can.

Madilyn Haskett

10th grade, Robotics

You can get a degree and certification out of it, which [means] no debt, no college. You don’t have to get loans, which helps with that, because then you can immediately go into the workforce after you graduate from high school.

Evan Beasley

10th grade, Automotive Service

You hear this all the time in education. Why am I doing this? Why do I need this math? Why do I need this science? So CTE has that ability where they can mesh the two together. They can take those core classes, and then we can apply that information to an actual career field that they're going into. CTE is the only way that I've found that has that ability.