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Work-Based Learning

Tens of thousands of Nevada students are making work-based learning work for them! With work-based learning, you bridge the gap between career interests and landing a job. Work-based learning includes authentic work experiences, enabling you to develop and apply technical skills that can help you succeed in careers and post-secondary education. Our process is streamlined to secure your successful employment.

Various work-based learning opportunities are available for students and job seekers of every age.

4th–9th Grade: Career Exploration

Guest speakers from industry

Hearing from people who work in the industry is a great way to learn about a particular job or industry. Learn something about the speaker and their job before they come so you can ask relevant questions.

Career fairs

Employers, trade associations, and others exhibit at these events to present their organizations or industries. Career fairs may be held at the school or a location central to several schools.

Industry tours

Students tour or visit a specific company to learn about their industry and how they conduct business.

Career interest inventories

These student friendly questionnaires ask students about their skills, interests, and preferred work environment to generate a list of possible careers. This site has a quiz-based career guide, as does, Career Cruising, and Nevada DreamIt-DoIT are just some of the websites with career interest inventories.

9th–11th Grade: Career Preparation

School-based enterprises

Students operate a business from the school/classroom by selling products or services delivered to internal or external customers. This is a business activity where the students are applying business and/or other technical skills. A school-based enterprise is not the same as a fundraising activity of short or sporadic duration.

Job shadowing

By “shadowing” one or more employees at a business related to the student’s career interests, student is able to see day-to-day operations in a particular career and further evaluate their own interest in pursuing a similar career.

Simulated workplace

The classroom is transformed into an authentic business environment where students develop and practice both technical and professional skills. Industry professionals evaluate programs in the manner of an inspection, through observation. Programs are rated based on adherence to industry standards – similar to an actual business. Implementing this model with fidelity requires a culture shift and buy-in from teachers, industry representatives, and other stakeholder groups, including parents and students.

11th–12th Grade + Young Adulthood: Career Training

Clinical experiences

CTE health science programs often require clinical experience in a medical setting, hospital, or clinic in order to sit for a state licensing exam. Clinical experiences are typically imbedded into the health science courses and provide educational credit.

Apprenticeship Ready

Students receive technical classroom-based education and work-based learning in partnership with an employer. This paid apprenticeship may or may not result in getting hired.

Internships

Work experiences that last longer than 15 hours and may or may not be for course credit. May or may not include payment.

Registered apprenticeships

Apprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job training and related instruction in which workers learn the practical and theoretical aspects of a highly skilled occupation. Apprenticeship programs can be sponsored by individual employers, joint employer and labor groups, and/or employer associations.