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Construction technology instructor reviews a project with a student in a hands-on woodworking lab.

Trade & Technical Training

Not every path to a great career runs through a four-year university. CCC's Career and Technical Education programs are built around the skills, credentials, and hands-on experience that employers in northern Arizona and beyond are actively looking for. Most programs can be completed in one to two years, and every credential you earn along the way counts.

Why CTE at CCC?

CCC designs every career program with direct input from regional employers, advisory boards, and industry partners. That means you are not just earning a credential on paper. You are building the skills that local companies, hospitals, fire departments, and contractors are actively looking for.

Northern Arizona also faces persistent workforce shortages in healthcare, the skilled trades, public safety, and technology. The region’s rural geography, growing tribal communities, expanding healthcare infrastructure, and increasing housing demand all create consistent, long-term need for credentialed professionals who are ready to work locally. 

What to Expect

Hands-on from day one
Every CTE program includes a practical, applied component. Construction students build real structures. Health students train in clinical labs and field settings. Fire Science students train alongside working professionals.

Financial aid eligible
Because CTE programs are credit-bearing, most students qualify for federal and state financial aid, including Pell Grants and CCC Foundation scholarships.

Industry-recognized credentials
Many CTE programs prepare you for national licensure or certification exams, including the NCLEX for Nursing, NREMT for EMS, ASE for Automotive, and EPA 609 for HVAC.

Flexible timelines
Certificates can be completed in as little as one semester. AAS degrees typically take two years. Many programs offer part-time options for students who are working or managing other responsibilities.

Employer connections
CCC works with employers across Coconino County to provide internship opportunities, apprenticeship pathways, and job placement support. Industry advisory councils review program curriculum annually.

What Credentials you can earn

Associate of Applied Science

AAS degrees are two-year workforce credentials designed to move you directly into a career. They are not transfer degrees. Every AAS program is built around the specific knowledge and skills employers in that field require. All AAS credits are eligible for financial aid. 

Certificates

Certificate programs are shorter, focused credentials that prepare you for entry-level employment or help you advance in a field you are already working in. Most certificate programs can be completed in one semester to one year. All CCC certificate credits are eligible for financial aid. 

Stackable Certificates

In several CTE fields, CCC offers stackable certificates, meaning you can complete a foundational certificate, enter the workforce, and then return to add more credentials over time. Certificate credits can also be applied toward an AAS degree in the same program area, so your earlier work is never wasted. 

Stackable pathways currently exist in areas including:

  • Construction and Trades: Certificate credits apply toward the Construction Technology AAS and Environmental Technology AAS degrees. 
  • Allied Health: Students can move from Nursing Assistant to Medical Assistant to Pre-Health Careers and beyond, building credentials at each stage. 
  • Fire Science: Wildfire Suppression, Intermediate, and Advanced certificates build toward the Fire Science AAS degree.
  • Computer and Information Technology: Foundational certificates stack toward the Computer Technology AAS. 
  • Environmental Technology: Intermediate and Advanced certificates build toward the Alternative Energy Technician AAS. 
  • EMS: The EMT certificate is a prerequisite and stepping stone toward the Paramedic certificate and Paramedic Studies AAS.  

Your Timeline, Your pace

CTE programs at CCC are designed to accommodate students at different stages of life. Whether you are coming straight from high school, returning to school after years in the workforce, or adding credentials to an existing career, there is a pathway that fits your schedule and goals. 

  • One semester: Some certificates can be completed in as little as one semester.
  • One year: Many certificates are designed for completion within a year.
  • Two years: AAS degrees are typically two years for full-time students.
  • Part time: Many programs offer flexible scheduling for students who are working or managing other responsibilities.
  • All CTE programs lead to credit-bearing certificates or AAS degrees, meaning your coursework is eligible for financial aid and your credential carries real weight with employers. 

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