Career & Technical Education
Professional development opportunities for those seeking training and development in career and technical education, designed to prepare you to become a K-12 CTE teacher or community college faculty; coursework also applies to the Iowa Multioccupational and the Iowa CTE (Secondary Level) endorsements. Begin courses at any time.
Ready to earn a CTE endorsement or authorization? Questions about what courses you need? Complete our interest form and we'll reach out within one business day to help:
- Answer any questions
- Confirm your eligibility
- Navigate the streamlined enrollment process
Mallory DeSantiago
Student Support Specialist
mallory.desantiago@uni.edu
319-273-2863
Delivered entirely online
Courses are offered via Self-Paced Online Courses or through semester-based courses. Classes use Blackboard, a learning management system that will enhance your learning experience and provide a sense of community with fellow classmates.
Content Areas for CTE Authorization
- Methods
- Foundations of Vocational and Career Education
- Evaluation
- Curriculum Development
- Coordination of Cooperative Programs
- Instruction of Exceptional Learners
- Human Relations
See below for course offerings related to specific authorization and endorsement options.
Individualized Support Services
Throughout every step of your program, you'll have a dedicated team of support staff ready to assist you. You'll also have access to UNI services such as:
- Personalized academic advising
- Support from Financial Aid, Career Services and Rod Library staff
- Academic support and tutoring opportunities from the UNI Learning Center
- Access to student accessibility services and staff
- Technical support assistance
Delivered entirely online
Courses are offered via Self-Paced Online Courses or through semester-based courses. Classes use Blackboard, a learning management system that will enhance your learning experience and provide a sense of community with fellow classmates.
Content Areas for CTE Authorization
- Methods
- Foundations of Vocational and Career Education
- Evaluation
- Curriculum Development
- Coordination of Cooperative Programs
- Instruction of Exceptional Learners
- Human Relations
See below for course offerings related to specific authorization and endorsement options.
Individualized Support Services
Throughout every step of your program, you'll have a dedicated team of support staff ready to assist you. You'll also have access to UNI services such as:
- Personalized academic advising
- Support from Financial Aid, Career Services and Rod Library staff
- Academic support and tutoring opportunities from the UNI Learning Center
- Access to student accessibility services and staff
- Technical support assistance
Authorization & Endorsement Options
- *NEW* Career & Technical Education (CTE) Authorization - Combined Courses
This authorization allows individuals with industry experience the opportunity to teach at the secondary level with a limited license. The CTE Authorization requires work experience, a job offer, and coursework to be completed within three years. UNI now offers a streamlined coursework option designed to save both time and money. This new format consolidates five of the six BOEE requirements for the authorization into two courses, replacing the previous format of five separate two-credit courses.
- CTE 4186/CTE 5186 Studies in Comprehensive Teaching Methods for Career & Technical Education (3 credits)
- CTE 4186/CTE 5186 Studies in Navigating Diversity, Human Relations and Ethics for Career and Technical Education (1 credit)
These two courses cover five of the six required content areas: teaching methods, evaluation, curriculum design, human relations, and exceptional learners. The sixth requirement can be completed online through AEA at no cost. These new courses replace the previous five, two-credit course requirements approved by the BOEE.
Course Tuition
Technology Fee (2025-26)
Enrollment Fee (2025-26)
CTE 4186/CTE 5186 Studies in Comprehensive Teaching Methods for Career & Technical Education (3 credits) $250
$46
$10
CTE 4186/CTE 5186 Studies in Navigating Diversity, Human Relations and Ethics for Career and Technical Education (1 credit) $84
$46
$10
Textbooks are not included in the costs listed above.
View our Frequently Asked Questions for more information about the new combined CTE courses.
Check with the Board of Educational Examiners to ensure applicability of courses toward your desired credential. Once courses are completed, students will need to request a transcript and send it to the BOEE.
- CTE Authorization (Five Course Option)
This authorization allows individuals with industry experience but no teaching the opportunity to teach at the secondary level with a limited license. Units of credit listed in parentheses following course titles.
Content Area Course Methods CTE 4110/CTE 5110 Methods for Career and Technical Education (2) Evaluation CTE 4120/CTE 5120 Assessment and Evaluation in Career and Technical Education (2) Curriculum Development CTE 4130/CTE 5130 Curriculum Design for Career and Technical Education (2) Instruction of Exceptional Learners SPIE 3150 Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners in the Classroom (3) Human Relations TEACHING 4159/ TEACHING 5159 Human Relations for Career & Technical Education (2) Check with the Board of Educational Examiners to ensure applicability of courses toward your desired credential.
- 5-12 Multioccupations (MOC) Endorsement
This endorsement is designed for those who supervise students in on-the-job situations such as cooperative education programs and school-to-work programs.
Content Area Course Foundations of Vocational and Career Education CTE 4145/CTE 5145 The History of Career and Technical Education: Building a Solid Foundation (1) Coordination of Cooperative Programs CTE 4150/CTE 5150 Implementation of Work-Based Learning Internships (2) (for classroom teachers only) OR
CTE 4155/CTE 5155 Supervision of Work-Based Learning Internships (1) (open to anyone)
Check with the Board of Educational Examiners to ensure applicability of courses toward your desired credential.
- Work-Based Learning Supervisor Authorization
- CTE 4155/CTE 5155 Supervision of Work-Based Learning Internships (1) (open to anyone) OR
- CTE 4150/CTE 5150 Implementation of Work-based Learning Internships (2) (for classroom teachers only)
Check with the Board of Educational Examiners to ensure applicability of courses toward your desired credential.
- Community College Professional Development
These courses are designed for both arts and sciences and career and technical faculty and may be integrated with your college’s quality faculty plan.
Content Area Course Foundations of Vocational and Career Education CTE 4145/CTE 5145 The History of Career and Technical Education: Building a Solid Foundation (1) Evaluation CTE 4120/CTE 5120 Assessment and Evaluation in Career and Technical Education (2) Curriculum Development CTE 4130/CTE 5130 Curriculum Design for Career and Technical Education (2) Check with your college to fit within your personal professional development plan.
- Teacher Updates
All courses listed work well for updating teacher skills. Focus is on relevant information as well as practical activities and material development that can be useful in the classroom and a variety of educational settings.
Content Area Course Foundations of Vocational and Career Education CTE 4145/CTE 5145 The History of Career and Technical Education: Building a Solid Foundation (1) Evaluation CTE 4120/CTE 5120 Assessment and Evaluation in Career and Technical Education (2) Curriculum Development CTE 4130/CTE 5130 Curriculum Design for Career and Technical Education (2) Coordination of Cooperative Programs CTE 4150/CTE 5150 Implementation of Work-Based Learning Internships (2) Check with the Board of Educational Examiners to ensure applicability of courses toward your desired credential.
- Information Technology Endorsement
- CS ED 3310/5310 Teaching and Learning Programming (3)
- CS ED 3320/5320 Data Structures and Algorithms (3)
- CS ED 4330/5330 Methods for Teaching Computer Science (3)
- CS ED 5133 Foundational Concepts in Computer Science (3)
- CS ED 5133 Fundamentals of Programming (3)
- CTE 4186/CTE 5186 Studies in Comprehensive Teaching Methods for Career & Technical Education (3)
- CTE 4145/CTE 5145 The History of Career and Technical Education: Building a Solid Foundation (1)
- CTE 4120/CTE 5120 Assessment and Evaluation in Career and Technical Education (2)
Check with the Board of Educational Examiners to ensure applicability of courses toward your desired credential.
Professional Development Opportunities
- Career & Technical Initial Authorization, Secondary Level: For those looking to teach at the secondary level with a limited license
- Multioccupations Endorsement: For those who teach and supervise students in a work-based learning internship.
- Work-Based Learning Supervisor Authorization: For supervising students in a work-based learning internship.
- Community College Professional Development: For both arts and sciences and career and technical faculty
- Teacher Updates: Update your teaching skills through practical activities and material development useful in a variety of educational settings
OLD Authorization & Endorsement Options
Express Interest
Complete our online information request form. We'll send program updates, important information, and application deadlines directly to your inbox!
Enroll Now
To enroll, students need to complete our online enrollment request form.
Add the Endorsement to
your Teaching License
Upon successful completion of the required courses, complete this application from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (IBOEE).
Delivery of this program is contingent on a sufficient number of students being accepted into the program.