Career Education and Vocational Education: A Comparison.

Overview & Synopsis

Differences and similarities between career education and vocational education are explored in the following areas: Definition of terms; individuals served; phases of career education and their relation to vocational education; placement; education and certification of teachers and other personnel; teaching-learning strategies; and advisory councils and steering committees. General overall differences between career education and vocational education are outlined in the final section and include the following: Career education is for all students; vocational education is for students who wish to acquire skills for a particular job or job cluster. Career education spans early childhood and adulthood; vocational education usually begins no sooner than grade 10. Career education emphasizes unpaid and paid employment; vocational education emphasizes paid employment in jobs that require training at less than the baccalaureate degree. Career education concepts are integrated into the ongoing curriculum; vocational education curriculum has as its core substantive content in a trade area. Similar teaching-learning strategies employed by both career education and vocational education are also noted: To work with advisory councils and the business community, and to use guidance services, including placement; however, career education works with representatives from a wide spectrum of occupations and at all skill and professional levels, whereas vocational education works with people who represent the trade area being taught. (TA)