WHAT IS CAREER LAUNCH?
CFA Career Launch programs prepare students for successful careers in a range of industries that utilize computer technology, including finance, professional services, healthcare, information technology, and advanced manufacturing.
Career Launch provides students with:
Professional Job Skills
PAID WORK-Based Learning
Industry Certifications
High school Credits
College Credits
Classroom Instruction
Why Career Launch?
Career Launch prepares young adults for promising careers by combining meaningful, supervised, paid, on-the-job experience aligned with academic instruction that results in a competitive job candidate and an industry recognized and/or postsecondary credential.
Career Launch bridges the gap between the skills and competencies students are taught in the classroom and the hands-on job experience needed in technical careers.
Students learn real-world job skills on the job while earning both money and college credit.
Students learn from career mentors, giving them both technical and 21st century job skills that will help them thrive in their careers.
Work-based learning can be done in-person or virtually.
Students work with emerging technologies and are provided with opportunities to think critically, problem-solve, and innovate.
Meaningful, high quality on-the-job experience
Aligned Classroom Learning
Valuable Credential Beyond Highschool Diploma
Competitive Candidate
How Does it Work?
Our Career Launch program has two major components: classroom instruction and paid work-based learning with an industry mentor, and a 15-month program that is open to high school juniors and seniors.
This program provides:
- 1 year 540-hour curriculum (in high school)
- 15 dual CTE college credits
- Industry certification exams.
- 320-400 hours of paid work-based learning (internship) in the summer following high school graduat
Year 1
11th or 12th grade
High school classes & college courses, simulated learning, industry projects, industry mentors.Year 2
12th Grade
High school classes, college courses & paid on-the-job learning.Year 3
College (OPTIONAL)
College courses & paid on-the-job learning.Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Earn College Credit While Taking This Class at my High School?
Students will earn total college credits (at no-cost) from a local community or technical college.
What Do I Need to Succeed?
You should be a problem solver, capable of working on your own or in collaboration with others. You should have good work habits, basic math skills, and an interest in technology.
Is There a Cost to Students?
The Computer and Software Technician Career Launch program is a no-cost program for qualified students offered in high schools or skills centers.
How Much Will I Earn?
You can work up to 40 hours per week during the summer after high school graduation with one of our local employer partners. These employers will provide mentored work-based learning; the pay will vary by the employer and the number of hours worked.
What Do I Need to Join?
Applicants need to meet the following requirements:
Be a high school junior or senior.
Minimum GPA required.
Be enrolled in a Computing For All partner school district.
Recommendation from a teacher or counselor.
CAREER LAUNCH PATHWAYS
Empowering high school students to enter high-demand technical careers
Computer and Software Technician
Cyber Security Technician
- Full-Stack Developer
Data Analyst
