Earn College Credit
College in the High School Program
The College in High School (CHS) program allows high school students to take college classes while enrolled at CPACTC during the regular school day. Students who are eligible to take College in the High School courses can earn credits toward high school graduation and credits towards a college degree at the same time. Harrisburg Area Community College or Pennsylvania College of Technology assesses and approves CPACTC instructors to teach these courses. HACC or Penn College awards college credits to students who complete the courses with a passing grade and all credits are eligible to transfer to other colleges and universities depending on agreements with those schools. For College in the High School course details go to www.cpatech.org.
Earn College Credit - Program of Study (POS) College Articulation Agreements
Twenty programs at CPACTC are recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as a “Program of Study”. Students in these programs have the opportunity to earn college credit at various post-secondary schools in Pennsylvania provided they meet the following requirements:
- Graduate from high school
- Earn at least 2.5 GPA in your program courses
- Achieve a score of “Advanced” or “Competent” on the NOCTI exam
- Successfully complete all tasks on the Program of Study task list – requires all three years of a program.
Suggested Course Sequence by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for Programs of Study for Students Enrolled in Career and Technical Programs:
| GRADE 9 | GRADE 10 | GRADE 11 | GRADE 12 |
English | English | English | English |
Earth Science | Biology | Chemistry | Elective |
Social Studies | Social Studies | Social Studies | Social Studies |
Algebra I or Pre-Algebra | Geometry or Algebra I | Algebra II or Geometry | Additional Math |
Physical Education | Physical Education | Physical Education | Physical Education |
Electives | CPACTC Program | CPACTC Program | CPACTC Program |
Earn a Pennsylvania Skills Certificate
The Pennsylvania Skills Certificate was created by the PA Department of Education to recognize career and technical education students who have shown advanced skill achievement in their career and technical program. Students must complete 50% of the program and be seniors to be eligible to earn a PA Skills Certificate.
To earn the Pennsylvania Skills Certificate, students must achieve at the advanced level on the end of program NOCTI test. The test consists of two parts – written and performance. The written test covers factual knowledge, technical information, understanding of academic principals and problem solving related to the technical field. The performance test allows students to demonstrate their skills to industry professionals who proctor the exam.
Earn College Credits through College in the High School and Dual Enrollment
CPACTC offers multiple programs that College in the High School programs through Penn College. The program called Penn College Now allows for students to gain college credits while attending CPACTC and learning the skills needed to gain competitive employment in one's field of study.
Other college credit options include dual enrollment through Harrisburg University and Harrisburg Area Community College. We also offer universities and colleges that we partner with for students to gain college credits while at CPACTC. Throughout the course guide you will find each program is highlighted with available dual enrollment and College in the High School courses.
Earn Industry-Recognized Certifications
CPACTC students have the opportunity to earn industry certifications which are specific to their career program. Examples include PA State Inspection certification for Auto Tech students and Certified Nursing Assistant certification for nursing students. A complete list of certifications is listed under each program description.