FAQs
What is a Destinations Career Academy?
What is a Destinations Career Academy?
A Destinations Career Academy is an online public high school that teachers the skills students need for a bright future. In addition to core academic courses required for graduation, career-focused electives allow students to explore different career fields and gain skills that can help them be successful in the workplace and in college. Whether they intend to go to college, are already working in their chosen career field, or plan to start a career right out of high school, the occupational programs we offer can combine their passion and interests with the skills they'll need to compete for jobs in high-demand fields.
What is career education or career technical education?
What is career education or career technical education?
Simply put, career education seeks to prepare students to be successful in life after high school. What used to be known by many as vocational education or VoTech is now known as career technical education, CTE, career readiness education, or just career education. One big difference with today's career education is the types of careers students can explore and study—careers in fields like business, information technology, and health science.
What are career fields and career pathways?
What are career fields and career pathways?
A "career field" is simply an industry classification such as Information Technology or Manufacturing. At Destinations, career fields are further subdivided into "pathways," which are specializations within the career field. Pathways can be further divided into programs. For example, Pharmacy Technician is a program under the Health and Human Service career field.
Why should a student choose a career education program?
Why should a student choose a career education program?
There are many reasons to choose a career education program. Some students know what they want to do after high school and taking career-focused courses can give them a head start. Others may not know what they want to do, and through a career education program, can explore different occupations and career fields to figure out where their interests lie. Others simply enjoy taking courses that they find relevant to everyday life. Destinations Career Academies also help students master professional skills such as teamwork, project management, and leadership, which are needed to succeed on the job or in college.
Is the Destinations Career Academy program part of the required credits that are needed for high school graduation?
Is the Destinations Career Academy program part of the required credits that are needed for high school graduation?
The Destinations Career Academy program is not required for graduation. Some courses may fulfill elective requirements, and therefore, may count toward graduation requirements. Check with your school counselor for specific details.
Will students receive a high school diploma?
Will students receive a high school diploma?
Yes. Students graduating from a Destinations Career Academy receive a high school diploma.
Will students earn any certifications or credentials?
Will students earn any certifications or credentials?
Destinations prepares students to take one or more industry-recognized certification exams, depending on the selected career pathway and how many courses they successfully complete.†
Why would a student need an industry-recognized certificate or a credential?
Why would a student need an industry-recognized certificate or a credential?
An industry-recognized certificate is one way a student can demonstrate to college admission officers and employers that they're ready and able to do the work required to be successful and that they have demonstrated technical expertise in a particular field.
Who issues the certificate or credential?
Who issues the certificate or credential?
It depends on the certification or credential. For example, issuers include Adobe®, Microsoft®, NOCTI®, and ACTE®.
Is there a certification exam?
Is there a certification exam?
Yes, most certifications require students to take an exam to show that they're knowledgeable in the content learned throughout their course of study. Exam requirements may also include a hands-on component. Test-preparation is a part of most courses and Destinations supports students in their efforts to obtain the hands-on/practicum that they'll need to be prepared for the certification exam.†
How many courses does a student need in order to be prepared for a certification exam?
How many courses does a student need in order to be prepared for a certification exam?
The number of courses required to be prepared to take a certification exam will vary, but most career pathways consist of four to six specialized courses followed by some work-based experience. Typically, a student will need to be in a pathway for two years in order to complete these specialized courses (in addition to your core subjects). Certain certifications, such as Adobe® Photoshop or Microsoft® Excel, can be obtained after completion of a single course.†
How much do certification exams cost?
How much do certification exams cost?
Exam fees vary and may be paid for by the school. Students should check with their counselor for details.
Do students need an internship to graduate?
Do students need an internship to graduate?
No, they do not need an internship to graduate. However, a hands-on component may be required to complete certification requirements and prepare for certification exams.†
How often do classes meet?
How often do classes meet?
Students have live, online teacher-led sessions, called Class Connects, regularly each week. The number of Class Connects a student is required to attend depends on the course and the progress they are making in the course.
How do students contact their teachers?
How do students contact their teachers?
Students can contact their teachers during Class Connects or at any time by email. In addition, many teachers offer additional ways to communicate. Students should check with their teachers for their preferred method.
What is a typical day like?
What is a typical day like?
A typical school day will vary depending on the student's grade, course load, and chosen career pathway. In general, students can expect a mix of individual coursework, teacher-led instruction, assessments, and project collaboration with other students. Please visit A Day in the Life to see what a typical day looks like.
What are professional skills and why are they important?
Professional skills are also referred to as transferable skills, interpersonal skills, soft skills, or social skills. These are the skills that employers look for when hiring. Examples include teamwork, collaboration, presentation and communication skills, problem solving, creative thinking, and leadership. Professional skills may include nearly any ability that pertains to the way a person approaches others or handles their professional life.
Can students change their selected career pathways?
Can students change their selected career pathways?
Yes. Destinations Career Academies are the perfect place to explore different occupations and find the career pathway that interests them the most. This may take a little time.
Do all the career pathways have the same number of credits? Is there a list of all the courses within each career pathway?
Do all the career pathways have the same number of credits? Is there a list of all the courses within each career pathway?
The number of courses will vary depending on the pathway. For details on a particular pathway course sequence offered at a school, students should speak with their counselor.*
Do Destinations Career Academies hold graduation ceremonies?
Do Destinations Career Academies hold graduation ceremonies?
Yes. Each Destinations Career Academy has a graduation ceremony.
What is a career and technical student organization (CTSO)?
What is a career and technical student organization (CTSO)?
A CTSO is a career club, where students with similar career interests connect, collaborate, and even compete against other schools. Participation in these student-led organizations can help students build teamwork, communications and leadership skills, citizenship, and volunteerism.
What CTSOs do Destination Career Academies offer?
What CTSOs do Destination Career Academies offer?
Offerings vary by school but include one or more of the following clubs: DECA (an association of marketing students), FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America), HOSA (future health professionals), and SkillsUSA.*
How does a student plan for their future career?
How does a student plan for their future career?
Preparing for a future career is a personal journey toward a unique destination. A career readiness approach allows students to get a jump-start on their careers by exploring interests as early as middle school. Destinations provides career readiness curriculum and helps students find fields of interest so they can pursue advanced skills for a specific career or certification, helping them graduate high school with a clear path for their future.
When should a student start career planning?
When should a student start career planning?
Any time is a good time to start exploring passions and discovering paths to careers. Students can start career-specific electives as early as middle school.* At the high school level, Destinations students have the option to choose a career path or keep discovering! Students can also dive deep into their chosen career field through job shadowing, live, online sessions with industry professionals, and career-oriented camps in areas like coding and STEM.*
When should I start encouraging a career for my child?
When should I start encouraging a career for my child?
Career encouragement can start at any time. Pay attention to your child's interests and natural skills to get an idea about career options they might want to explore. Providing them with opportunities to explore those interests or career paths will help guide your student early in their educational journey. Destinations offers a wide range of career pathways your child can explore.
Why is career exploration important in middle school?
Why is career exploration important in middle school?
Exploring career pathways in middle school* can provide students with the ability to better map out their education journey and make the most out of their time. Early career planning gives parents and students the ability to learn more about their skills and interests to maximize and understand their education and career opportunities so they can graduate high school a few steps closer to their next step.
How do you get into a career after high school?
How do you get into a career after high school?
Transitioning into a career after high school can look different for each individual. By focusing on career readiness education in high school, Destinations students can graduate one step closer to an industry-recognized certification† and develop real-world skills for their life after high school.
What percentage of high school students know what they want to do?
What percentage of high school students know what they want to do?
Many high school students have reported that they found some interest in or direction for their career path while attending school. Identifying interests, strengths, passions, and future goals helps students map out a career plan while completing high school. That's why Destinations offers career exploration opportunities, so students can discover and prepare for their career before it begins.
Health and Human Services FAQs
Do you need a college degree to be a nursing assistant?
Do you need a college degree to be a nursing assistant?
A college degree is not needed to become a nursing assistant. Destinations students interested in pursuing that route can take career-focused electives and progress in their mastery of the content as well as prepare for industry-recognized certifications including the ACT National Career Readiness Certification (NRCR), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), and more.†
Do you need a degree to work in health services?
Do you need a degree to work in health services?
The degree requirements to work in health services vary. Some jobs, such as those in medical billing, only require the technical skills pertinent to the role, but certified nursing assistants require a specific certificate. No matter the job function, Destinations allows students to dive deep, or simply explore, health service skills that they my need after high school.
Do you need a degree to be a dental assistant?
Do you need a degree to be a dental assistant?
To become a dental assistant, students must complete an accredited dental assistant program and pass an exam for certification such as the National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA®) certificate. Destinations prepares students to take many different industry-recognized certification exams after graduating.†
Information Technology FAQs
Do you need a college degree to be a computer programmer?
Do you need a college degree to be a computer programmer?
The degree requirements to be a computer programmer vary, though most employers require a bachelor’s degree. To be a computer programmer, you need extensive knowledge and skill in object-oriented programming languages including JavaScript, C++, and Python. Employers often rely on tests to measure a candidate’s aptitude for a job. Destinations is a great solution for learning these skills while completing high school, bringing students one step closer to their next step.
Do you need a college degree to be a game designer?
Do you need a college degree to be a game designer?
Most game design careers only require a high school diploma. In 2018, video game designers and graphic animators earned a median salary of $72,520 with job opportunities increasing by 4 percent by 2028.** At a career readiness high school like Destinations, students can take computer science, programming, and game design courses to learn the skills required to start a career in game design.*
**Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Website last modified date: Wednesday, September 4, 2019. This job may require additional education and certifications once a student graduates from high school.
Do you need a degree to work in IT?
Do you need a degree to work in IT?
Many information technology (IT) careers do not require a college education. Students at Destinations can choose an IT career pathway program that teachers them the skills required to work in IT. Through career-focused electives, students learn the technical skills that could lead to jobs in such areas as cybersecurity, programming, and game design.
Do you need a degree to work in cybersecurity?
Do you need a degree to work in cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity careers require a bachelor’s degree. Destinations students interested in cybersecurity can enroll in electives such as computer science and security plus courses which will start them on a cybersecurity career journey. Information Security Analyst jobs are projected to grow 32 percent between 2018 and 2028**—an encouraging statistic to students interested in starting this type of career.
**Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Website last modified date: Wednesday, September 4, 2019. This job may require additional education and certifications once a student graduates from high school.
Business FAQs
Do you need a college degree to be a marketing assistant?
Do you need a college degree to be a marketing assistant?
Marketing assistant jobs vary in required degrees. Typically, employers prefer a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience for entry-level positions. Marketing assistants support marketing teams in their daily tasks of research, development, and content creation. Destinations students interested in marketing can begin learning these skills as early as their freshman year of high school with opportunities to intern, job shadow, and work on projects that prepare them for a future career in marketing.*
Do you need a degree to be an entrepreneur?
Do you need a degree to be an entrepreneur?
Many entrepreneurs do not have college degrees and often learn through experience. Students at Destinations have a unique opportunity to gain these experiences while completing their high school diploma. Through project-based learning, job shadowing, and internship opportunities,* Destinations students can begin their career before they graduate high school.
