Prior to identifying what work-based learning opportunities will be available for students in your CTE program of study, it would be beneficial to review NYSED information and view the brief video on Work-Based Learning.

What Is Work-Based Learning?

Work-based learning consists of learning activities that take place in the workplace or in the school. They are arranged in collaboration with the community to provide a service or produce a product that meets industry standards.

  • All students regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, and/or disabilities need to have access to WBL experiences.
  • Details, considerations, and information regarding specific work-based learning can be found in the NYSED Work-Based Learning Manual.

Types of Work-Based Learning Experiences

●      Registered Work-Based Learning

○      Registered experiences typically take place outside of the school building, and students may earn academic credit in accordance with guidance from the Work-Based Learning Manual.

  • There are four types of registered WBL programs in NYS:
    • Career Exploration Internship Program (CEIP)
    • Cooperative Career and Technical Education Work Experience Program (CO-OP)
    • General Education Work Experience Program (GEWEP)
    • Work Experience and Career Exploration Program (WECEP) (This program will no longer be available as of September 1, 2022.)
  • CEIP, CO-OP, GEWEP, and WECEP must be registered with the Office of Career and Technical Education independently from the program approval process.
    • Registration forms for the registered programs are required.
    • CEIP, CO-OP, and GEWEP are registered for a five-year period.
    • WECEP, a federal program, is registered for a two-year period. (This program will no longer be available as of September 1, 2022.)
  • Documentation of WBL extension certification needs to be attached to the registration form.
  • Students enrolled in registered work-based learning programs are required to receive related instruction before and during the WBL learning experience.

●      Unregistered Work-Based Learning

  • Unregistered WBL experiences may take place inside or outside the school building.
  • Students may not earn academic credit for these experiences.
  • Examples of unregistered experiences include:
    • School-based enterprises
    • Industry-based projects
    • Job shadowing
    • Community service/volunteering
    • Supervised clinical experience (As a Health Sciences requirement, a copy of the current affiliation agreement must be submitted with the application.)
    • School-year/summer internships
    • Other
  • Work-Based Learning Policies
  • Keep in Mind hazardous occupations and the associated labor laws

Supervision of Work-Based Learning Experiences

●      Supervision of Registered Experiences

  • CO-OP and CEIP programs must be supervised by a CTE teacher who holds an additional extension as a Coordinator of Work-Based Learning Programs for Career Development.
  • GEWEP and WECEP programs must be supervised by a teacher or school counselor who holds certification as either a Coordinator of Work-Based Learning Programs for Career Awareness or Coordinator of Work-Based Learning Programs for Career Development.
  • CEIP, CO-OP, GEWEP, and WECEP must be registered with the Office of Career and Technical Education independently from the program approval process.
    • CEIP, CO-OP, and GEWEP are registered for five-year periods.
    • WECEP, a federal program, is registered for a two-year period. (This program will no longer be available as of September 1, 2022.)

●      Supervision of Unregistered Experiences

  • It is highly recommended that unregistered experiences be supervised by a certified work-based learning coordinator holding either the Career Awareness or Career Development extension. However, these experiences may be supervised by any school staff.
  • Supervised Clinical Experiences for Health Sciences
    • Supervised clinical experiences must be overseen by a NYS certified health sciences teacher in the specific health sciences content area in which students are completing a program.
    • Students must be directly supervised by clinical instructors or the health sciences teacher of the program when in the field.
    • Clinical instructors must hold appropriate NYS licensure in the health sciences career in which students are completing the clinical experience.
  • For more information and details regarding work-based learning experiences, please consult the NYSED Work-Based Learning manual.

Tips for Success – Work-Based Learning

  • Identify the types of work-based learning experiences that will be provided to students in the CTE program
  • Provide descriptions and examples of what students will actually be doing in each WBL experience
  • Require that the self-study team discuss/decide/describe/communicate the process for collecting, recording, and maintaining WBL data, which will take place annually:
    • Who is going to collect/record/maintain the WBL hours for each student in the approved program?
    • Will there be more than one person responsible for collecting/recording WBL hours for students? (e.g., WBL coordinator responsible for the hours students achieve in registered WBL programs; CTE teachers in the program responsible for the WBL hours in the courses they teach)
    • Where will the number of hours be stored?
    • Will the WBL hours be easy to access during the re-approval process?
  • Indicate whether the WBL experiences will be used as part of a CDOS 4+1 Graduation Pathway option, if desired.
  • Be certain that the registration forms for the registered programs offered are current, signed by district and NYSED personnel, and on file at the district/BOCES and NYSED.
    • CEIP, CO-OP, and GEWEP are registered for five-year periods.
    • WECEP, a federal program, is registered for a two-year period. (This program will no longer be available as of September 1, 2022.)
  • The school/district/BOCES and employers should collaborate in planning WBL experiences.
  • The school must comply with, and the WBL experiences must meet, all federal and state labor laws and NYS Department of Labor regulations and guidelines.
  • Since students enrolled in registered work-based learning programs are required to receive related instruction before and during the WBL learning experience:
    • Identify when, where, and with whom this instruction will occur.
    • Be sure a curriculum is in place for related instruction.
  • For Health Sciences: Secure and submit a copy of the current affiliation agreement with the application.

Resources – Work-Based Learning