Throughout the last year or two of high school, you are doing what you can to make every moment count. From squeezing in volunteer hours to running school events, you aren’t wasting a single second! If you’d prefer to use this time to get a jumpstart on college, CTE Dual Credit might just be the best thing for you! This Seattle program works with public school kids to get a start on their careers. As a Seattle senior photographer, I get the chance to work with students who have seen the results for themselves. Here’s what you need to know about this option!
CTE Dual Credit is a program offered through Seattle Colleges. Originally called Tech Prep, this program has received a bit of a rebrand in recent years. While many of the other dual credit programs focus on general education, CTE Dual Credit is only for professional-technical certificates or degrees. This can include fields like web design, medical assisting, accounting, nursing, and marketing. Once you graduate from high school, these credits will go toward your degree or certification through any of the Seattle Colleges’ locations. In order to qualify, all you have to do is take a certified course and register during the academic term of your course.
Before you get started on this program, you can head to their webpage and see what they are offering. The Seattle Colleges page has a comprehensive overview of all the available programs. You can locate your high school and see a drop-down list of what is being taught at your campus, so you know if it will be beneficial.
If you want to learn all about the program before getting started, you can check out their annual Discover Seattle Colleges events. These can give you more information and help you decide if this is the right path for you!

So, what are the benefits of CTE Dual Credit? First of all, this is the epitome of the whole “killing two birds with one stone” thing. Taking this one course in high school will serve as both a high school and college credit. You can get it done without even leaving your high school campus! Secondly, throughout the course of this class, you are going to work on college-level work, easing the transition between high school and college. Once you officially start at your college, you will have the skills required to thrive. The best part of this program? It is completely free. You don’t even have to pay for the textbooks! Your future student loans just got a whole lot more manageable.

If you have been looking for the best way to get a start to your college education, I think you will really benefit from the CTE Dual Credit program! With this option, you can start working toward your career before you even graduate high school!
Are you looking for more ways to make memories throughout this time? Then I would love to chat! I am a Seattle senior photographer, and I adore working with students to celebrate this time! If you still need to book your senior pics, I would love to have a conversation so you can see if I match your style. Send me a message today to find out more!
