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CTE Programs

Earn a Career Technical Education Certificate!

Earn a Career Technical Education (CTE) Certificate by taking a prescribed number of professional courses directed to specific careers. The CTE Certificate is designed to verify to business and industry that you have the skills required for entry-level positions. Downey Career and Education Center Programs are accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and the Council on Occupational Education (COE). Teachers are credentialed by the California Teaching Commission (CTC).

How to enroll in Career and Technical Education Programs

Prior to registration, all students must attend a program specific orientation. See the program of interest for orientation details.

Minimum Requirements

  • Students to attend a mandatory orientation.
  • Must be 18 years of age or older to enroll in the program.
  • Meet U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizenship requirements.
  • Student must possess a high school diploma or state issued high school equivalency certificate from a regional accredited institution.

    Examples are: GED, HiSET, TASC. (If the High School Diploma was obtained outside of the United States, it must be evaluated by an organization registered with the U.S. Department of Educations (LINCS).)

Minimum Requirements

Apply early to secure your financial aid and enrollment! Planning for registration:

  1. Apply online by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Go to www.studentaid.gov
  2. Allow a minimum of 3 days for the eSAR.
  3. The following items and printouts will be needed to schedule an appointment once a student’s FAFSA is processed:
    1. Attended mandatory program-specific orientation
    2. Pay down payment with enrollment form.

Downey Career and Education Center CTE Programs

  • Court Reporting
  • Dental Assistant
  • Emergency Medical Technician
  • Massage Therapy
  • Medical Assistant
  • EKG/ECG

  • Medical Billing and Coding
  • Paralegal
  • Pharmacy Technician
  • Phlebotomist
  • Vocational Nurse
  • Orthodontic Assistant

Rates for Completion and Placement and Licensure

Summary of Program Data for
Downey Adult Career and Education Center

Students Graduating July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022
Reported March 2023

COE Minimum Benchmarks:60%70%70%
Career Technical Education (CTE) ProgramsDAS
Completion Rate		DAS
Placement Rate		DAS
Licensure Rate
Advance Private Security Academy** 
CNA + Certified Nursing Assistant100%100% 
CNA + Phlebotomy86%100% 
Clinical Medical Assistant94%70% 
Court Reporting60%100% 
Court Reporting Voice Writer**** 
Dental Assistant93%100% 
EKG/ECG100%94% 
Emergency Medical Technician100%71% 
Home Health Aide**** 
Home Health Aide Advanced**** 
Massage Therapy84%88% 
Medical Assistant and Phlebotomy86%75% 
Medical Biller Coder90%92% 
Paralegal100%77% 
Pharmacy Technician74%85% 
Phlebotomy Technician100%100% 
Vocational Nursing98%75% 

*program did not have student enrollment during the reporting period
**program has been recently approved by COE during the reporting period and did not have student enrollment prior to the end of the reporting period

As mandated by Downey Adult School Career and Education Center’s accreditation agency, the Council on Occupational Education, the Job Placement rate is calculated as follows: The numerator consists of all graduates within the specified time period that got training-related jobs. The denominator consists of all graduates within the specified time period. Excluded from this calculation were graduates unavailable for employment because of pregnancy and other serious health-related issues, caring for ill family members, or death; and graduates who refused employment or enrolled in a program strictly for personal use.

The Council on Occupational Education 7840 Roswell Road, Building 300, Suite 325, Atlanta, GA 30350,
Telephone: 770-396-3898 / FAX: 770-396-3790, www.council.org