Pathways to Success
• But what does college look like ?
….attending classes at a 4-year university
…. attending a smaller community college
…. completing a technical program
4 Year University
Military
2 Year College
Career
Technical School
Post-Secondary Plans
Begin with the end in mind
Diploma
Paths
TOPS University
TOPS Tech Career
TOPS Tech Career
2 Year College
Industry Based Certification Required
9 Career Technical Electives
2 Social Studies and 2 Science
23 Credits
TOPS Tech Career
4 English and 4 Math
TOPS University
4 Year College
4 Social Studies and 4 Science
24 Credits
Industry Based Certification
Optional
4 English and 4 Math
4 Year College
24 Credits
4 Social Studies and 4 Science
Industry Based Certification Optional
What’s the Difference?
Diploma
Jump Start Career
Pathways
Industry Based
Certifications
Both Options
Culinary Public Service
Automotive Technician
Welding First
Responder EMT
Certified Nurse
Assistant
Carpentry
Information Technology
Sample Pathways
• ACT National Career Readiness
• Adobe Certified Associate- Illustrator
• Adobe Certified Associate- Photoshop
• Adobe Certified Associate- Dreamweaver
• Adobe Certified Associate- InDesign
• Adobe Certified Associate– Premiere Pro
• ASE Brakes
• ASE Electrical/Electronic
• ASE Engine Repair
• ASE Maintenance and Light Repair
• ASE Steering and Suspension
• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Autodesk Inventor
• Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
• Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
• CIW Internet Business Associate
• CIW Web Design Professional
• Customer Service and Sales (National Retail
Foundation)
• Fashion Design for Costume and Film
• FEMA- National Incident Management System
• First Aid, CPR, AED
• Fundamentals of JavaScript, Functional
Programming and Web Development
• Louisiana Agritechnology
• Louisiana Micro-Enterprise
• Microsoft Office Specialist- Word, PowerPoint,
Excel
• Meat Processing
• NCCER Carpentry
• NCCER Core
• NCCER Electrician
• NCCER Welding
• OSHA -10
• ProStart (National Restaurant Association)
• ServSafe Food Handler
• Serve Safe Food Protection Manager
Industry Based
Certifications Offered
Enter High School
Complete 2 Years of Basic
Classes
Consider TOPS Tech vs.
TOPS University Diploma Discuss with
Counselor and Parents
Choose A Graduation
Pathway
Complete High School Ready for
Career and/or College
How it Works
Matt
Loves playing video
games
Likes to take things
apart and put them
back together
He is his family’s go
to tech support
Likes Algebra, not
Geometry
Information Technology
Pathway
TOPS University
CIW Web Foundations
Associate Certifications
TOPS Tech Career Diploma
Hired By Local Tech Start Up
Jasmine
Wants to
help people
Volunteers at
the hospital
Loves Science
Wants a 4
Year Degree
Medical Assistant Pathway
TOPS University TOPS
University Diploma
3 Hours- Advanced
Placement Anatomy and
Physiology
6 Hours- Dual Enrollment
Math and Biology
Certified Nursing
Assistant
Tyler
Likes to work
with his hands
Would rather read
Popular Mechanics
than Shakespeare
Doesn’t like Algebra
but good at Geometry
Wants to go straight to
work after graduation
Welding Pathway
TOPS University
NCCER Level 1
Welding Certification
TOPS Tech Career Diploma
Hired by ABC
Manufacturing
($20/hour and
full benefits)
2,405 Graduates
5,261 Industry
Based Certifications
15,519 Dual
Enrollment Credits
Class of 2018