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Career Clusters

Career Clusters provide the essential knowledge and skills for the 16 Career Clusters and the related Career Pathways. It also functions as a guide in developing programs of study bridging secondary and postsecondary curriculum and for creating individual student plans of study for a complete range of career options. 

Bureau of Labor Statistics article "Clusters, pathways, and BLS: Connecting career information"

Standards

Competencies are derived from a collaboration between education and industry and reflect what a student should know and be able to do within a specified scope of a career field. Students demonstrate the acquisition of these competencies through an array of assessments occurring throughout the learning process including portfolio, performance, and structured observation assessments. The State Board of Education requires each program to be based on industry standards; the competencies to be aligned with the Vermont Framework of Standards, and that the competencies be approved by the State Board.

 The Competency and Task List Memo addresses what should be done with the competency and task lists for those programs that have no state approved end of program assessment, as well as steps program instructors can take to update their competency and task lists.

Competencies and Task Lists

During this initial phase, only information that has been thoroughly reviewed will be available online. We will continue to add and update career cluster information, as it becomes available. If you need specific information, please email Ruth Durkee at Ruth.Durkee@vermont.gov or call (802) 828-1078. 

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources 
Production, processing, marketing, distribution, financing, and development of agricultural commodities and resources including food, fiber, wood products, natural resources, horticulture, and other plant and animal products/resources.

Architecture and Construction
Careers in designing, planning, managing, building and maintaining the built environment.

  • Competencies and Task Lists
    • Construction
    • Design/Pre-Construction
      • PTF Architecture & Construction – PTF02
      • Drafting and Design – 15.1301
    • Maintenance/Operations
      There are currently no approved competencies for this pathway.
  • Assessment Blueprint

Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications
Designing, producing, exhibiting, performing, writing, and publishing multimedia content including visual and performing arts and design, journalism, and entertainment services.

  • Competencies and Task Lists
    • Audio/Video Technology & Film
      • Design Visual Communication – 50.0401
    • Journalism & Broadcasting
      • Video Production – 50.0602
    • Performing Arts
      • Performing Arts – 50.0301
      • Performing Arts – Dance/Drama – 50.0501
      • Performing Arts – Video Production – 50.0602
    • Printing Technology
      • Animation & Web Design – 10.0304
      • Printing Technology – 10.0301
    • Telecommunications
      There are currently no approved competencies for this pathway.
    • Visual Arts
      • Arts AV Communications Pre-Tech – PTF03
  • Assessment Blueprint

Business, Management, and Administration
Careers in planning, organizing, directing and evaluating business functions essential to efficient and productive business operations.

  • Competencies and Task Lists
    • Administrative Support
      • Business Administration Information Support – 52.0407
    • Business Information Management
      • Business Financial Support – 52.0305
    • General Management
      • Business, General – 52.0000
      • Business Management & Leadership – 52.0101
      • Business Management, Finance, Marketing Pre-Tech – PTF04
    • Human Resources Management
      There are currently no approved competencies for this pathway.
    • Operations Management
      There are currently no approved competencies for this pathway.
  • Assessment Blueprint

Education and Training
Planning, managing and providing education and training services, and related learning support services. 

  • Competencies and Task Lists
    There are currently no approved competencies for these pathways.
    • Administration & Administrative Support
    • Professional Support Services
    • Teaching/Training 
  • Assessment Blueprint

Finance
Planning, services for financial and investment planning, banking, insurance, and business financial management.

  • Competencies and Task Lists
    There are currently no approved competencies for these pathways.
    • Accounting
    • Banking Services
    • Business Finance
    • Insurance
    • Securities & Investments 
  • Assessment Blueprint

Government and Public Administration
Planning and performing government functions at the local, state and federal levels, including governance, national security, foreign service, planning, revenue and taxation, and regulations.

  • Competencies and Task Lists
    There are currently no approved competencies for these pathways.
    • Foreign Service
    • Governance
    • National Security
    • Planning
    • Public Management & Administration
    • Regulation
    • Revenue & Taxation  
  • Assessment Blueprint

Health Sciences
Planning, managing, and providing therapeutic services, diagnostic services, health informatics, support services, and biotechnology research and development. 

  • Competencies and Task Lists
    • Biotechnology Research & Development
    • Diagnostic Services
    • Health Informatics
    • Support Services
    • Therapeutic Services
  • Assessment Blueprint

Hospitality and Tourism
The management, marketing and operations of restaurants and other food services, lodging, attractions, recreation events and travel related services.

  • Competencies and Task Lists
    • Lodging
    • Recreation, Amusements & Attractions
    • Restaurants & Food/Beverage Services
    • Travel & Tourism 
  • Assessment Blueprint

Human Services 
Preparing individuals for employment in career pathways that relate to families and human needs such as counseling and mental health services, family and community services, personal care, and consumer services.

  • Competencies and Task Lists
    • Consumer Services
    • Counseling & Mental Health Services 
    • Early Childhood Development & Services
    • Family & Community Services
    • Personal Care Services 
  • Assessment Blueprint

Information Technology 
Building linkages in IT occupations for entry level, technical and professional careers related to the design, development, support and management of hardware, software, multimedia and systems integration services.

  • Competencies and Task Lists
    • Information Support & Services
    • Network Systems
    • Programming & Software Development
    • Web & Digital Communications 
  • Assessment Blueprint

Law, Public, Safety, and Security 
Planning, managing, and providing legal, public safety, protective servics and homeland security, including professional and technical support services.

  • Competencies and Task Lists
    •  Correction Services
    • Emergency & Fire Management Services
    • Law Enforcement Services
    • Legal Services
    • Security & Protective Services 
  • Assessment Blueprint

Manufacturing
Planning, managing and performing the processing of materials into intermediate or final products and related professional and technical support activities such as production planning and control, maintenance and manufacturing/process engineering. 

  • Competencies and Task Lists
    • Health, Safety & Environmental Assurance
    • Logistics & Inventory Control
    • Maintenance, Installation & Repair
    • Manufacturing Production Process Dev.
    • Production
    • Quality Assurance
  • Assessment Blueprint

Marketing, Sales, and Service 
Planning, managing and performing marketing activities to reach organizational objectives.

  • Competencies and Task Lists
    • Marketing Communications
    • Marketing Management
    • Marketing Research
    • Merchandising
    • Professional Sales
  • Assessment Blueprint

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics 
Planning, managing and providing scientific research and professional and technical services (e.g., physical science, social science, engineering) including laboratory and testing services, and research and development services.

  • Competencies and Task Lists
    • Engineering & Technology
    • Science & Mathematics 
  • Assessment Blueprint

Transportation Distribution and Logistics 
Planning, management, and movement of people, materials, and goods by road, pipeline, air, rail and water and related professional support services such as transportation infrastructure planning and management, logistics services, mobile equipment and facility maintenance.

  • Competencies and Task Lists
    • Facility & Mobile Equipment Maintenance
    • Health, Safety & Environmental Management
    • Logistics Planning & Management Services
    • Sales & Service
    • Transportation Operations
    • Transportation Systems/Infrastructure Planning, Management & Regulation
    • Warehousing & Distribution Center Operations
  • Assessment Blueprint