NOCTI Pre-testing

Pennsylvania NOCTI pre-tests and study guides are now available to order! Please remember that the Pennsylvania Department of Education Bureau for Career and Technical Education pays for only one pre-test and post-test per student. Make sure to review the Pennsylvania’s NOCTI Pre-Test and Study Guide Policy before testing!


We recommend the following testing windows for 2027 graduates:

Graduating Seniors - Pre-Test Fall 2026

September 1 - October 30 (recommended, not required)

Rising Seniors - Pre-Test Spring 2027

March 1 - April 30

For more information about deadlines and requirements, visit careertechpa.org/cte-testing.

Questions? Reach out to testing@careertechpa.org or 412-675-9118 for assistance.

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2026-2027 PA Test Crosswalk

View Crosswalk

2026-2027 PA NIMS Code

FKA0VT

More CTE Testing Resources

NOCTI/NIMS Waiver

Temporary Waiver of Career and Technical Education Program Requirements (24 P.S. § 18-1859) 

This temporary waiver allows students to take the NOCTI/NIMS when the information is fresh in their minds and opens up their senior year for work-based learning or to earn additional credentials. Without this waiver, current state regulations require students to wait until 12th grade to take their competency exams and complete their programs. 

Schools should review their local CTE program course sequencing to determine the best options for student success and remember that the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Bureau for Career and Technical Education pays for only one pre-test and post-test per student. The PDE Bureau of Career and Technical Education asks that any schools planning to use the waiver please complete this form.

Further questions may be directed to ra-vocteched@pa.gov. 

CTE & PA Legislation

Check out our newest resource page!

The ERC website now has a resource page dedicated to Career and Technical Education and PA Legislation. The page includes links, educational information, current legislation, and memos circulating in the PA Legislature.

The current (2025-2026) legislative session ends on November 30; any legislation that does not pass before that date will need to be reintroduced in the next session in order to be considered. Please note that the ERC is not an advocacy organization and does not advocate on behalf of any organization or for any legislative matters.

CTE & PA Legislation Webpage

CSinPA Professional Learning Opportunities

The school year is underway, and there’s plenty happening in Computer Science across Pennsylvania!

Explore PaTTAN's page showcasing the upcoming events, professional learning, classroom resources, and more in the 2026-2027 school year. Highlights include:

• K-8 Foundations to Implementation Pathway - The CSinPA team is piloting a redesigned K–8 professional learning experience for LEA teams during the 26–27 school year. Applications are close November 11, 2026
  
• CSinPA Micro-credential Program - registration will be available in November.
  
• Cybersecurity Education Through Capture the Flag Challenges (CTF) Workshops (October - November). Registration is now open at PennWest Edinboro, PennWest California, and Penn State.
  

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K–12 Computer Science Education in PA: Standards, Landscape, and Opportunities

The 2026 CSTA Standards are here—what changed, and how can educators begin using them?

A new asynchronous professional learning course, K–12 Computer Science Education in PA: Standards, Landscape, and Opportunities, will launch on November 1, 2026.

This introductory course will help educators explore and begin unpacking the new standards, understand key shifts and expectations for student learning, and examine the current landscape of computer science education in Pennsylvania. Participants will also discover resources and professional learning opportunities to continue building their CS knowledge and capacity.

Registration will open in mid-October.

View CSTA Events Calendar

10th Annual PennDOT Innovation Challenge

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced its 10th annual Innovations Challenge, which encourages students to use their problem-solving, creative and strategic-thinking abilities to solve real-world transportation challenges in a competition among their peers. The Innovations Challenge is open to all students in grades 9-12, regardless of their school’s learning model. 

For this year’s challenge, students are asked to develop an innovative solution that helps prevent overheight vehicles from striking Pennsylvania's bridges and tunnels. The proposal should focus on identifying potential hazards before a collision occurs while improving safety, protecting infrastructure, and minimizing disruptions to travelers and local communities.

For complete Innovations Challenge details, visit the Innovations Challenge webpage. The submission deadline is January 29, 2027. 

Please share this information with all faculty members and encourage all eligible students within your school to participate.

For questions or more information, email PennDOT’s Bureau of Strategic Business Operations at DOTInnovations@pa.gov.


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CTE Momentum Careers in your Community Challenge

Making informed decisions about life after high school takes practical career guidance that is current and relevant to students’ lives. In many communities, the first education and career opportunities that students explore are close to where they live, making local employers and education pathways especially important.

The Careers in Your Community Challenge is a CTE Momentum challenge to develop student-led career exploration solutions. The U.S. Department of Education invites high schools to propose solutions that improve career exploration at their schools. Up to 10 winning teams will split a $50,000 prize pool.

Submissions close November 19, 2026 and winners will be announced in early 2027.

Learn More

STEM Next and Panasonic Foundation AI Innovation Challenge

Program sites can win up to $5,000 in this National AI Challenge.

If your program serves high school youth, the AI Innovation Challenge from STEM Next Opportunity Fund and the Panasonic Foundation is an exciting new opportunity to engage youth in AI learning and win up to $5,000 for your program site.

In this national competition specifically for high school youth in afterschool programs, young people identify a real-world problem they care about and use AI to research the issue, develop ideas, and strengthen a proposed solution while building valuable AI literacy and durable skills.

No prior AI experience or coding skills are required for youth or educators. The deadline for submission is November 19, 2026.


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More Grant Opportunities