Career Investigations Course

The Profile of a Virginia Graduate developed by the Board of Education describes the knowledge, skills, competencies, and experiences students should attain during their K-12 education to make them “life-ready.”

The Profile presents and describes four overlapping areas for student learning and achievement considered essential to success beyond high school. Foundational skills for students to acquire and use in each of these areas are critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, communication, and citizenship.

The Standards of Accreditation (SOA), 8VAC20-131-90 state that that each middle school will provide a course in career investigations. Middle school students are also required to complete a career interest inventory and select a career pathway to support the development of their Academic and Career Plans (ACP) (8VAC20-131-140.C.2). A student's ACP guides course selection in grades 8-12.

Why is Career Investigations Important?

The Career Investigation curriculum will assist students in bridging their academic and career development in the elementary grades with information on rigorous courses, career pathways, postsecondary options, and workplace trends in the middle grades to help them meet their goals for successful transition to high school graduation and beyond.

The Career Investigation curriculum supports the preparation of the “life ready” student and engages students in:

• demonstrating workplace readiness skills;
• exploring career clusters and pathways;
• completing a career interest assessment;
• participating in a work-based learning experience;
• applying the decision-making process to course
• selection and postsecondary options;
• creating the Academic and Career Plan; and
• connecting the world of work to responsibilities as a citizen, including personal, physical, and mental wellness.