Exciting Opportunities Await: Pima JTED Career & Technical Education Courses Open for Registration!

High school students interested in career and technical education can start registering for courses in the Pima JTED program beginning Monday. This initiative offers free classes across various school districts, including a new facility at the University of Arizona’s Bridges Tech Park, located in Tucson’s South Side.

On Saturday, hundreds of students attended a showcase highlighting JTED’s diverse programs, which include nursing, pharmacology, aviation, robotics, cybersecurity, culinary arts, and more. Annually, nearly 3,000 students enroll in these courses, gaining valuable certificates that enhance job prospects immediately after graduation or facilitate further education at Pima Community College or other institutions.

Robin Gilbow, head of the pharmacy tech program, emphasized that students can graduate and promptly take the state licensing exam, propelling them into the workforce. The opportunity for higher education in pharmacy also exists, with many students already planning to continue at the University of Arizona.

Current JTED students share a common enthusiasm for their classes. Hang Le, a junior traveling from Walden Grove High School, expresses her enjoyment of the healthcare program at JTED’s Bridges campus, which she attends twice a week. “I love it. It’s very different from my home school. I come here and I’m actually having fun,” Le stated. Her experience has solidified her career aspirations in healthcare.

Similarly, Eli Betters, a junior from Sunnyside High School, credits the design program as a transformative experience. She anticipates earning Adobe and Photoshop certifications, paving the way for opportunities with major companies, including roles in magazine design or corporate branding. “With more education, I can work for The New York Times,” she remarked.

Pima JTED, or Joint Technical Education District, facilitates shared access to advanced facilities, from robotic labs to veterinary operating rooms, allowing regional students to benefit from high-quality educational resources. Typically, students attend JTED classes during the afternoons or evenings, either at the Bridges campus or satellite locations.

The Bridges campus, which opened in 2020, features state-of-the-art amenities, including welding bays, plasma cutters, healthcare clinics, animation studios, and a commercial kitchen. TUSD also runs Innovation Tech High School on this campus, offering students required academic courses alongside JTED electives, though it lacks traditional arts, music, and sports programs.

Pima JTED invites sophomores, juniors, and seniors from Pima County and select areas in Santa Cruz and Pinal counties to apply. Public, charter, private school, and home-schooled students are eligible, with tuition fees applying for families utilizing certain scholarship programs. For further details and registration, visit the JTED website.