Governor Mikie Sherrill

CTE Scholar Awards

The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) CTE Scholar Award Program (CTE SAP) recognizes the achievements of CTE students throughout New Jersey. The program highlights the importance of CTE in addressing business and industry’s need for highly skilled and trained employees.

Local Education Agencies with approved CTE programs of study can nominate CTE students using the CTE Scholar Awards application on NJDOE Homeroom.

Student Eligibility Criteria

The program recognizes outstanding career and technical education students who:

  • Demonstrate a high level of achievement in a CTE program of study as exemplified by course grades, industry-recognized technical assessments, and teacher recommendations.
  • Demonstrate a high level of achievement in at least three academic classes, as exemplified by course grades, end-of-course assessments, and teacher recommendations.
  • Successfully complete a college-level course or a work-based learning experience including, but not limited to, employment under a cooperative education agreement, an internship, or a work-based structured learning experience.
  • Participate in a career and technical student organization (CTSO) or a community service project that demonstrates the application of career and technical skills.

2027 Timeline

  • February 3: Application submission window opens
  • February 17–18: Information sessions
  • March 3: Application due
  • May: Recognition of CTE Scholar Award recipients

1. Do all student criteria need to be satisfied by the submission deadline?
Yes. All student criteria outlined in the legislation (further detailed in the submission guide) must be completed by the submission deadline to be eligible for the CTE Scholar Award.
2. What if there is no Industry Recognized Technical Assessment for a particular CTE program of study?
An Industry Recognized Technical Assessment is a written and/or performance assessment that may result in licensure, an industry certification or a credential related to a specific career. This is one of the criteria outlined in the legislation (further detailed in the submission guide) that must be completed to be eligible for the CTE Scholar Award.
3. Can a Tier 1 Industry Valued Credential (IVC) be used to meet the criteria for attaining an Industry Recognized Technical Assessment?
Yes. Both Tier 1 and Tier 2 IVC are eligible to meet this criterion.
4. Is there a monetary award for this program?
No. The CTE Scholar Award is to recognize the achievements of CTE students throughout New Jersey, highlighting the importance of CTE in addressing the demands of business and industry for highly skilled and trained workers.
5. If an 11th grade student completed a CTE program of study, is that student eligible to apply for the CTE Scholar Award?
Only 12th grade students can be nominated for the CTE Scholar Award. If, as underclassmen, students completed an approved CTE program of study and met all criteria outlined in the legislation (further detailed in the submission guide), they would be eligible for nomination when they are enrolled as a 12th grade student.
6. Are students eligible to be nominated if they have not yet completed a CTE work-based learning (WBL) experience but have completed all other criteria to be nominated?
Per legislation, the student must complete a WBL experience (career preparation or training) to be eligible for the CTE Scholar Award. More information about the types of WBL experiences can be found in the WBL Handbook.
7. Is there a limit to the number of students that can be nominated per school?
The LEA will nominate individual students who are identified as being in the top 5% of the initial pool of CTE 12th grade students and who meet criteria outlined in the legislation (further detailed in the submission guide). The number of students will vary depending on the 5% that the district identifies.
8. Who do I contact if I am having trouble accessing the CTE SAP application in NJ Homeroom?
Please contact DOEPT Tech Support for all issues regarding NJ Homeroom.
9. Can students be nominated if enrolled in CTE courses or programs not approved by the NJDOE?
To be eligible for the CTE Scholar Award Program, the LEA must be operating an approved CTE program of study. To learn more about how to become an approved CTE program of study, visit the Office of Career Readiness website.
10. Are CTE students enrolled in a shared-time program of study at a County Vocational School eligible to be nominated for the CTE Scholar Award Program?
Approved shared-time CTE programs of study are eligible for the CTE Scholar Award. It is recommended to work with the sending district regarding student demonstration of a high level of achievement in at least three academic courses and other criteria that may be relevant for student eligibility.
11. If 5% of students that are eligible for the CTE Scholar Award fall within a decimal, can the LEA round up the number of students?
The district may round up when determining the top 5% of students.
12. Who is responsible for nominating and submitting the application for the CTE Scholar Award?
Only district staff can nominate students and apply for the CTE Scholar Award Program. Students and members of the public do not have access to the CTE SAP application as it is in NJDOE Homeroom.
13. Do the three academic courses have to be dual credit or Advanced Placement (AP) courses?
No. Academic courses must be within one of the following subject areas, as identified by the NCES SCED codes: English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Comprehensive Health and Physical Education, World Language, or Visual and Performing Arts.
14. Does the high level of achievement in a CTE program of study and academic courses have to come from the 12th grade year?
Yes. Per the Career Technical Education Scholar Award Program (CTE SAP) submission guide, the high level of achievement comes from the student's current, 12th grade year.
15. Does the acceptable evidence for each criterion have to be uploaded with the CTE SAP application?
No. Evidence is not a required upload. Please see the submission guide and DOE Homeroom CTE SAP landing page to view the required uploads for the CTE SAP application.
16. Can credentials that are recognized by industry but not listed on either the Technical Skills Assessment List or the NJDOE’s Industry Valued Credential List suffice in meeting criteria 1C for students?
No. Only industry recognized technical assessments on either the Technical Skills Assessment list or NJDOE’s Industry Valued Credential List are eligible for meeting this criterion. Please refer to the CTE SAP definition for the specific list of eligible Industry-Recognized Technical Assessments.
17. Can students who are on track to earn their Industry-Recognized Technical Assessment after the CTE SAP application due date qualify for the eligibility of the scholar award?
No. All student criteria outlined in the legislation (further detailed in the submission guidance) must be completed by the submission deadline to be eligible for the CTE Scholar Award.
18. Do all levels of Work-Based Learning (WBL) meet the criteria, including career awareness and exploration?
No. Only successful completion as part of a career preparation or training WBL experience qualify for meeting the WBL experience category in criteria 3.

Submission Guidance

CTE Scholars

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Page Last Updated: 10/29/2026