OTC Career Center

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The OTC Career Center gives high school juniors and seniors a hands-on way to start college early and explore career options.

Complete college-level technical classes while you’re still in high school for free. You’ll begin working towards an associate degree or career focused certificate. You may even complete a full certificate before you graduate high school.

How to Apply

To apply to the Career Center, you will complete the Ozarks Tech Admission Application.

When you are completing the application, select the option for current high school student or working towards high school completion.
Select “Career Center” from the high school program options.

Why Choose the Career Center?

You’ll build skills needed for today’s workforce in an active, career-focused environment.

Explore future careers
Gain confidence in technical skills
Prepare for continued education or employment

You will spend half your day on campus Monday through Friday. Classes take place in the morning or afternoon.

Morning Block: 8 – 10:30 a.m.
Afternoon Block: 12:20 – 2:50 p.m.

Getting Started

Students from participating school districts begin the admissions process by meeting with their high school counselor, who will guide them through requirements and deadlines.

Many of the Career Center’s programs are competitive. Strong candidates typically show:

Good attendance
A solid GPA
Strong study habits
A positive attitude
A strong work ethic
A school counselor recommendation

Once ready to apply, students use the Application for Admission to create an account and complete the application.

Participating School Districts

Ash Grove
Bolivar
Clever
Everton
Fair Grove
Fordland
Logan Rogersville
Marion C. Early
Marshfield
Nixa

Pleasant Hope
Republic
Seymour
Sparta
Springfield
Stafford
Walnut Grove
Willard

Career Center Programs

You can choose from a variety of career pathways. Some programs are not offered every semester and may have limited space. Make sure to talk with your counselor early about getting started.

Arts & Communication

These programs are for the creative thinkers and communicators. Express information, inspire ideas and elicit emotion with your unique voice. From language and media to fine arts, we have the programs to help you share your creativity and communicate in powerful way.

Electronic Media Production

Graphic Design

High School Health Sciences

The two-year High School Health Sciences program helps you explore the health care industry while receiving high school and college credit. In the first year you’ll get acquainted to college learning and earn CNA training. The second year you will explore health care careers with project-based learning, and courses in Anatomy and Physiology.

High School Health Sciences

Industrial, Engineering, Transportation & Construction

These programs are for those who are curious, detail-oriented and enjoy making things work. Use your skills to build and fix machines, systems and structures. From advanced automation and robotics to the skilled trades, find programs that will help you land a highly rewarding and technical career.

Automotive Technology

Auto Collision Repair

Diesel Technology

Construction Technology

Drafting and Design

Electrical Trades

Heating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Human Services

Human Service programs are the perfect fit for those who enjoy making a positive impact in their community. No task is too small. From supporting mental and physical well-being, to providing a delicious meal, these programs are built to prepare you with skills that enrich the lives of those around you.

Culinary Arts

Early Childhood Development

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Fire Science Technology

Business, Management & Technology

Learn how to install various operating systems and connect those systems to network resources. You’ll also learn skills like diagnosing and troubleshooting computer malfunctions and preventative maintenance. Beginning programming techniques for those seeking a career in this industry will be introduced.

Computer Information Science

Information Technology Infrastructure

Natural Resources

A program working with plants, animals and the outdoors. Build skills to work in careers like farming and ranching or conservation and land care.

Agriculture

Frequently Asked Questions

A number of homeschooled or private schooled students attend the OTC Career Center. Submit your online application to the OTC Career Center. Your sending school district will require you to complete additional enrollment steps. Your sending school district must give approval to attend the OTC Career Center. Call the OTC Career Center counselor for additional information about this process.

Your sending high school will provide transportation to OTC from your sending high school. Each sending high school has their own transportation policy. Please communicate with your sending high school to determine their policy. Certain programs will require you to have your own transportation, such as seniors in the Fire Science and Health Science programs.

If you decide you do not want to attend the OTC Career Center, please communicate with your high school counselor and your OTC Career Center program advisor right away. They can help you identify your options and guide you through the withdrawal process.

We try to accommodate students with high school activities as much as possible. There are no “excused” absences at OTC, so you will need to choose your absences wisely.

If you will be missing class, you need to communicate with your instructor and make arrangements for any missed activities or assignments.

Yes. If the Ozarks Tech campus is open to students, you are expected to attend class. If your high school has a pre-planned closure on a day that Ozarks Tech is open, you will still attend class.

The only exception is if your school closes for inclement weather, or other unforeseen or unplanned circumstances.

If Ozarks Tech is closed and you high school is open it is your responsibility communicate with your high school about their attendance policy.