CTE Myth-Busting

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Myth-Busting?

When it comes to Career and Technical Education, there are many common misconceptions about education and career pathways. The same can be applied to working in the field of biotechnology. As we continue to focus on credentialing the next generation of bioscience industry employees, let’s bust some of these myths!

❌ MYTH: Career and Technical Education is only for students who aren’t academically inclined or don’t plan to go to college.

⇒ FACT: CTE programs are designed to provide a wide range of career pathways and help students develop skillsets that offer a variety of career opportunities. These programs benefit students of all academic abilities and interests. Many students use CTE as a stepping stone to higher education, while others choose to enter the workforce directly after completing CTE training or receiving a certification or credential.

Employers often prioritize candidates who are credentialed, regardless of degrees. For example, the nationally-recognized Biotechnology Aptitude and Competency Exam (BACE) credential signals to employers that a candidate possesses the techniques, knowledge, and skills to be successful in a lab environment and work in a technician-level role within biotech.

❌ MYTH: You need a college degree to have a career in biotech.

⇒ FACT: Biotech is a burgeoning industry, offering many technician-level opportunities that do not require a degree. Furthermore, the BACE credential enhances a job candidate’s viability by proving they have the knowledge and skills needed to excel in the bioscience industry.

❌ MYTH: CTE programs are only for specific industries.

⇒ FACT: CTE covers a wide range of industries and career pathways, from healthcare, information technology, and public safety to finance, culinary arts, and automotive technology – and just about everything in between. CTE programs cover diverse interests and are available in a variety of fields to meet interests and career goals.

❌ MYTH: Biotech careers are only in laboratory and manufacturing settings.

⇒ FACT: Today, biotech is everywhere! A career in the biosciences can apply to a broad range of fields, such as research, manufacturing, inventory, project management, marketing, sales, quality control and assurance, conservation, documentation, education, and so much more!

❌ MYTH: CTE programs are less rigorous and only lead to low-paying jobs.

⇒ FACT: CTE programs demand a high level of skill and knowledge in their respective fields, and they can lead to well-paying and stable careers. Students often engage in hands-on learning, critical thinking, problem solving and project-based assessments, which prepares them for jobs in artificial intelligence, engineering technology, healthcare, robotics, biotechnology, and much more – often offering competitive salaries and opportunities for advancement.

❌ MYTH: Biotech skills aren’t needed because automation is taking over.

⇒ FACT: Industry workers often manage and implement automation, which actually enhances the types of roles needed in the biotech industry (i.e. engineers, programmers, data scientists, consultants, salespeople, regulatory specialists).

According to an article published by the UK’s Office of National Statistics, “The outright replacement of researchers by automation is unlikely, as they are currently categorized as being amongst the lowest risk of being replaced.”

The skills and techniques covered in the BACE prepare you for a career in the bioscience industry, which is growing on a massive scale. New workers and experts are always needed!

❌ MYTH: You must be affiliated with a high school to take the BACE exam and earn the credential.

⇒ FACT: The BACE is not just for students and not only administered through schools. The exam can be taken in a secondary, post-secondary, or even an individual setting. People with all sorts of backgrounds – such as those seeking to stand out in the job search or those wanting to switch from academia to industry – can register as an individual to take the BACE. All exam registrants receive access to Biotility’s free preparation resources, like the practice exam, study material recommendations, and our new digital badging system.