career and technical student organization

{{short description|Vocational organizations}}

Career and technical student organizations (CTSOs) are vocational organizations primarily based in high schools, colleges and career technology centers.

Often, on the state level, they are integrated into departments of education or incorporated as nonprofit organizations. Many states define CTSOs as "integral parts" of the high school and college education programs.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=August 12, 1998|title=Public Law 105-225|url=https://www.ffa.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/about_publiclaw105225.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405060714/https://www.ffa.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/about_publiclaw105225.pdf|archive-date=April 5, 2015|accessdate=July 1, 2017|website=|publisher=National FFA Organization}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tsaweb.org/sites/default/files/CTSO-Guide.pdf|title=Career and Technical Student Organizations: A Reference Guide|date=2008|publisher=Technology Student Association|accessdate=July 1, 2017|first1=Lyn|last1=Fiscus|first2=Alisha|last2=Dixon Hyslop|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626094046/http://www.tsaweb.org/sites/default/files/CTSO-Guide.pdf|archive-date=June 26, 2013|url-status=dead}} Other higher education institutions have added extracurricular activities that are not sports-related, like CTSOs in order to enhance the college experience.

Some major CTSOs include:{{cite web|publisher=U.S. Department of Education|accessdate=July 1, 2017|title=Career and Technical Student Organizations|url=https://www.ctsos.org/ctsos-2/}}

• BPA (Business Professionals of America, formerly Office Education Association)
• DECA (formerly Distributive Education Clubs of America)
• FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)
• FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) (formerly Future Homemakers of America)
• FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America)
• HOSA-Future Health Professionals (formerly Health Occupations Students of America)
• SkillsUSA (formerly Vocational Industrial Clubs of America)
• TSA (Technology Student Association, formerly American Industrial Arts Student Association)

Other CTSOs recognized by some states include Educators Rising (formerly Future Teachers of America) and the International Thespian Society.