A career and technical student organization (CTSO) is an extracurricular group for students in CTE pathways to further their knowledge and skills by participating in activities, events and competitions.

While each organization caters to different career clusters — ultimately they all accomplish the same thing:

• CTSOs give CTE students additional opportunities outside of the classroom to grow and develop skills they will need within their chosen career paths. These opportunities range from after-school activities and programs to competitive events where students demonstrate their skills.

• CTSOs give students ways to network with other students and industry partners to start building professional relationships.

• Overall, being part of a CTSO can set students apart from those who aren’t members. Having membership listed on a resume can give someone a leg up over others when applying for a job; especially if they were in a leadership role in the organization.