President Parker addresses Florida Senate Committee on PBSC's Career and Technical Education programs

On Feb. 5, President Ava L. Parker, J.D., addressed the Florida Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education in Tallahassee about PBSC’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.

In a panel with other Florida college leaders, President Parker highlighted the success of PBSC’s CTE programs, the College’s impact on Palm Beach County and how grants have supported the expansion of these programs.

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to be a part of the solution to workforce development not only in our local community but also being part of a system that’s providing the economic infrastructure that’s making a difference in the state of Florida,” Parker said.

PBSC offers more than 140 CTE programs designed to prepare students for in-demand fields such as healthcare, construction, manufacturing, information technology and public safety. Students in CTE programs gain hands-on experience through internships with industry partners such as Florida Power & Light, Pratt & Whitney and TMRW Sports. Additionally, students can participate in apprenticeships, allowing them to earn money while they learn, and benefit from a technology-infused curriculum featuring AI-driven learning tools, virtual reality simulations and smart building technology labs.

“The College provides the people infrastructure that makes our county work, because one out of every 63 jobs in Palm Beach County is supported by activities of PBSC,” Parker said.

President Parker spoke about the success of CTE program graduates, noting that state funding has played a key role in increasing certification pass rates. The Florida Career and Professional Education (CAPE) Industry Certification Funding has supported test preparation resources, practice exams and instructor training. As a result, the pass rates for various certifications are impressive: 85% for the Welding AWS Certification, 88% for CompTIA IT Fundamentals Certification and 90% for NCCER Construction Certification. Additionally, 90% of PBSC nursing graduates secure employment within six months of graduation.

“About 75% of our students, when they complete their credential, they want to stay in Palm Beach County or the surrounding area,” Parker said. “The fact that they can have a credential that can lead to a job makes a huge difference.”

President Parker also highlighted the Panther Advanced Technology Hub, a new PBSC initiative, that will provide a centralized hub for industry leaders driving innovation in air, land and sea technologies. These innovation labs will prepare students for careers in high-demand and emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, augmented and virtual reality, quantum computing, blockchain, advanced robotics and Internet of Things.

“This is work that we're doing because we understand the difference that technology is making in the lives of our students,” Parker said. “This to me is important, because I want to make sure that our students have an opportunity to have first-hand experience.”

Watch the full Florida Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education meeting. President Parker's testimony begins at 40:10. For more information about Career and Technical Education in Florida, visit GetThereFL.com. To explore Palm Beach State’s career programs, view our Career Pathways webpage.