Using CTE Pathfinder (For Students)

CTE Pathfinder helps you explore Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways that connect to your interests, strengths, and future goals. It gives you a simple place to learn about options at your school, save the ones that stand out to you, and see how your current classes connect to what you may want to do next.

What CTE Pathfinder helps you do

With CTE Pathfinder, you can:

• Discover CTE pathways that may be a good fit for you
• Learn about sample courses, certifications, and career options
• Ask AI questions as you explore
• Save multiple pathways to compare later
• Track your saved pathways and progress in your profile

Watch the video or follow the steps below to learn how to use the CTE Pathfinder.

How to use CTE Pathfinder

1. Open CTE Pathfinder

From your Panorama for Students homepage, click CTE Pathfinder to get started.

If you do not see CTE Pathfinder on your homepage, your school or district may not have this feature turned on yet.

2. Answer a few questions about yourself

CTE Pathfinder will guide you through a short set of prompts to learn more about your interests and experiences. You may be asked about:

• Activities you enjoy
• Courses you like or want to build on
• Experiences you want to add
• Careers you may already be curious about

If your interests are not fully listed, you can type in your own response.

3. Review your recommendations

Once you finish responding to the questions, CTE Pathfinder creates personalized pathway recommendations for you. These recommendations are based on:

• Your responses
• Your academic progress
• Life skills survey results (if available)
• The CTE pathways your district has made available

Your recommendations are grouped into career clusters and shown as cards. Example career clusters might include: 

• Education
• Healthcare & Human Services
• Management & Entrepreneurship
• Digital Technology
• Construction
• And many others…

4. Explore pathway cards

Click on a pathways card to learn more. Each card will flip and show:

• Sample courses in that pathway
• Example certifications
• Possible careers connected to that pathway

You do not have to choose just one right away. It can be helpful to explore a few options before deciding which ones you want to save.

5. Ask questions with AI

As you explore, you may be able to use built-in AI support to learn more.

Click Ask AI on a specific card, or click Chat with AI to start a broader conversation about CTE options.

When selecting Ask AI, you can start with one of these two prompts: 

• What is this program like?
• How do I pursue this?

You might ask questions like:

• Why was this pathway recommended for me?
• How are these two pathways different?
• What jobs connect to this pathway?
• What could this pathway help me do after high school?
• What could I do next if I choose this pathway?

The responses are personalized based on your interests and the pathways available in your district. CTE Pathfinder may also ask follow-up questions to help you reflect more on what interests you.

6. Save pathways you want to revisit

If you find a pathway that interests you, click Save.

You can save more than one pathway at the same time. This is helpful if you are still exploring and want to compare a few options before making any decisions.

Saved pathways will appear in your profile so you can come back to them later.

7. Check your progress in your profile

In your student profile, you can view:

• Saved CTE programs
• Progress toward each saved pathway
• Progress toward other available CTE pathways

This can help you understand how your current coursework connects to the pathways you are exploring.

Tips for using CTE Pathfinder

• Save 2-3 pathways that stand out to you, even if you are still undecided.
• Compare what each pathway includes, such as courses, certifications, and careers.
• Bring your saved pathways to a conversation with your counselor.
• Check back later if your interests change or if you want to explore more options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to know my future career before using CTE Pathfinder?

No. CTE Pathfinder is designed to help you explore. You can use it even if you are still figuring out what interests you most.

Can I save more than one pathway?

Yes. You can save multiple pathways and come back to them later.

What if I do not see AI recommendations?

Your school or district may not have the AI feature turned on yet. If you think you should have access, reach out to your counselor for help. You may still be able to explore and save pathways without the AI feature.

Will adults at my school be able to see what I save?

Yes. Your counselor or school team may be able to view saved pathways and progress so they can support you.

What can I learn from a pathway card?

A pathway card can show sample courses, example certifications, and possible careers connected to that pathway.

Are the recommendations based on what my school offers?

Yes. Recommendations are based on the CTE pathways available in your district, along with information such as your interests and academic progress.