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Department of Labor and Workforce Development
 
Office of the Commissioner

Avtec Celebrates 25 Years Of Accreditation

Nov. 16, 2022
No. 22-21

The Council on Occupational Education (COE) recognized the Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC) for completion of 25 years of accredited status at the COE annual meeting on Nov. 8-10, 2022, in Orlando, Florida. AVTEC, originally accredited in 1997, is a division of the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Accreditation is based on an evaluation which demonstrates that the institution has met standards of quality, and has met the needs of students, community, and employers.

The Commission's evaluation process includes an extensive self-study by the institution and an intensive review by a visiting team of professional educators representing the Commission's member institutions from other states.

The Council on Occupational Education, based in Atlanta, Georgia, offers quality assurance services to postsecondary career and technical education providers across the nation. Organized as a non-profit corporation, the mission of the Council is to assure quality and integrity in career and technical education. Services offered include institutional accreditation (recognized by the U.S. Department of Education), program quality reviews for states and workforce education providers, and informational services.

Institutional membership in the Council is voluntary but can only be achieved by becoming accredited. There are over 550 institutional members including postsecondary public technical institutes and colleges, specialized military and national defense schools, Job Corps Centers, private career schools, non-profit workforce education providers, corporate and industry education units, federal agency institutions and registered apprenticeships.

"We are proud of this accomplishment which demonstrates the high level of quality career and technical education available to Alaskans," says Dr. Tamika L. Ledbetter, Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD). For over 50 years, AVTEC has trained thousands of Alaskans for high demand employment.

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