NYS CDOS Commencement Credential - Attachment 3 - Work-Based Learning Programs
Work-Based Learning Programs - PDF 
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Registered State-Approved Programs
| Registered State-Approved Programs |
Coordinator’s Extension* | Student Age | Paid/ Unpaid |
Diploma Credit Permissible/ Worksite Hours |
Related Classroom Instruction | Experience Must Relate to Career Interests | Training Must Develop Career Skills |
| CEIP Career Exploration Internship Program*** |
#8982 | 14+ And in high school |
Unpaid ** |
.5 / 54 hrs. 1 / 108 hrs. |
27 hours 54 hours (see Section II) |
Yes | No (focus is career exploration) |
| GEWEP General Education Work Experience Program |
#8981 or #8982 |
16+ | Paid ** |
.5 / 150 hrs. 1 / 300 hrs. 1.5 / 450 hrs. 2 / 600 hrs. |
At least one period per week (see Section 4) | No | Yes |
WECEP Work Experience and Career Exploration Program (for at-risk students) |
#8981 or #8982 |
14-15 | Paid ** |
.5 / 150 hrs. 1 / 300 hrs. |
At least one period per week (see Section 4) | No | Yes |
| CO-OP Career and Technical Education Cooperative Work Experience Program** *** |
#8982 | 16+ | Paid & Unpaid |
.5 / 150 hrs. 1 / 300 hrs. 1.5 / 450 hrs. 2 / 600 hrs. |
Five periods per week (see Section 5) | Yes | Yes |
* 8981: Coordinator of Work Based Learning Programs for Career Awareness
* 8982: Coordinator of Work Based Learning Programs for Career Development
** Students must also be covered under the employer’s Workers’ Compensation Insurance.
*** Credit earned in these programs can be applied towards a 5-unit career and technical education (CTE) sequence.
Other Work-Based Learning Options
| Other Work-Based Learning Options | Supervising Agency | Coordinator’s Extension | Age of Students | Paid/Unpaid | Diploma Credit Allowable | Related WBL Classroom Instruction |
Experience Must Relate to Career | Interests Training Must Develop Job Skills |
| Community-Based Work Programs (for students with disabilities) |
NYSED | #8981 or #8982 |
14+ | Unpaid or Paid | Yes | Optional | No | No |
| Job Shadowing (1 – 8 hours of observation at a work site) | Local School |
| 14+ | Unpaid | No | N.A. | No | No |
| Community Service/Volunteering | Local School | | 14+ | Unpaid | No | Optional | No | No |
| Service Learning | Local School | | 14+ | Unpaid | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Senior Project | Local School | | 16+ | Unpaid | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| School-Based Enterprise | Local School | | 14+ | Unpaid | Yes but typically included within a course | Yes | No | No |
Extension #8981 or #8982 is recommended but not required
Extension Optional
Descriptions of Other Work-based Learning Options
Community-Based Work Programs (for students with disabilities)
Students with disabilities are required to have the opportunity to participate, as appropriate, in all registered and non-registered work-based learning programs. Community-Based Work Programs, designed specifically for students with disabilities, provide additional opportunities for students with disabilities, ages 14 and older, to participate in work-based learning programs. These work experiences, which can be paid or unpaid, help students to identify their career interests, assess their employability skills and training needs, and develop the skills and attitudes necessary for eventual paid employment. School credit may be awarded for these experiences. It is recommended, but not required, that these experiences be supervised by a work-based learning coordinator who holds a #8981 or #8982 extension.
Job Shadowing
Job shadowing is a career exploration activity for late middle school or early high school. The student follows an employee at a workplace for 1 - 8 hours to learn about an occupation or career pathway of interest. No credit is granted to the student. Job shadowing experiences in grades 9 through 12 may be counted towards the 216 hour requirement for the NYS CDOS Commencement Credential.
Community Service/Volunteering
In community service, students participate in volunteer experiences that teach them responsibility, community involvement, and an awareness of the needs of others. Community service does not directly connect the knowledge and technical skills learned in the classroom.
Service Learning
Service Learning includes integrated classroom and service-related activities. Students utilize the skills and knowledge they are acquiring in their classes to make a positive difference in their schools or communities. Service learning provides real life application of academic knowledge and skills to real life community or school needs.
Service Learning must be carefully differentiated from volunteerism and/or community service. Service learning is community service that directly connects to the knowledge and skills learned in classrooms. In service learning, the interwoven service and learning outcomes derive from a singular, distinct pedagogy.
Senior Project
The senior project and career research paper are designed for students to research a topic or career interest in a specific career pathway. They serve to guide the student in learning about the college preparation and skills training needed to be successful in that pathway. No additional credit is awarded for participation in this experience; the credit exists within the related course.
School-Based Enterprise
A school-based business enterprise exists within the school to provide services for students and/or staff. No additional credit is awarded for participation in this experience; the credit exists within the related course. Examples of a school-based enterprise are a store and a credit union.
Additional information regarding work-based learning programs is available at https://www.p12.nysed.gov/cte/wbl/home.html