NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Registration
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A Centennial Year for ACTE and a Transformative Opportunity for You
Applications for the 2026 NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Fellowship, proudly led by the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), will open on September 22 and be accepted through December 15. This year marks ACTE’s 100th anniversary, making it an especially meaningful time to join this nationally recognized program.
New Fellows will be notified in early January, with the first meeting of Cohort 8 scheduled for January 28, 2026. Now offered as a registration-based initiative, the Fellowship welcomes applicants from postsecondary institutions, businesses, and other organizations committed to advancing CTE leadership.
The registration fee for accepted applicants is $3,000, which includes conference registrations and exclusive access to ACTE events and resources. With over 100 alumni already driving change in their institutions, the impact of the Fellowship speaks for itself.
Help Us Spread the Word
We invite postsecondary institutions, businesses, and organizations that recognize the importance of investing in CTE educator professional development to share the opportunity to participate in the NextLevel Fellowship.
🎓 Fellowship Benefits Include Accepted Fellows will gain access to a powerful set of resources and experiences designed to elevate their leadership and impact:
- Project-Based Collaboration: Tackle real campus challenges through hands-on, team-driven projects
- Expert Access: Engage with nationally recognized leaders in career and technical education
- Mentorship Connections: Receive personalized guidance from seasoned CTE professionals
- Alumni Network Membership: Join a growing community of changemakers upon successful completion
- National Visibility: Present your work at ACTE’s premier conference for postsecondary education professionals, the Postsecondary CTE Summit
- Conference Registration Included: ACTE covers registration fees for three national conferences (valued at $1610)
Elevate Your Leadership Through the NextLevel Fellowship
Strengthen your leadership capacity through this nationally recognized, highly engaging, and personalized professional development experience. Over the course of a year, you’ll collaborate with a cohort of peer professionals and receive guidance from an experienced mentor, all while building the skills that matter most in today’s postsecondary CTE landscape.
- Enhance your ability to communicate, collaborate, network, problem-solve, and manage time and resources with greater impact
- Identify a strategic objective within your institution and bring it to life through a capstone project that delivers lasting change
- Join a program designed to be transformative, practical, and memorable—tailored to your growth as a CTE leader
Hear What Past Fellows Say About the Program
Participants consistently describe the NextLevel Fellowship as a transformative experience that reshaped their leadership journey. Alumni praise the program’s practical focus, the depth of peer collaboration, and the personalized mentorship that helped them grow both professionally and personally. Many credit the Fellowship with giving them the confidence and tools to lead institutional change, build stronger networks, and elevate their impact in postsecondary CTE. With over 100 alumni driving innovation across the country, their voices speak volumes about the power of this program—and why now is the perfect time to consider becoming a NextLevel Fellow.
Frequently Asked Questions
- CTE Professionals working with adult students and/or adult postsecondary programs
- CTE Professionals who have two or more years’ experience in leadership and/or administration in a community college, career center, or university offering certificate or associate degree programs, or CTE-related organization with regular contact with postsecondary students.
- CTE Professionals who have an interest in addressing the needs of underserved populations and creating change at their institution
This program is not intended for CTE professionals based in secondary education who primarily serve middle or high school students (including those involved in dual or concurrent enrollment) or for instructors in postsecondary CTE who do not hold leadership or administrative roles.
- Attend monthly webinars with your cohort and guest speakers
- Create a “Make It Better” plan (institutional area of change)
- Submit all Program of Work activities by deadlines through Google Classroom
- Participate in follow-up surveys and focus groups during and after fellowship year
- Optional Attend ACTE’s National Policy Seminar and attend NextLevel Fellowship meetings/activities ( Crystal City, VA, Mar. 22-25)
- Required Attend ACTE’s Postsecondary CTE Summit and attend NextLevel Fellowship meetings/activities (Crystal City, VA, Sept. 16-18)
- Optional Attend ACTE’s CareerTech VISION 2026 and attend NextLevel Fellowship meetings/activities ( New Orleans, LA, Dec. 3-5)
The total cost of the program is $3,000. This fee covers your tuition, as well as complimentary registration for three ACTE conferences and the school site visit. Please note that travel expenses associated with attending these events are not included and will be your responsibility.
