Tech Prep is a college program that begins in high school; it is advanced placement for technical careers that prepares students for direct entry into the workplace upon completion of an associate degree or a post secondary certificate program.

College Tech Prep programs are sequences of courses developed cooperatively between school districts and DCCCD, and approved by both the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).

High school students must follow these steps to participate in Tech Prep:

• Choose a Tech Prep career program offered at your high school after reviewing options with your high school counselor.
• Complete the suggested high school Tech Prep classes with a minimum overall average of 80.
• Ask the high school counselor to fill out a "Transfer of Tech Prep College Credit" form.

Within 15 months after high school graduation:

• enroll in the DCCCD college where the Tech Prep associate degree is offered
• meet with a Tech Prep advisor at the college
• declare a major and file a degree plan in a related Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree or Certificate Program.

For more information about current Tech Prep programs, contact your high school counselor or career and technology teacher or call the college's Tech Prep office.