What is SOAR?

SOAR (Students Occupationally and Academically Ready) is a set of articulation agreements that seamlessly links high school and college Career and Technical Education (CTE) together, allowing well qualified high school graduates to earn college credit for successfully completing certain CTE programs at a technical high school. With SOAR credits, a student can graduate with an associate's degree sooner, with less student debt and with the technical skills necessary to join the workforce in a High Priority Occupation. 

What CCAC programs are included in SOAR?
Pennsylvania's Bureau of Career and Technical Education (BCTE) has compiled a list of programs that are offered at many of the technical high schools across the state for inclusion in SOAR. For each, the Bureau has compiled a task list of skill competencies that a high school student will master upon successful completion of the curriculum. Successful completion at the high school level can then translate into college credits at any of the state's 14 community colleges and many other postsecondary technical schools.

CCAC has created 75 SOAR articulation agreements with Pennsylvania technical high schools in 34 different technical programs (both the most in the state).

To see which CCAC courses have been articulated for specific SOAR programs, use CollegeTransfer.net or view the pdf file Articulated CCAC Courses by CIP.

What are the advantages of SOAR for students?  

• Saving money on college tuition
• Saving time by shortening college attendance
• Getting on the right career pathway
• Entering the job market with marketable skills
• Getting a consistent education from secondary through postsecondary

What does a high school student need to do to earn the articulated SOAR credits at CCAC?

• Earn a high school diploma with a minimum 2.50 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale in the technical courses
• Complete the secondary component of SOAR (all required high school technical courses).
• Achieve a competent or advanced level on the secondary school end-of program assessment, the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) test.
• Achieve proficiency on all items on the approved PDE SOAR Secondary Competency Task List
• Submit documentation to verify qualification to the CCAC admissions office.

What documents must students submit to CCAC for SOAR credit?   

1. Completed Secondary Competency Task List (sample) with a Secondary Competency Task
2. Secondary Competency Task List Coversheet (sample); which lists:
3. • Student's Name
   • Program of Study Name
   • Program of Study CIP number
   • Instructor's Signature
   • Instructor's Name
   • School Name
   • School Mailing Address
   • School Telephone Number
4. Perkins Statewide Articulation Agreement Documentation Coversheet (sample)
5. Official High School Transcript
6. Diploma
7. Any Earned Industry Certification

To get a printable set of SOAR documents (Task List Coversheet, Secondary Competency Task List Coversheet and a program Task Grid) go to gettingthemthere.com.

When does a CCAC student get the articulated credits?

Unless stated otherwise in the agreement, students will be awarded the articulated credits upon the successful completion of their first CCAC course.

Where will CCAC's SOAR students come from?
Any high school Career and Technical Education student, who successfully fulfills the requirements of a secondary SOAR program, can earn articulated credits at any community college or postsecondary institution within Pennsylvania that has signed onto that particular SOAR agreement. For CCAC, we anticipate that most of our SOAR students will come from the Pittsburgh Public Schools or one of Allegheny County's five Career and Technical Education Centers: 

• Pittsburgh Public Schools
• A. W. Beattie Career Center
• Forbes Road
• McKeesport
• Parkway West
• Steel Center for CTE