College Credit & Certifications
The Palatine High School Applied Technology Department has worked diligenty to provide students with the opportunity to earn college credit and industry standard certifications within classes taught at the high school. Below is a list of college partners and industry certifications that students can obtain while taking certain classes within the Applied Technology Department.
Project Lead the Way
PLTW Engineering is more than just another high school engineering program. It is about applying engineering, science, math, and technology to solve complex, open-ended problems in a real-world context. Students focus on the process of defining and solving a problem, not on getting the "right" answer. They learn how to apply STEM knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to make the world a better place through innovation.
PLTW students have said that PLTW Engineering influenced their post-secondary decisions and helped shape their future. Even for students who do not plan to pursue engineering after high school, the PLTW Engineering program provides opportunities to develop highly transferable skills in collaboration, communication, and critical thinking, which are relevant for any coursework or career.
National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation
NATEF accredits automobile, medium/heavy truck and collision repair and refinishing technology programs at secondary and post-secondary institutions. These programs meet industry-developed standards that result in students ready to enter the workforce or to continue their education. Since 1983, the NATEF process has resulted in accredited automotive training programs in all fifty states.
Harper College
Harper College's High School Partnership program allows high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to earn college credit, and simultaneously satisfy high school graduation requirements. In this program, students can take college level courses on the Harper campus or in their high school. College level credit is achieved by participation in either the Dual Credit or the Credit by Exam program.
National Institute for Metal Working Skills
The National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) was formed in 1995 by the metalworking trade associations to develop and maintain a globally competitive American workforce. NIMS sets skills standards for the industry, certifies individual skills against the standards and accredits training programs that meet NIMS quality requirements.
NIMS operates under rigorous and highly disciplined processes as the only developer of American National Standards for the nation’s metalworking industry accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Triton College
The Dual Credit Program stems from an agreement that had been developed between Triton Community College and Township High School District 211 schools in order to provide a myriad of opportunities to high school students of all grade levels.
Automotive Service Excellence
ASE, is short for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. Since 1972 our independent non-profit organization has worked to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing and certifying automotive professionals.
ASE promotes excellence in automotive repair and service. over 300,000 Automotive Technician and Service Professionals hold ASE Certifications. ASE Certified Technicians work in every part of the automotive service industry. We certify the automotive technician and service professionals not the auto shops.
Comptia A+ Certification
The CompTIA A+ certification is the starting point for a career in IT. The exams cover maintenance of PCs, mobile devices, laptops, operating systems and printers.
Why CompTIA A+?
- Required for Dell, Intel and Lenovo service techs
- Recognized by U.S. Dept. of Defense
- An ANSI accredited Certifier - 0731
- Vendor-neutral
- Held by 900,000 IT professionals
Jobs that use CompTIA A+
- Technical support specialist
- Field service technician
- IT support technician
- IT support administrator
- IT support specialist