NAF career pathways and our many additional programs of study and career areas focus on growing industries and the local workforce needs and interests. These pathways are at the heart of NAF academies.
On the NAF student journey, students enroll in a career pathway or program of study and explore their aspirations through career-focused curricula coupled with outcomes-driven work-based learning experiences, such as internships and mentorship, that complement the academic learning structure.
Explore Our Career Pathways
NAF offers the following career pathways and also approves programs of study that align with the U.S. Department of Education's National Career Clusters Framework.
Academy of Engineering​
Education in STEM fields can lead to various career opportunities for students. Our engineering pathway ignites student aspirations with curricula and hands-on learning in biotechnology, civil, mechanical, and architectural engineering..
Globalization and a complex tax and regulatory environment will lead to a strong demand for accountants and auditors. Our Academy of Finance offers curricula and hands-on learning in finance, accounting, and entrepreneurship.
Healthcare occupations are projected to add two million new jobs by 2031. Our students build a foundation for career success early on through curricula and hands-on learning in physiology, biotechnology, global health, and more.
The leisure and hospitality industry is projected to grow the fastest of all industries. The Hospitality and Tourism pathway offers career learning in event planning, marketing, tourism, hospitality, hotel and lodging management, and customer service.
Demand for IT professionals will stem from greater emphasis on AI, cloud computing big data, and information security. Our Information Technology pathway advances hands-on learning in Cybersecurity, Coding, web design, and computer science principles.
NAF prides itself on a design that is flexible enough to be used with any career pathway. NAF recognizes academies that choose to implement a program of study that aligns with the 16 career clusters as defined by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Career Clusters Framework. This enables academies to customize their programming to meet the needs of their local workforce pipelines. Additional programs of study include: green technology, fire academy, dental, GIS, audio and video production, public service, and fashion.
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