Personal Counseling
BCTC counselors offer support and guidance to students who are experiencing personal or school-related concerns. Counseling is provided for students who are having difficulty earning passing grades. When needed, crisis counseling and behavior management is employed to allow for student progress and well-being.

College Counseling
Counselors work with students who are pursuing higher education to locate schools that offer programs and services that fit their needs. Students can pursue further education through 2-year, 4-year, and community colleges, as well as business and trade schools. Apprenticeship programs provide a combination of related classroom training and on-the-job training. Offering various options, the military provides opportunities for students interested in pursuing further education and training, as well as, entry into an occupation within the military.

Computer and Internet resources are available, as are college catalogs. Representatives from colleges and the armed services visit the school on a regular basis to meet with students who are interested in pursing higher education.

Two countywide events, which are supported by BCTC, are the fall Berks College Fair held at Reading High School in the evening and the spring Berks College Fair held at Alvernia College during the day. At these events, students meet with over 70 representatives from 2-year, 4-year, community, and business and technical colleges.

Information regarding cholarship opportunities is collected and shared with eligible students. Counselors are available to assist students in conducting scholarship and financial aid searches.

Recruitment
Counselors are available to provide information and answer questions about the application process and program offerings within BCTC. A structured program is provided for eighth and ninth graders in Berks County through tours and presentations.

Career Counseling
Through the exploration of interests, aptitudes and values, students are directed towards appropriate career choices. The Guidance Information System (GIS) provides Career Decision Making, an interest inventory that evaluates student interests related to careers. GIS and related Internet sites are available for students to complete career searches. Additional resources include the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) and the Occupational Outlook Handbook where information is obtained on specific careers.

Every April, BCTC hosts a Job Fair where over 30 employers interview seniors and juniors for full-time, part-time or co-op employment. An orientation session is held prior to the event. The orientation session covers interviewing skills and resume writing.

Graduates of BCTC are invited to respond to a survey that pertains to employment and training after graduation. Information regarding the survey is available from the guidance office.

Scheduling
Assistance is offered to students who are exploring a program change. Counselors provide information, set up tours and counsel students toward appropriate program choices. Appropriate math courses are scheduled with input from school district guidance personnel.

Testing
In accordance with the recommendations of the director, the members of the Joint Operating Committee of the Berks Career and Technology Center have approved a testing program that is designed to provide information concerning the proficiency of students on standardized tests of vocational achievement. During the school year, the following tests may be administered:

Differential Aptitude Test
Used to evaluate a student's potential for success in a vocational program. Usually administered by the sending school, however, BCTC can administer the test to individuals and hand-score the results.

Student Occupational Competency Achievement Test
(NOCTI/ Job Readiness)
Mandated by Pennsylvania Department of Education to monitor the success of individual programs. Allows students to see their strengths and weaknesses relating to a specific program. Compares their results with class, school, state, and national norms. Allows teachers to evaluate their programs. Also, provides a Pennsylvania Skills Certificate to students who score over the median in both written and performance sections of the test.

Wide Range Achievement Test
Provides reading and math levels for students with special needs.

APTICOM
Provides vocational aptitude information pertaining to the potential aptitude of special needs students who are applying to a 3-year BCTC program from the Career Exploration Program.

National Assessment of Educational Progress
Allows BCTC and home districts to evaluate academic courses in which students are enrolled. Emphasis on higher academic standards. Allows students to attain a certificate for higher level academics and excellent test results.

Iowa Test of Achievement and Proficiency
Achievement test provides BCTC instructors with information pertaining to a student's written, reading, mathematics, and thinking skills in order to provide additional help for the student.

Career Exploration
Career Exploration is a one-year exploratory experience designed to provide for the successful assimilation of special needs and/or at-risk students into a career or technology program. It is a developmental program that provides "hands-on" experiences in an occupational setting for 9th grade students. Students who enroll in this program are selected by the school districts in which they live.