Work-Based Learning (WBL) includes a variety of structured learning opportunities that integrate classroom learning with practical, real-world experiences. These experiences provide career exploration, skill development, and pathways to employment for students with diverse needs.

OSPI’s Work-Based & Worksite Learning Guide: Career and Technical Education classifies WBL into categories, ensuring compliance with state and federal guidelines while supporting inclusionary practices and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

WBL Experience Categories
WBL Experience Categories	Description
Career Research & Job Shadowing (Course-Related Area)	Students engage in career awareness activities, research training and skill requirements, and explore a field of interest. Job shadowing experiences can take place virtually, in-person, one-on-one, or in group settings. These opportunities help students connect their experience to their IEP and future educational options.
Guest Speakers, Career Mentors & Field Trips	Students engage in targeted career exploration through direct interaction with industry professionals, in-person and/or online. Community professionals can support student learning in many ways, including mock interviews, talking about workplace expectations, preparation, longevity, etc.
Health Care Clinicals	Students in health and medical sciences integrate classroom knowledge with hands-on clinical practice in real-world healthcare settings.
Ownership & Entrepreneurship	Students create, own, and manage a business aligned with a CTE course.
Placement-Based WBL (Internships & Apprenticeships)	Unpaid Internships: Students gain career-related skills in a workplace setting, supervised by a Worksite Supervisor. Paid Internships: Students receive wages or compensation while participating in structured work experiences.
Registered Apprenticeships & Pre-Apprenticeship Programs	Formalized training programs prepare students for specific careers.
School-Based Enterprises (SBE)	Student-led businesses operate within the school, providing goods and services. These may be school stores, coffee carts, special projects, production of a product, etc. These enterprises align with CTE courses, and the students are engaged in each step of the process, from business plan to daily activities, to sustaining the enterprise.
Service-Learning Projects	Students develop skills through service-oriented projects that benefit public entities or communities.
Supported Employment (specifically for students with disabilities)	Designed for students who need additional support in workplace settings. May involve on-site job coaching, modified work tasks, and collaboration with adult service agencies (e.g., DVR, community employment programs).
Worksite Learning (WSL)	Instructional and cooperative Worksite Learning experiences are affiliated with a qualified CTE class. They connect the classroom learning to real life application on the worksite. Instructional WSL is embedded within an approved CTE course, and students gain industry-specific skills through direct classroom instruction. Cooperative WSL allows students to apply classroom learning in a workplace setting under the supervision of a Worksite Supervisor.

Additional Considerations

Digital and Hybrid WBL: OSPI’s Work-Based & Worksite Learning Guide emphasizes flexible WBL opportunities, including virtual job shadowing, online mentorship programs, and hybrid internships.
CTE Advisory Committees and Partnerships: CTE Advisory Committees/Boards exist when CTE and work-based learning activities are present. They govern, provide formal support (approval process, work with state for CTE classes/curricula) and/or guidance (answering questions, list of businesses being used for work sites, etc.). These advisory committees or boards are an enormous resource to you and your students as you begin to explore work-based learning opportunities.

Available WBL Experiences

Rather than thinking that this is all the responsibility of the special education teacher, there may be WBL experiences already established in your school or district. CTE and your Career Center are the places to start asking questions.

What does your CTE/Career Center offer?
Is the CTE Center connected with businesses in the area (do they already have job shadow opportunities identified)?
What can we do to ensure that career exploration activities include all students?

Next – OSPI's Work-Based & Worksite Learning Guide

WBL Experience Categories

Additional Considerations

Available WBL Experiences