Onboarding plan
Postsecondary CTE Instructor Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)
A practical, printable plan to take a new postsecondary CTE instructor from first day to full productivity.
Postsecondary CTE Instructor onboarding at a glance
Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.
Before day one
- Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
- Verify required credentials: Industry certification, State CTE teaching credential (as applicable)
- Prepare equipment and access: trade tools and equipment; training simulators; learning management systems; certification test prep
- Assign a buddy or preceptor
- Enroll the new hire in Postsecondary CTE Instructor training so foundations are covered before or during week one
Week one: orient and protect
- Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
- Teach shop safety before every lab
- Require PPE
- Inspect equipment
- Keep emergency procedures posted
- Shadow an experienced postsecondary CTE instructor through a full shift
- Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)
Days 1–30: learn
Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.
- Supervised practice: teach a hands-on skill in four steps
- Supervised practice: run an employer advisory board meeting
- Supervised practice: prepare students for a certification exam
- Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
- 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins
Days 31–60: contribute
Goal: handle a regular workload independently.
- Teach technical courses: independently
- Run hands-on labs and shops: independently
- Prepare students for certifications: independently
- Maintain tools and equipment: independently
- Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
- Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
- 60-day check-in
Days 61–90: own
Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.
- Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
- Begin cross-training on a secondary task
- Agree on a credential goal (for example, Industry certification)
- Discuss the career path: Adjunct Instructor → Full-Time Instructor → Program Coordinator
- 90-day review
Competency checklist
| Skill or task | Trained | Observed | Signed off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teach a Hands-On Skill in Four Steps | |||
| Run an Employer Advisory Board Meeting | |||
| Prepare Students for a Certification Exam | |||
| Trade expertise | |||
| Shop safety | |||
| Hands-on instruction | |||
| Certification prep |
How to measure onboarding success
- Time to independent classroom work
- Observation and evaluation scores
- Licensing or compliance findings
- First-year retention
How Postsecondary CTE Instructor training maps to this plan
- Introduction to the Postsecondary CTE Instructor Role
- A Day on the Job
- Essential Postsecondary CTE Instructor Vocabulary
- Core Duties and Responsibilities
- Common Tasks, Step by Step
- Tools, Equipment and Technology
- Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
- Skills Employers Look For
- Launching Your Postsecondary CTE Instructor Career
- Final Knowledge Check