foundations

OTC+ (Ohio Technical Center Plus)

High school juniors & seniors: earn a career credential at Penta, at no cost.

The Ohio Technical Center Plus (OTC+) program lets eligible Ohio high school juniors and seniors take industry-recognized credential programs at Penta Career Center at no cost — tuition is covered through Career-Technical Education funding. It's built for students who can't fit the training into their home high school because of scheduling, capacity, or course availability.

Enroll in OTC+ (Ohio Technical Center Plus)Ask a question

Length

Varies by course

Format

In-person

Tuition

Free for eligible students

Courses in this program

Start where you fit and stack your way up.

Construction Technologies

Jobsite-ready skills across the building trades — hand and power tools, framing, and finish work.

Dental Assisting

Chairside clinical skills for a dental office, including instruments, radiography basics, and patient care.

Firefighter 1 & 2

Entry-level firefighter training toward NFPA 1001, including live-fire, and the path to Firefighter II.

Intro to HVAC

The fundamentals of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning with hands-on instruction for an entry-level role.

Phlebotomy

Safe, professional blood-draw technique and patient interaction — one of the quickest ways into healthcare.

Intermediate Welding

GMAW, FCAW and SMAW plus pipe welding, TIG, and blueprint reading, building toward AWS qualification testing.

Nail Technician

Manicuring, pedicuring, and nail-care skills toward Ohio nail-technician licensure.

What you'll learn

Free for eligible Ohio juniors & seniors
Evening classes at Penta Career Center
Industry-recognized credential programs
Grades count on your high school transcript

What you'll earn

Industry-recognized credential
Career-tech program certificate

Before you enroll

Live in Ohio
Junior or senior in high school
Able to attend evening classes
Some courses require a driver's license or State ID, vaccinations, and a criminal background check

Where it can take you

A head start on a skilled careerReady for work or more training

Full program details

What is OTC+?

The Ohio Technical Center Plus (OTC+) program allows Career-Technical Education providers and Ohio Technical Centers to work together to provide access to high-quality career-technical education (CTE) that meets the needs of Ohio's workforce. Through this program, eligible high school students can participate at no cost, as tuition is covered through Career-Technical Education funding.

OTC+ offers flexibility for students who may not be able to enroll in courses at their high school due to course-capacity limits, scheduling conflicts, a lack of course offerings, a lack of qualified instructors, or limited facilities. It lets schools customize opportunities while giving students access to industry-recognized credential programs through Ohio Technical Centers.

How can students participate?

Step 1 — Eligibility. Students may participate if they live in Ohio, are in their junior or senior year of high school, and can attend evening classes. Additional requirements may apply depending on the course, such as a driver's license or State ID, vaccinations, and a criminal background check.

Step 2 — Choose a course. The OTC+ courses currently available are Construction Technologies, Dental Assisting, Firefighter 1 & 2, Intro to HVAC, Phlebotomy, Intermediate Welding, and Nail Technician.

Step 3 — Apply. Complete the OTC+ Student Enrollment Form and provide your high school counselor or Career-Tech instructor's contact information. A verification form is automatically emailed to them to complete. Penta Career Center makes the final admission decision; once approved by the Adult Education office, you'll receive a link to finish your application in the Adult Education Student Portal.

Grades

Grades earned in OTC+ courses are recorded on the student's high school transcript.