Office of Skills Development

Governor Asa Hutchinson signed Act 892, which created the Office of Skills Development (OSD), during the 2015 Legislative Session. A division within the Department of Commerce, formerly under the Arkansas Department of Career Education, this office is responsible for aligning career and technical education programs with the skills needed by business and industry.

Investing in training to maintain and increase the competitiveness of Arkansas’s workforce.

Additional Skills Development Grants information

There are 117 U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship programs providing education and structured, on-the-job training to over 6000 apprentices, primarily professionals requiring certifications and licenses, such as plumbers and electricians.

More information on Apprenticeship Programs

Secondary technical centers are designed to provide career and technical education programs too costly for the local high schools to offer. These centers are typically sponsored by high schools, postsecondary technical institutes, postsecondary institutions, or an education service cooperative.

Arkansas Secondary Technical Centers Map

Find a Secondary Technical Center near you!

Various secondary center reports must be submitted to the Office of Skills Development periodically throughout the year. Please refer to the Important Secondary Center Dates document for specific submission instructions.

Review Secondary Center information and forms