Explore New Careers While Finishing High School Online

Earning a high school diploma can be an essential first step in preparing to reach your goals. Whether you’re planning on furthering your education after graduation, you want to advance in your current job, or you want to start a new career, getting your diploma can open doors! And, with Penn Foster High School, you don’t have to wait until you graduate to explore career options or build new job-relevant skills; you can take the first steps while working on your online classes through our career pathways elective options.

Choose from a number of today's most rewarding careers

Automotive

Through five elective courses, learn foundational automotive skills that can help you take the next steps toward a career as an auto repair technician after graduation.

Carpentry

Build foundational carpentry knowledge that can help you prepare for a career in the construction trades.

Culinary Arts

Explore skills relevant to working in culinary arts and hospitality through five industry-focused electives.

Early College

Gain the knowledge and confidence to further your education after high school through five academically challenging electives.

Electrical

Learn about becoming an electrician online and build foundational skills that can help you prepare to take the next steps toward a new career.

Woman in light blue scrubs with work badge clipped on collar smiling in group of healthcare professionals.

High School + Healthcare

Get a head start in a healthcare career while earning your high school diploma. Through two elective courses, you’ll build foundational healthcare knowledge that can help prepare for future training and explore roles like medical assistant, medical billing and coding, or medical administrative assistant.

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HVAC technician wearing safety glasses working on open HVAC system.

High School + HVAC

Prepare for EPA 608 certification and build foundational HVAC knowledge while finishing your high school diploma. Through two electives, you'll build the skills that can help you prepare for future training and explore HVAC career pathways.

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IT professional working on cable network in server room.

Information Technology

Learn more about working in IT and build the skills that can be essential to taking the next steps toward a career in information technology.

Pharmacy Technician

Get a head start on pharmacy technician training in high school with elective classes focused on career-relevant skills.

Plumbing

Learn foundational skills that can help you explore a career as a plumber after you graduate from high school.

Veterinary Assistant

Through five electives, you’ll build essential skills that can help you prepare to take the next steps toward a career in vet care.

How It Works

Choosing a career pathway isn’t a requirement, but for those who want to get a head start on a new career, it can offer the chance to gain job-specific skills while working on finishing your high school diploma.

For the High School + Healthcare and High School + HVAC Elective Pathways, you'll choose the specific version of the program you want when you enroll. Your career-focused electives will be available when you get to that part of your diploma program; then you'll choose three more.

If you're not interested in healthcare or HVAC, you can also take electives to learn more about different careers. You'll enroll in the High School Diploma Program and, towards the end of your studies, choose the elective classes or pathway you're interested in!

girl studying on laptop in a restaurant.

Bailey K.

2026 Penn Foster High School Graduate

“Thank you, Penn Foster, I wouldn’t be able to work and do school at the same time without you! Next step, my CNA license!”

James L.

2026 Penn Foster High School Graduate

“I graduated a year and a half yearly! Thank you, Penn Foster, for the tools and guidance to be able to do so.”

Lynia D.

2026 Penn Foster High School Graduate

“I’m so grateful that I came across Penn Foster. It has been an amazing experience from the very beginning. From the encouraging messages to the reminders to slow down and take a brain break when I was moving too fast, Penn Foster helped me build patience and constantly reminded me not to give up. Those little moments made a bigger impact than I ever expected.”