Located in Seward, Alaska, Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC) is an excellent place for Alaskans from across the state to gain key employability and technical skills in less than a year. AVTEC was originally created as a post-secondary component of the State of Alaska Department of Education in 1969. Originally called the Alaska Skills Center, it was established in response to emerging demand for a skilled workforce statewide. AVTEC is now a division of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the only post-secondary career and technical training center owned and operated by the State of Alaska. AVTEC is accredited through the Council on Occupational Education (COE), a national accrediting agency of higher education institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.