Southern California Regional Occupational Center

What Southern California Regional Occupational Center does

Southern California Regional Occupational Center (SoCal ROC), founded in 1967/1968, is a public Career Technical Education institution operating as a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) headquartered at 2300 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance, California. The institution serves high school and adult students across the South Bay and Greater Los Angeles region through four schools: Health Sciences, Engineering and Design, Art and Design, and Public and Consumer Services, offering 14 CTE pathways and 30+ A-G approved courses for UC/CSU admission.

SoCal ROC's core technology stack consists of standard educational infrastructure—PowerSchool for the student information system, Google Workspace and Google Forms for collaboration and registration, and the Community by Diligent platform for board governance—augmented by industry-standard equipment for hands-on CTE training and PioneerRx pharmacy management software. Core programs include a 720-hour CAAHEP-accredited Certified Medical Assistant program (100% NCCT pass rate in 2025), Registered Dental Assisting, CDPH-approved CNA/Home Health Aide, Pharmacy Technician, Veterinary Assistant, EMT, plus skilled-trades pathways in automotive (NATEF/ASE), HVAC, electrical (6 modules), welding (4 levels), and plumbing, supported by industry partnerships with Honda P.A.C.E., Ford/Lincoln ACE, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, and Los Angeles Harbor College for dual enrollment.

Revenue mechanics operate through three streams: (1) funding from six JPA partner districts (El Segundo USD, Inglewood USD, Manhattan Beach USD, Palos Verdes Peninsula USD, Redondo Beach USD, Torrance USD) that provides fee-free priority registration for their students, (2) tuition and a non-refundable $25 registration fee paid by adult students and out-of-district high school students, with up to 5% tuition assistance available, and (3) transactional fees for records requests ($15 transcripts, $15 enrollment verification, $10 ID replacement, $10 expedited processing). Career Guidance Specialists serve as field distribution, enrolling students via JPA district counseling offices and adult registration channels.

Name

Southern California Regional Occupational Center

Legal name

Southern California Regional Occupational Center

Website

https://socalroc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Southern California Regional Occupational Center is a public Joint Powers Authority operating a Career Technical Education institution in Torrance, California, serving high school and adult students from six partner school districts across 14 CTE pathways in healthcare, skilled trades, automotive, and design.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Career Technical Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nursing Assistant (CNA) & Patient Care Technician (PCT) (EDAOAJAB)

Keywords

• Career technical education
• Vocational training programs
• Industry certification preparation
• Health sciences training
• Skilled trades education

Headquarters

HQ city

Torrance

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. JPA District Funding: SoCal ROC operates as a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) receiving funding from six partner school districts: El Segundo USD, Inglewood USD, Manhattan Beach USD, Palos Verdes Peninsula USD, Redondo Beach USD, and Torrance USD. Students from these districts receive priority registration and do not pay fees for classes.
2. Student Tuition and Fees: Adult students and out-of-district high school students pay tuition which includes a non-refundable $25 registration fee. Some courses require additional fees for textbooks and materials. Tuition assistance up to 5% is available for eligible students.
3. Records and Services Fees: Fees for official transcripts ($15), verification of enrollment letters ($15), student ID replacement cards ($10), and expedited processing ($10 additional).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SoCal ROC delivers Career Technical Education (CTE) programs to high school and adult students across four schools (Health Sciences, Engineering and Design, Art and Design, Public and Consumer Services), offering 14 pathways that include medical assisting, dental assisting, automotive technology, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, welding, pharmacy technician, EMT, and veterinary assisting. Students earn high school elective credits, A-G approved UC/CSU credits, and industry-recognized certifications, supported by externships and dual enrollment with Los Angeles Harbor College.

Product overview

Southern California Regional Occupational Center (SoCal ROC) is a Career Technical Education (CTE) institution offering programs across four schools: Health Sciences, Engineering and Design, Art and Design, and Public and Consumer Services. The institution provides both high school and adult education through courses organized into pathway programs with industry-recognized certifications. Programs include automotive technology (4 modules), electrical training (6 modules), HVAC, plumbing, welding (4 levels), medical assisting (CAAHEP-accredited), dental assisting, nursing, pharmacy technician, veterinary science, emergency response, and cosmetology. Students earn high school credits, A-G approved course credits for UC/CSU admission, and industry certifications including NATEF/ASE, EPA, CNA state exam, RDA licensure, and Honda/Ford specialty certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• School of Art and Design: Career technical education programs in art and design fields
• School of Engineering and Design
• School of Health Sciences
• School of Public and Consumer Services

Products and services

• Certified Medical Assistant Program

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoCal ROC partners with DOR to serve individuals with disabilities, those receiving Regional Center or Independent Living Center services, and individuals who are blind/visually impaired or deaf/hard of hearing. DOR provides Employment, Education and Training Services that support individuals in getting a job, keeping a job, or promoting in their current job.
• Honda (P.A.C.E. Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHonda P.A.C.E. (Professional Automotive Career Education) program provides SoCal ROC students opportunity to engage with Honda's Express Service curriculum including online modules and in-person training. Students are tested at Honda's Official Training Center in Torrance by certified Honda Technicians. Successful candidates receive Honda Express Service Certification at no additional cost.
• Ford/Lincoln (ACE Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFord/Lincoln Automotive Career Exploration (ACE) program provides students access to Ford's Web-Based Training (WBT) at no extra charge. Students learn the same material as Ford's current technicians and can print certificates after completing each course, gaining a competitive edge in the automotive industry.
• Harbor Freight Tools for Schools (Harbor Freight Fellows)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarbor Freight Fellows initiative provides apprenticeship opportunities for SoCal ROC students to work alongside professional tradesperson mentors. Includes 120 hours of hands-on training plus a $1,000 stipend for completing the career fellowship. Fellows are nominated by instructors and span trades including Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, and Welding.
• Los Angeles Harbor CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual Enrollment partnership offering courses for both high school and adult learners including Counsel 04: Career Planning 1 and Counsel 017: College Survival Skills Development. Students earn 1 college credit and become official members of Los Angeles Harbor College.
• South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBWIB partnership provides support for adults seeking employment through their Job Center South Bay One Stop. Services include job placement, resume assistance, interview techniques, and financial support for industry training.
• Options for YouthminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCharter school partnership providing career technical education opportunities for their students.
• Redondo Beach Educational FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offering Summer CTE enrichment for local middle school students. Three-week enrichment classes held at Redondo Union High School (RUHS), led by SoCal ROC instructors. Students explore careers in Emergency Medical Services, Electrical Wiring, Adobe Photoshop, Cosmetology, Dentistry, and Creature Sculpting.
• ReSkill Upskill InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with South Bay Adult School/Redondo Beach Unified School District and Hawthorn School District to provide Upskilling and Reskilling Opportunities to district employees and adult school students.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• ConnectED: The National Center for College and Career Transitions: National non-profit supporting high-quality CTE and career pathway systems across the U.S. — adjacent ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor, but relevant for understanding peer operating models and policy frameworks.

Regional players

• Coastline Community College CTE: Southern California community college offering career and technical education certificates in similar disciplines. Overlaps SoCal ROC on adult learner reskilling but operates via a different institutional model (community college district).
• Mt. San Antonio College CTE Programs: Large California community college offering CTE certificates in welding, HVAC, automotive, and allied health. Competes for adult reskillers in the broader Southern California market though focused on postsecondary, not high-school concurrent enrollment.

Direct peers

• Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) CTE Programs: County-level CTE administrator serving LA County K-12 students with pathways overlapping SoCal ROC's healthcare, trades, and arts offerings. Comparable as a public CTE provider in the same Southern California geography with shared district-customer base.
• Tri-Cities ROP: California Regional Occupational Program serving Pomona-area districts with comparable CTE offerings (medical, automotive, technology) — peer in the same JPA-funded CTE model within California.
• San Diego County Office of Education CTE: County education office offering CTE programs across healthcare, engineering, and trades — same public-agency delivery model as SoCal ROC, with overlapping industry certifications (NATEF/ASE, CNA, medical assisting).
• Long Beach Regional Occupational Program: Long Beach-area ROP delivering CTE to high school students via a multi-district model analogous to SoCal ROC's JPA structure. Directly comparable product/customer overlap in healthcare and skilled trades pathways.
• Antelope Valley Regional Occupational Center: California ROC operating as a JPA across multiple Antelope Valley school districts — same governance model, same CTE pathway mix (health sciences, trades, public services), and same high-school-plus-adult customer segments as SoCal ROC.

Broad incumbents

• San Joaquin Valley College: California-based private trade college offering medical assisting, dental assisting, and trades programs — overlapping curriculum and credentialing with SoCal ROC's healthcare and skilled trades pathways.
• Universal Technical Institute (UTI): National for-profit trade school chain specializing in automotive, diesel, welding, and HVAC training. Competes with SoCal ROC for adult learners seeking industry certifications but lacks SoCal ROC's high-school concurrent enrollment and public-funding advantages.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SoCalROC
• Instagraminstagram.com/socalroc_cte
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southern-california-regional-occupational-center

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southern California Regional Occupational Center