Competency-based pathways (CBP) have the potential to open new opportunities for students to learn and demonstrate their learning in meaningful ways that are grounded in application and relevant to their career goals. This brief argues that states can and should leverage CTE when considering how to move K-12 education toward a system marked by mastery, not time. It identifies the opportunities for collaboration and strengthened relationships as well as the challenges of creating an integrated system. This resource further provides leverage points for States to integrate their CTE and CBP strategies, such as: contextualized learning environments, self-directed pathways, high-quality experiential learning opportunities, project-based learning, and integrating CTE into assessment systems.