Some students at Green Tech are trading in pencils and notebooks for clippers and trimmers.

The Albany Charter School unveiled its new barbershop and construction tech lab on Wednesday. The programs allow students to earn their licenses while working toward their high school diploma. 

In the barbershop, students will learn skills like cutting hair, shaving, and edge ups. The construction tech lab will allow students to pick up on things like land surveying and plumbing. 

"Our goal would be to have them go to college first, and then make a choice on if they wanted to come back to this career, or continue in a different way," said Dr. Paul Miller, Green Tech principal and chief executive officer. "And we also understand that college isn't for everyone. But this gives kids more options."

He says both will be after-school programs this year. Miller says the goal is to have them as electives next year.