A study was conducted to identify the minimum mangagement essentials necessary for the effective administration of occupational education (OE) programs in community colleges and to make recommendations to implement the findings. A four-round Delphi process with 179 experts participating was used. Forty-nine items were identified as being essential for both entry-level and first-line OE managers and administrators. These items were subsumed under seven broad content categories: (1) philosophical base; (2) practical background, current awareness; (3) budgeting skills; (4) reporting skills; (5) assessment and evaluation skills; (6) placement, planning, policy, and curriculum development; and (7) community interaction. It was recommended that: (1) the final 49 items should form the basis for describing minimum essentials for OE administrators; (2) workshops, seminars, courses, internships, and other programs should be made available for those currently managing OE programs; and (3) those involved in the selection process for OE administrators should use the results of this study as assessment criteria. (JDS)