This master s thesis entitled Critical success factors for improving the management of educational institutions at the technical level aims to seize the opportunity for the Project Prioridade-Rio, FAPERJ, and continues to cover some of the shortcomings pointed out by Rocha-Pinto (2002), especially with regard to effective implementation of the array of skills in vocational education, and expands the research report on the issue of professional education. Thus, the main goal of this research project was to identify the critical success factors for improving the management of educational institutions at the technical level in the state of Rio de Janeiro. For the development of the research were used qualitative methods of research, involving field research, documentary, literature and case study. Data collection was conducted through direct interviews, a total of twentyfive people that compose the management structure of FAETEC (Foundation for Support to Technical School) in addition to vocational-technical schools in three different cities located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, which are: the Henrique Lage Technical School in Niterói; the Technical School Ferreira Viana in Rio de Janeiro; and Technical School João Luiz do Nascimento in Nova Iguacu. From the analysis of interviews and from the discussion of results, it has identified that the critical success factors for improving the management of institutions at the technical level would be framed within four categories of analysis, namely: Educational Project, Infrastructure and Resources, System Authority and Responsibility and Partnerships.