Your Guide to Technical Trade Schools

One of the biggest myths about growing up is the idea that people choose one career path and stick with it for their entire lives. If you think about it, it’s absurd to believe that people would never get bored with their work or become curious about other options in roughly 40 years of being an active member of the workforce. More and more, people are changing careers as other factors in life are also changing and looking into a technical trade school is the way to get there. Here are some reasons why you should consider enrolling in a trade school.

Industries in flux

There are not many fields of work that are completely recession proof. The economy is a living and breathing entity, capable of change at any given time. Besides that, the nature of industries change all the time. Technology and demand have the power to change your field of work, which can unfortunately leave you out of work and forced to adapt. The courses of study offered by a technical trade school are always up to date with the current economy and will provide you with valuable skills that will lead you to a lucrative career. This career training is relevant to job trends and will improve your odds of employment.

Growing family

Perhaps the job you started out with was good enough to support you and your spouse. However, now that you are expecting a new addition to the family, you may feel the need to pursue a better career for your family’s future. While attending a four-year university can be costly and time consuming, enrolling in a technical trade school will take a fraction of the time to complete without breaking your bank. You can even continue to work your current job by looking into trade schools online. This will allow you to set your own schedule and will save you even more money as many of the materials you need can be provided online.

Pursuing a passion

If you have been working and enjoying success in a specific career but feel that another profession is calling your name, why ignore it? Life is just too short to settle for a “good enough” career and a technical trade school can help you figure out what else is out there for you. Having a certificate from a trade school on your resume along with a bachelor’s degree in a related field will tell employers that you have a broader area of expertise and more to offer their company. From working on cars to Web design, these schools offer a variety of fun and interesting areas of study that can lead to a rewarding career.

By Briana

Online technical trade schools are an option you can consider when looking into the education needed to qualify for technical jobs. There are many online schools to choose from that offer certificates and degrees. Before you start browsing these online schools, it is important to know some of the pros and cons that can come along with being an online student. Online courses aren’t for everyone and you should know if they are in your best interest before signing up for them.

Here are some of the benefits of choosing online technical trade schools:

Flexibility

People with families and existing careers who are looking for a change don’t have a lot of time to spare in their busy lives. The beauty of online courses is that they can be completed around your own schedule. Often, lectures are recorded online so students can view them whenever they please. If they have questions, they can often consult a student message board or email professors.

Cost

While many technical jobs are very lucrative, getting there can certainly put a dent in your wallet. Online schools are considerably more affordable than in-class technical trade schools. Also, because the classes are online, many of the course materials are also electronic and less expensive than the price of textbooks. In fact, many online technical schools include the cost of all course materials in their tuition.

However, there are some cons to choosing an online technical trade school:

Discipline required

If you are pursuing jobs in a technical field, you should already have a natural discipline for hard work and perseverance. However, because online classes require people to set their own hours and be their own biggest motivator, they require a tremendous amount of dedication. Many people who start courses for an online degree never finish because distractions from work and home can get the best of them, unlike in a real classroom where the outside world is kept at bay during lessons.

Accreditation

When choosing an online school, you must make sure it is an accredited and reputable institution. The fact is that many online paralegal schools lack this accreditation and are simply held in lower regard than conventional schools.

By Briana

The types of people that seek out technical school degrees are interested in an accelerated course of study that will provide them with desired professional skills as fast as possible.  In addition, they may have time constraints and limited finances.  If any of these things apply to you, then technical trade school is likely the right choice for you.  It is wise to take your time in deciding which school to attend because this decision can significantly impact your life.  Here is a list of things to consider when looking for the right technical trade school.

• Price – The cost of tuition for technical trade schools is usually not as high as traditional education because the time of enrollment is much shorter.  Many trade schools offer incentives for enrolling early and/or discounts for taking more classes at once, as well as accept educational and military loans.
• Program Delivery – It is wise to explore the variety of ways that material can be delivered.  Many trade schools offer on campus courses, satellite campus courses, limited meetings, online courses, as well as television and video conferencing.  The more flexibility in ways to learn, the better.
• Quality of Instruction – Are the instructors of your prospective technical trade schools highly qualified individuals with degrees in the subject matter?  Do they have a solid reputation in their field.  A great way to learn about this is to ask current students, or talk with advisers.
• Reputation – It is also important to attend an accredited technical school; trade schools that are not accredited won’t provide transferable credits to other colleges or universities.  In addition, many employers require that employees have degrees from accredited technical schools.
• Graduation and placement rates – How many students that enroll actually complete the programs, and what are the job placement rates post graduation?  These are important things to look into because it is related to the success of the technical trade school; how many people have benefited from their programs, etc.

Once you have answered all of these questions, you should be better able to select a technical school that best fits your needs.  Be sure to give yourself enough time to do the appropriate research, and that the school you choose is accredited.

The decision to pursue a post secondary degree can be financially daunting.   The reality is that by gaining a post secondary degree, you will be capable of earning more money, but that comes later- after the degree.  In the mean time, you are faced with figuring out how to pay for the degree, that hopefully, one day, will pay to have.  The good news about technical trade school is that it puts you on a fast-track to getting a well-paying career; you are trained to be specialized in a field.  In addition, the time spent in trade school is often shorter than that of a four year college.

Getting financial aid is the best possible option for paying for technical trade school.  There are a variety of types of financial aid out there, it is your job to figure out what is available to you specifically, and how to go about getting it.

First, you’ll want to choose a trade school.  Acquire the necessary information regarding the cost of attendance in order to gauge how much aid is needed.  Most technical trade schools will offer scholarships, which are most often based on scholastic merit, need, and the program of interest.  You should gather information on all the institution-based scholarships that apply to you.

Next, you’ll want to assess your personal resources.  Employers often ofter tuition reimbursement for four year colleges and vocational courses- if you are still employed, ask your boss about it, if not then maybe a previous employer would still consider you eligible.  If you have been or are in the military, you may be eligible for the GI Bill.

Does your technical trade school accept federally funded financial aid?  This is an important question.  Most schools do, and if yours is included you will want to fill out a FAFSA in order to be eligible for government funded aid.

Finally, look to see what kinds of scholarships are available outside of the trade school institution.  Many organizations offer scholarships based on past grades and test scores, or things like race, minority affiliation, gender, area of study, interests, career path, and goals.  These types of scholarships are often awarded to high performing individuals that demonstrate great financial need in combination with dedication and ambition.

Attending a four-year college is a luxury that provides a rich experience in academic culture as well as in your chosen area of  study. However, traditional higher education is not the only option for those pursuing a rewarding career instead of just a job. After high school, you will want to decide the best move in getting you where you want to go and whether or not a technical rade school would be a better choice for you and your future.

Four-year college

Attending a university has many advantages including the option to live on campus and immerse yourself in the academic culture. It will also provide you with the opportunity to study many subjects while completing your general education. In this respect, four-year college is great for those who need a little help in figuring out what career they would like to pursue since many college students change majors when they discover other areas of study during their education.

Even if you already have a specific career path in mind, a four-year college will provide you with a well-rounded education so that if you decide to change careers, you may already have some base knowledge for the new career you would like to get into. Of course, another benefit of four-year college is prestige. A top university on your resume will impress employers and help you land the job you are looking for.

Technical trade school

Two of the biggest benefits to attending technical trade school are time and money. Trade school is ideal for individuals who know exactly what they would like to do in the technical field and are eager to start their careers. They are also far less costly than four-year colleges. Many technical jobs, such as mechanic jobs and computer technology jobs, favor experience and training over formal education. In these specialized fields, general education will not offer many benefits to you. Employers care only that you are skilled in your craft and have experience to back it up.

Trade school is unique insofar that its courses are very hands on, replacing lectures with labs and shop work. These classes provide you with physical experience to ready you for the industry upon graduation. Not to mention that trade school classes tend to be smaller, giving you the individualized attention you need as a student.

But will a technical trade school certificate get you the job you want? Recent reports say that employers have started to favor trade school grads over those with four-year degrees since trade school grads are guaranteed to be trained and ready to work.

Because trade schools take less time and money, they are also great for those with a bachelor’s degree who are looking for a career change. If you work to support a family but would like to pursue more education, a technical trade school could also be your pathway to a new career.

By Briana

Advantages of attending a technical trade school

Technical trade schools have become popular vehicles for a fast-track to well paying, marketable skills.  They provide training suitable for career changes and adult learners.  A Technical school is a post-secondary institution that operates for the purpose of giving its students the skills needed for specific jobs.  These types of schools are devoted to training rather than education.

There are numerous advantages to attending a technical trade school; some of these are as follows:

• Higher hourly wages compared with those who have only a high school degree
• Actively engaged in problem solving in the working environment
• Hands-on work activities that allow application of knowledge
• Employment opportunities which involve the outdoors
• Leading to employment opportunities which offer greater responsibilities
• Learning new work skills to meet requirements in an ever changing work place
• Learning new skills for changing careers
• Typical 97% employment rate after graduation, with over 80% in the field of their certificate
• Increased job skill transfer ability
• Increased job stability
• The ability to transfer to a four year college for a Bachelors Degree, if desired
• The ability to earn a two year Associates Degree, if desired

Many technical schools have started to offer degree-transfer programs wherein credits received at the trade school are transferable to a four year college, enabling students to leverage a vocational education as a stepping stone to a baccalaureate degree.  This is extremely advantageous to trade school students that want to continue educating themselves once they have completed their selected vocational courses.

If you want to attend a trade school, but are unsure exactly which career path is for you, they have a career center with people trained to help you answer that difficult question.  This is just one of many types of career guidance that is offered through technical trade schools.

People that choose to attend technical trade school are usually ones that enjoy working with their hands or prefer active engagement in their work day.  Often times, the types of jobs that a regular four year college prepares you for, involve sitting in a desk or other types of mundane activities, with  minimal change in the day-to-day.  So if you like to be active, count that as another benefit of attending a technical trade school.

There are lots of trade schools out there, each with varying career opportunities.  If you want a fast-track to a good paying job, then attending a technical trade school is right for you.

Naming the top five trade schools in the country is akin to picking the best place to live, it will depend on our priorities. By focusing on five of the most, in-demand vocational courses, we can highlight the best trade school for that service. The trade school that is named provides education and certification programs both in the classroom and online.

• Mechanics

The recession notwithstanding, the shortage, of diesel and auto mechanics over the next several years, is expected to be critical. Between the retirement of baby boom mechanics and the growing complexity of new vehicles, the demand for skilled mechanics will out pace supply.

Universal Technical Institute provides comprehensive trade school educational programs in automotive, diesel, motorcycle and marine mechanics as well as collision repair. They have manufacturer certification programs and a partnership program with NASCAR. UTI operates eleven trade school campuses across the country.

• Nursing

Nurses are in high demand today, and with the looming bubble of baby boom retirees, the need is growing rapidly. Brown Mackie College’s Practical Nursing Program prepares trade school students for the LPN state board qualification exam. With twelve trade school campuses spread across the nation’s heartland, Brown Mackie provides trade school students with either a diploma or certificate program.

• Computer Technician

Computers play a role in just about every part of our lives today and the trend shows no signs of slowing down. The need for qualified technicians to keep them running is voracious and lucrative. Lincoln Technical Institute has over 125 trade school campuses throughout the country. Most of these facilities offer an Associates Degree in Applied Sciences with a concentration in Computer and Electronics Engineering Technology.

• IT Professionals

As we continually expect computers to do more in our lives, the supply of IT professionals who can speak the language of these machines, must keep pace. TechSkills has multiple trade school education programs designed to teach budding techies the specialization of their choice. Some examples are certifications in Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, CompTIA, Security and Networking.

With campuses across the country and flexible scheduling, TechSkills is striving to develop the next generation of technical gurus.

• Biomedical Technician

Biomedical technician is a relatively new and developing occupation that is part of the explosive growth in biomedical technology research. It incorporates maintaining complex medical equipment to assisting in major biomedical research programs. One of the pioneering schools is The Wistar Institute in Philadelphia. They offer an associates degree called, The Biomedical Technician Training Program, which grooms trade school students for careers in this exciting and growing field.

Many people looking for a new career may choose a trade school that specializes in a specific career field. A trade school usually takes out all the fuss of a college or university by only requiring classes associated with the career of your choice. Knowing you would prefer a trade school over a college or university is the first step to your new career, the second is choosing which career is best for you. There are many career choices when you choose trade school for your education, here is a list of the top 5 best trade school careers.

• Automotive Technician

Some trade schools offer automotive technician courses, these technical schools are usually a specialized trade school that caters to careers that require a lot of hands on training. At this trade school a person learns to fix automobiles and to perform maintenance on them. Many technical schools offer students their own starter tools, classroom training, and hands on training to ensure that the student is ready to enter the job field and allows them all the basics of automotive training and some advanced skills as well.

• Medical and Dental Assisting Programs

For many people the easiest way into the medical field is by becoming a medical or dental assistant. A trade school or technical school can help teach students office procedures, computer programs and certain medical procedures. They get hands on training in both a clinical setting and office setting. In trade school they will learn safety procedures when dealing with patients, how to perform different medical procedures that include taking blood and charting and scheduling patients. These jobs are in demand as there is a severe shortage in the number of medical professionals the world over.

• Construction Fields

Another on of the best trade school careers a person may pursue is in the construction industry, a person can specialize in one form of construction such as painting, plastering, carpentry, electricity and plumbing. These are some of the positions where hands-on experience is a must. A person can learn about designing buildings, learn the rules their state may have regarding construction of buildings and they may learn the proper way to perform the jobs they choose. The construction field has many specialties that construction trade school students can choose from.

• Culinary School

Future chef’s find that the trade school they choose will teach them how to become world class chefs. In these schools the student is taught basic cooking skills as well as more advanced techniques which includes knife skills, baking skills and savory food preparation. The new chef usually uses trade school facilities to learn hands on cooking techniques in addition to leadership classes, budgeting for a restaurant, and front of house skills as well, so that they will be able to manage a kitchen when they graduate.

• Nursing Schools

Throughout the world, the need for properly trained nurses is phenomenal, nursing is one of the best trade school careers . A trade school will help train nurses in all stages of patient care, proper safety procedures and advanced procedures that would help the doctor properly care for those who are sick and in need of care. A trade school offers classroom training and hand-on clinical training in a hospital setting. Nursing students go on to provide support staff in hospitals, assisted living facilities and schools.

Learning a trade whether online or at a campus can change a person’s life for the better by opening up new opportunities. Today, the options to learn a trade at a trade school are available through online courses as well as numerous college campuses located throughout the country. Choosing which path to take to complete an educational program takes time and thought by weighing the pros and cons of a trade schools online learning program vs. on-site courses. When deciding on which way to go, some factors should be considered.

Time is valuable, especially in today’s world. Choosing to use your time wisely is essential when attending a trade schools online classes or going to campus. Colleges set schedules for students and in order to successfully complete their programs, students must meet these defined times as well as deadlines. Online classes require students to have the self-discipline to complete their assignments in a timely manner as sometimes there are no required set times. For individuals with busy lives, online classes offer more flexibility than on-campus courses. Parents with young children can benefit from this trade school accessibility as well as people who work full-time and do not have the time to attend a traditional trade school campus.

Receiving the personal attention that is sometimes required at a trade school is more easily achieved at a campus classroom than in online classes. Often it is difficult to set up a meeting with an online instructor if a student needs extra help with an assignment. This can be a drawback for online classes, especially for difficult programs. Online students can often benefit from a personal tutor when having difficulty with a certain course.

Students should always attend an accredited trade school, whether online or on-site. This is very important because if a student gets a certificate from an unaccredited trade school, oftentimes other trade schools or potential employers do not acknowledge their certificate. Also credits earned at unaccredited trade schools online are non-transferable to an accredited college.

Online classes are more limited than campus courses although many colleges are now beginning to offer more online classes. There are also a number of schools that only offer their trade schools online. These schools have a more wide range of courses to choose from making it easier for students to obtain a certification or degree in a certain trade. There are some other factors to consider such as the need for a computer if choosing an online technical trade school. Having internet access as well as basic computer skills will also be needed.

Deciding between a trade school versus a four year college is a tough decision. In the end money is the deciding factor, both in terms of how much school will cost and how much money can be made after its completion. Many people have been monetarily successful with each path, but there are various factors in today’s economy which favor a more technical career path via trade school.

Attending either a college or trade school costs money. However, a decent four year college costs much more, and typically results in very few real world job skills. If student loans are your answer for attending a four year college, these loans become a huge encumbrance to your post graduation budget. Many students take years to climb a career ladder in order to make a solid living, unable to pay off their student loan debt for many years.

A trade school on the other hand, has minimal cost compared to the expenses of tuition and living expenses of spending four years in college. Upon completion of trade school, students have a skill set which can be immediately applied in the world of work, generally enabling them to earn a good living right away. Any loans acquired from trade school can usually be paid off quickly.

Making decent money in a respected career provides a much more comfortable lifestyle. If a person is doing well financially post trade school, and decides to continue his or her education, it can be done part-time while still maintaining a comfortable lifestyle. There are companies who offer to pay for continuing education for employees who will benefit from it in their current position.

In today’s economy, there is a reduction in the value of a four year college. Many majors cannot land jobs immediately upon graduation without extensive internships. Real world experience and solid skills are mandatory, which is what attending a trade school will give you. Entry level positions are low paying for the most part, since you learn as you earn. Many four year college graduates find they need to pursue a master’s degree in their field in order to compete.

In contrast, many careers requiring trade school certificates have a much higher initial pay scale, and one which is consistent. You know what you will be getting paid in a specific industry that requires trade school training. There is less guesswork involved with what career you are preparing for, and usually there is assistance with job searches.