Your Guide to Technical Trade Schools

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.

If you ever considered completing a degree of any sort after you graduated from high school, you probably envisioned yourself on a college campus, either commuting from home or living in the school’s student dormitories. Even just ten years ago, the concept of an online education was largely a foreign one. At best, it seemed too good to be true. This is no longer the case. In today’s society, more and more students are considering trade schools online as a viable option to the traditional school setting. Trade school students can include recent graduates of high school, but they also encompass those who have only partially finished their degree coursework and would like to return to complete it now, or even those that never went to school in the first place.

The benefits to obtaining a trade school degree in a trade schools online setting should first, consider it’s convenience. With a traditional school, you have to plan your day around the commute to campus. This includes the added cost of gas if you’re driving, bus passes if you’re using public transportation or parking fees if your campus charges for such things. If you haven’t packed lunch, expect the costs to increase further for purchasing meals and snacks on campus. A trade schools online program, on the other hand, offers the benefit of allowing you to remain at home to take your trade school lasses. Not only is it convenient, but it can save a substantial sum of money, as well. Most online education schools are also run by traditional schools, allowing you to take advantage of the college experience on a social level, if you prefer, while still retaining the benefits of an online education.

In addition, employers are becoming more and more familiar with the method of obtaining a trade school degree online. This means that, by and large, the same job opportunities available to graduates of a traditional trade school exist for those who obtained their degree from a trade schools online program. Marketing oneself properly is key in this respect. With the freedom of an online education, though, graduates of these trade school programs may even have the added advantage of pursuing internships and other work experiences due to the extra free time afforded them, consequently making them stronger candidates for employment upon graduation.

It can be a very hard decision when it comes to deciding whether or not to attend a regular university or attend a trade school. With so many options, it can be frustrating to just decide on any which one. There are many benefits that come along with going to a specialized trade school, especially if you have your goals and priorities mapped out.

A trade school is an excellent choice for those who can’t wait four to seven years to obtain their degrees. Most people in this day and age already have families and need to get started on making good money. A trade school allows students to earn their degrees within a couple years, and they can even obtain certificates within a matter of months. If you want to get through your program faster while simultaneously working, a good avenue to look into is trade schools online. This is an excellent choice for anyone wishing to beat time and save money, but there are a few things you must do to get into your first trade school.

The first thing you need to do is decide exactly what it is that you want to do. What profession or career are you interested in? A trade school targets specific careers, which is why you need to know what career you plan to go into. This will allow you to choose a technical school based on the profession of interest. You will be taught specific job skills and training relevant to your field of choice. The best part about this is the fact that you get hands on training, and you can start in your field while you’re in school working towards that degree or certificate.

Another very important thing you must check out before enrolling with a trade school is whether or not the trade schools online and on-site programs is accredited. Most of these schools are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology. This is a very important factor in choosing a trade school because you could spend months or even years working towards a degree or certificate only to find out afterward that the trade schools online or on-site wasn’t accredited and your hard work won’t be recognized by potential employers.

A trade school allows you to learn the skills you want to learn and when you want to learn them. They also give you the opportunity to work with instructors who have experience in your field of choice. Before you choose any school, you should always do your own research and make sure it’s the right one for you. Whether it is a trade schools online or on-site program, make sure the technical school is accredited and something you will feel passionate about  doing for years to come.

Every spring, thousands of high school seniors prepare to graduate and make their mark in the world. Everyday, many adults make the decision to go back to school. There are many reasons to attend a trade school or a post secondary school, better earning potential and personal enrichment being two of them. With the economy being the way it is today, a trade school or vocational courses are more than a cute option…they are necessary.

The real dilemma isn’t why go back to school. There are many trade school programs to go to and many vocational courses to participate in, it just depends on what you value most in life. With the economy the way it is today, people are seeking more and more technical schools to increase their salary potential. How fast they want to finish depends on what technical schools they choose and what vocational courses suit them. Many people who desire a faster track into the workplace find themselves enrolling in a trade school over local community colleges.

A trade school provides intensive training in specific areas of interest, like cosmetology, automobile repair training, computer repair training and culinary arts. The amount of time it takes to complete trade school programs depends on the technical school program chosen and how often class takes place during the week. Most trade schools and vocational courses meet five times a week, with a 40 hour shift. This is quite accelerated, but, for the right person, this will not only mean a quicker graduation date, but also a faster entrance into a new and improved career and quality of life. Community colleges are excellent choices, but not for everyone. Community colleges will sometimes require ‘fluff filler’ classes from students in order for them to graduate; classes that they wouldn’t normally need.

Financial aid is available to both and should be applied for as soon as possible in order to guarantee tuition payment. Community colleges are good for people who want to take their time in choosing a major and are even better for those who want to continue onto a four year institution. Attending a trade school can give a charge and a boost to a career if the right program is chosen. Here are some ways to make sure the best choice was made:

1. Make sure that this is what you want to do and that you are able to do it. Don’t waste your money if you are not sure that you can commit to trade school.
2. Brainstorm on a trade school you think you might be interested in. As you narrow them down, get more in depth research on each.
3. Set up a meeting to speak with the director and to take a tour of the trade school. Ask if you can talk to a current student to see why they chose this particular school and if they are satisfied and why.
4. Make a pros and cons list on why or why not this school should or should not be selected. Make sure the trade school is accredited and a part of the Better Business Bureau.