It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Choose a New Trade and Start Your Career Below
What to Ask Trade Schools
As soon as you have decided on the vocation and type of degree or certificate that you desire to obtain, either online or on campus, you can begin to narrow down your selection of schools. As you are no doubt aware, there are a large number of trade schools in the Decatur AL area and across the USA to pick from. That's why it is very important to have a checklist of key qualifiers when making school comparisons. As previously stated in our opening paragraph, location and tuition will undoubtedly be the initial 2 aspects you will take into consideration. Following are several additional ones that you need to investigate before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accredited. Numerous Decatur AL area technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school's programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance HVAC technology. Make certain that the school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it may assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited programs. Also, many states require that the training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Business? One clue to help evaluate the quality of a trade school near Decatur AL is how long it has been in business. A poorly rated or a fly by night school typically will not stay in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. Having said that, even the best of schools had to begin from their opening day of training, so consider it as one of several qualifications.
Completion Rates. Ask the tech schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate could indicate that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It may also mean that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It's also essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only validate that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist students obtain apprenticeships or employment in the Decatur AL area.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most vocational programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Decatur AL area companies in the trade. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the technician you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Decatur AL company if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It's important that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is in Alabama and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Decatur AL, confirm that the programs you are considering provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Also, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.