Vocational College
How to Choose the Right One Near Anchorage Alaska
Enrolling in a vocational school near Anchorage AK with the final goal of starting a new career can be a life changing accomplishment that must be carefully researched and planned for. However with numerous vocational schools to choose from, just how do you undertake finding the right one? Not only do you have to make sure that you will get the extensive training needed to succeed in your new occupation, but also that the school is highly regarded and reputable. To start, one of the important qualifications that many future students hone in on when beginning their search is the distance the vocational schools are from home. Or they might be attracted to the one that charges the lowest tuition. Naturally the cost and location of the programs are critical factors when assessing trade school options, but they should not be the sole ones. For instance, you should ask if the vocational schools are accredited, or if they offer job placement assistance. So before you begin evaluating and comparing trade schools, you will need to know what questions you should be asking so you can get the information to make a final choice. We will cover a few of those questions later in this article. But first, let's talk about some of the trade options that are offered as well as the accessibility of online schools.
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Vocational School Career Options
There are a number of trades to select from in vocational schools that offer fulfilling and good paying careers. Perhaps you have already chosen one that you have long wished to pursue. For instance, perhaps you have always had fun working on your car and have thought about utilizing that talent to earn a living as an auto mechanic. Or maybe a relative has had a prosperous career in a specific trade or vocation and you would like to follow in her or his footsteps. Whatever your inspiration is for going into a trade, there is undoubtedly a program available that will provide the training you need. Below is just a modest representation of the vocational training programs that are available in the Anchorage AK area.
- Auto Mechanic
- Heating and Cooling (HVAC) Tech
- Plumber
- Electrical Technician
- Welder
- Truck Driver
- Aircraft Maintenance Tech
- Lab Tech
- Construction Management
Each of the programs will have varying completion times and costs based upon the trade, type of credential and school. Some of the programs may be completed in just weeks, while others will necessitate months or even two or more years of instruction. Each of these variables must be considered before choosing a trade and a school.
Vocational Schools Online
Trade Schools online have become very popular with Anchorage AK students and a growing number of accredited programs are becoming available. Although online learning is a very convenient and accessible way to acquire a certificate or degree, it may not be the best option for every vocation or trade. For example, training to drive a semi truck is not something that you can do online, nor is learning how to weld. These are skills that must be learned through hands on training and by doing it, not by studying or watching videos. But certain aspects of the training may be appropriate for online education, such as learning safety and driving regulations for truck driving schools or studying metallurgy or how to read blueprints for welder schools. Many programs will combine online instruction with on campus lab work, such as for HVAC or plumbing schools. So it is very important to ask before choosing an online school for any trade if there is an appropriate amount of hands-on training devoted to the course of study. One means to help establish that a trade school program is both suitable for online studying and delivers comprehensive hands-on training is to check that it's accredited by a nationally acknowledged accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). For those trades that are suitable for training online, it can be a practical way for those with time constraints to learn a new trade.
Questions to Ask Vocational Schools
Once you have chosen the trade and type of certificate or degree that you want to earn, either online or on campus, you can start to limit your selection of schools. As you are certainly aware, there are a large number of technical schools in the Anchorage AK area and across the Country to pick from. That's why it is essential to have a list of important qualifications when making school assessments. As earlier mentioned in our opening paragraph, location and tuition will probably be the initial 2 variables you will consider. Following are several additional ones that you will want to explore before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accredited. Numerous Anchorage AK area technical schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school's programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for example HVAC technology. Make sure that the program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you obtain an excellent education, it can assist in securing financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states require that the training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Business? One indicator to help evaluate the quality of a vocational school near Anchorage AK is how long it has been in business. A negatively ranked or a fly by night school normally will not stay in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. On the other hand, even the best of schools had to start from their first day of training, so consider it as one of multiple qualifiers.
Completion Rates. Ask the trade schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It may also indicate that the instructors were not competent to train 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 alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help grads acquire apprenticeships or employment in the Anchorage AK area.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Anchorage AK area professionals in the trade. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the specialist you are working under concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Anchorage AK contracting company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school must be within commuting distance of your home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It's important that you get as much one-on-one training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to a few of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is in Alaska and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Anchorage AK, check that the programs you are reviewing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Learn More About Trade Colleges in Anchorage
Enroll in the Best Anchorage Vocational School
Selecting the ideal trade school near Anchorage AK is a critical beginning toward a fulfilling career in the vocation of your choice. As we have covered in this article, you need to pick a vocational school and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. Other things to search for are ample hands-on training and modern facilities. You need to visit each of the schools personally that you are most interested in to explore the campus and speak with both the faculty and current students. Try to get a feel for the quality of the training and the interaction between them. In addition, ask about scheduling options and whether evening or weekend classes are available if needed. And remember to ask about financial assistance and student loan options as well. If you ask the right questions as we have laid out in our checklist for assessing schools, you'll be able to filter your choices so that you can make an educated decision. With the right training, hard work and commitment, you can ultimately become a licensed professional in your chosen trade.