Home >> Alaska >> Anchorage >> Trade Schools


Trade School Programs
Get Free Info - Anchorage AK 99501

Vocational School
How to Find the Best One Near Anchorage Alaska

Anchorage Alaska new skills training signChoosing to work in a new profession and enroll in a vocational school near Anchorage AK are serious decisions that will profoundly influence your future career. But exactly how do you accomplish finding the best one with numerous vocational schools to choose from? Not only do you have to ascertain that you will receive the complete training necessary to be successful in your new profession, but also that the school is highly regarded and reputable. To start, one of the important qualifications that most future students focus in on when beginning their search is how far the vocational schools are from home. Others may be attracted to the school that charges the lowest tuition. But there are additional important criteria apart from location and cost that should be part of the decision making process as well. For example, you should find out whether or not the vocational schools have earned accreditation, or if they offer job placement assistance. So before you begin evaluating and comparing trade schools, you must know what questions to ask so you can get the information to make a final choice. We will cover a few of those questions later in this post. But to start with, let's look at a few of the vocation options that are available as well as the accessibility of online programs.

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Choose a New Trade and Start Your Career Below 

Trade School Training Options

Anchorage Alaska auto mechanic trade school instructor and student

There are a number of trades to select from in vocational schools that provide fulfilling and high paying careers. Possibly you have already selected one that you have long wished to pursue. For example, perhaps you have always enjoyed working on your car and have given thought to utilizing that talent to make a living as an auto mechanic. Or maybe a member of the family has had a prosperous career in a particular trade or vocation and you would like to follow in her or his footsteps. No matter what your inspiration is for going into a trade, there is probably a program offered that will give you the training that you need. Following is merely a small representation of the trade school programs that are offered in the Anchorage AK area.

  • Auto Mechanic
  • Heating and Cooling (HVAC) Tech
  • Plumbing
  • Electrician
  • Welder
  • Truck Driver
  • Aircraft Maintenance Tech
  • Lab Technician
  • Construction Manager

All programs will have differing completion times and costs depending on the trade, type of credential and school. A number of the programs may be completed in a few weeks, while others will require several months or even 2 or more years of schooling. All of these factors must be considered before choosing a vocation and school.

Trade Schools Online

Schools available online have become more attractive with Anchorage AK students and more and more accredited programs are becoming available. Although online learning is a readily available and practical way to earn a certificate or degree, it might not be the ideal option for every vocation or trade. For example, learning to drive a semi truck is not something that you can accomplish online, nor is training how to weld. These are skills that need to be acquired through hands on training and by doing it, not by studying or watching videos. But certain elements of the training may be appropriate for online learning, such as studying driving and safety guidelines for trucking schools or learning about metallurgy or how to read blueprints for welding schools. A number of programs will incorporate online instruction with on-campus practical training, for example for HVAC or plumbing schools. So it is essential to ask before enrolling in an online school for any vocation if there is a suitable amount of hands-on training allocated to the curriculum. One way to help establish that a vocational school program is both appropriate for online learning and provides comprehensive hands-on training is to check that it's accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). For those vocations that are appropriate for training online, it can be a practical way for individuals with limited time to learn a new profession.

Points to Ask Vocational School Programs

Anchorage Alaska truck driving trade school parking lotOnce you have selected the vocation and type of degree or certificate that you want to earn, either online or on campus, you can start to decrease your selection of schools. As you are probably aware, there are many vocational schools in the  Anchorage AK area and throughout the USA to choose from. That's why it is imperative to have a checklist of key qualifications when making school assessments. As earlier mentioned in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will most likely be the initial two variables you will consider. Following are some additional ones that you need to explore before enrolling in your school of choice.

Accredited.  Many Anchorage AK area vocational schools have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school's programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for instance HVAC technology. Confirm that the school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you acquire an excellent education, it may help in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Additionally, a number of states require that the  training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing where applicable.

How Long in Operation? One indicator to help measure the quality of a trade school near Anchorage AK is how long it has been in operation. A negatively reviewed or a fly by night school usually 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 use it as one of multiple qualifiers.

Completion Rates.  Ask the vocational schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate may suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It could also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It's similarly imperative that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which can result in more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to help graduates obtain apprenticeships or employment in the Anchorage AK area.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many technical programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of companies or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Anchorage AK area professionals in the trade. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Confirm that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the tech you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Anchorage AK contractor if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school must be within driving distance of your home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It's desirable that you receive as much individualized instruction 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 large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with some of the students and get their opinions relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the instructors and find out 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 programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Anchorage AK, check that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Learn More About Trade Colleges in Anchorage

Find the Right Anchorage Vocational  School

Selecting the right trade school near Anchorage AK is an important beginning toward a gratifying career in the vocation of your choice. As we have addressed in this post, you should select a technical school and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have outstanding reputations within the professional community. Other features to look for are lots of practical training and state-of-the-art facilities. You need to go to each of the schools personally that you are most interested in to inspect the campus and talk 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 if evening or weekend classes are available if needed. And remember to inquire about financial assistance and student loan options as well. If you ask the right questions as we have detailed 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 eventually become a licensed professional in your chosen trade.
 




 

Anchorage Technical Colleges | Anchorage Trade Schools Near Me