It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Choose a New Trade and Start Your Career Below
Trade School Career Options
There are an abundance of trades to select from in vocational schools that offer rewarding and high paying careers. Perhaps you have already decided on one that you have long wished to pursue. For instance, maybe you have always enjoyed working on your car and have given thought to using that talent to earn a living as an auto mechanic. Or perhaps a relative has had a long and successful career in a particular vocation or trade and you would love to follow in her or his footsteps. Regardless of what your inspiration is for going into a trade, there is likely a program available that will give you the training that you require. Below is just a small representation of the vocational training programs that are offered in Alaska.
- Automotive Technician
- Heating and Cooling (HVAC) Tech
- Plumbing
- Electrical Technician
- Welding
- Truck Driver
- Aircraft Maintenance Tech
- Lab Technician
- Construction Management
Each of the programs will have differing completion times and costs based upon the vocation, credential earned and school. A number of the programs may be completed in just weeks, while others will call for months or even two or more years of instruction. Each of these variables should be taken into account prior to choosing a vocation and school.
Online Vocational Schools
Trade Schools online have become very popular with Alaska students and a growing number of accredited programs are being offered. While learning online is a very convenient and accessible way to earn a degree or certificate, it might not be the ideal option for every vocation or trade. For example, training to operate a semi truck is not something that you can accomplish online, nor is learning how to weld. These are skills that need to be mastered 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 classes, for example learning driving and safety regulations for trucking schools or studying metallurgy or how to read blueprints for welder schools. Some programs will blend online education with on campus lab work, for example for electrician or welding schools. So it is very important to find out before enrolling in an online program for any vocation if there is a suitable amount of hands-on training allocated to the syllabus. One means to help establish that a trade school program is both suitable for online studying and delivers comprehensive practical training is to confirm that it's accredited by a nationally acknowledged accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). For those trades that are suitable for training online, it can be a practical way for those with limited time to learn a new profession.