Vocational College
How to Choose the Best One Near Chandler Arizona
Deciding to begin a new profession and enroll in a vocational school near Chandler AZ are important decisions that will profoundly influence your long term career. However with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about finding the best one? Not only do you need to ascertain that you will obtain the extensive training required to succeed in your new profession, but also that the school is highly regarded and reputable. Many potential students make the error of enrolling in a trade school just because the campus is nearest to their home or where they work. Others might be attracted to the school that has the lowest tuition. Of course the cost and location of the training are critical factors when assessing trade school options, but they must not be the only ones. For example, you must find out whether or not the vocational schools are accredited, or if they provide job placement assistance. So before you begin evaluating and comparing trade schools, you must know what questions you should be asking so you can get the information to make a final selection. We will review some of those questions later in this article. But to start with, let's talk about a few of the vocation options that are offered.
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Vocational School Career Options
There are a number of trades to select from in vocational schools that offer gratifying and good paying careers. Perhaps you have already decided on one that you have for years desired to pursue. For example, maybe you have always enjoyed working on your car and have given thought to utilizing that skill to earn a living as an auto mechanic. Or maybe a family member has had a long and successful career in a specific vocation or trade and you would like to follow in his or her footsteps. No matter what your inspiration is for entering a trade, there is probably a program available that will provide the training that you require. Below is just a small representation of the trade school programs that are available in the Chandler AZ area.
- Auto Mechanic
- Heating And Air Conditioning (HVAC) Tech
- Plumbing
- Electrician
- Welding
- Truck Driver
- Aircraft Maintenance Tech
- Lab Tech
- Construction Management
All programs will have differing completion times and costs based upon the vocation, type of credential and school. Some of the programs may be completed in a few weeks, while others will call for months or even two or more years of schooling. Each of these elements need to be taken into account before selecting a vocation and school.
Things to Ask Trade Schools
After you have chosen the vocation and type of certificate or degree that you wish to obtain, either online or on campus, you can start to limit your selection of schools. As you are probably aware, there are a large number of vocational schools in the Chandler AZ area and throughout the United States to choose from. That's why it is essential to have a list of key qualifiers when making school evaluations. As earlier stated in our opening paragraph, location and tuition will undoubtedly be the first two variables you will take into consideration. Following are several additional ones that you will want to explore before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accreditation. Numerous Chandler AZ area technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school's programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, for example HVAC technology. Verify that the school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a quality education, it can assist in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states require that the training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Business? One clue to help determine the quality of a vocational school near Chandler AZ is how long it has been in operation. A negatively rated or a fly by night school typically will not stay in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. On the other hand, even the best of schools had to begin from their opening day of training, so consider it as one of multiple qualifiers.
Completion Rates. Ask the vocational schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It may also indicate that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It's also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help students acquire apprenticeships or employment in the Chandler AZ area.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have working partnerships with Chandler AZ area professionals in the trade. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to build 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 presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the specialist you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Chandler AZ company if they can give you some suggestions. Also keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your home. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It's desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to several of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is in Arizona and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Chandler AZ, confirm that the schools you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Find Out More About Trade Colleges in Chandler
Enroll in the Best Chandler Vocational School
Selecting the right trade school near Chandler AZ is an important beginning toward a gratifying career in the vocation of your choice. As we have addressed in this article, you should pick a school and a degree or certificate program that are both accredited and have outstanding reputations within the trade. Other things to look for are lots of hands-on training and modern facilities. You need to go to each of the schools in person that you are most interested in to inspect the campus and talk with both the current students and faculty. Try to get a feel for the quality of the instruction and the interaction between them. Also, ask about scheduling options and whether night or weekend classes are offered if needed. And remember to ask about financial assistance and student loan options as well. If you ask the appropriate questions as we have detailed in our guidelines for assessing schools, you'll be able to filter your choices so that you can make an informed decision. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, you can eventually become a licensed professional in your chosen trade.