Vocational College
How to Find the Best One Near Tempe Arizona
Enrolling in a trade school near Tempe AZ with the ultimate goal of starting a new career can be a life changing achievement that must be carefully researched and planned for. But exactly how do you go about locating the right one with numerous vocational schools to select from? Not only do you need to ascertain that you will receive the complete training needed to succeed in your new field, but also that the school is highly regarded and reputable. Some prospective students make the error of enrolling in a trade school just because the campus is closest to their residence or place of employment. Next, they compare tuition and typically settle on the lowest cost. Of course the cost and location of the training are significant factors when analyzing vocational school options, but they can not be the sole ones. Added considerations including the completion rates and accreditation of the schools are critical as well. So before you begin evaluating and comparing trade schools, you will need to know what questions you should be asking in order to get the information to make a final choice. We will address several of those questions shortly in this post. But first, let's talk about some of the trade options that are available including the availability of online schools.
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Vocational School Program Options
There are a number of trades to pick from in vocational schools that offer fulfilling and high paying careers. Perhaps you have already chosen one that you have for years desired to pursue. For instance, maybe you have always taken pleasure in working on your car and have given thought to utilizing that ability to earn a living as an automotive tech. Or maybe a relative has had a long and successful career in a specific trade or vocation and you would like to follow in his or her footsteps. No matter what your inspiration is for entering a trade, there is likely a program offered that will provide the training that you require. Below is just a small representation of the trade school programs that are offered in the Tempe AZ area.
- Automotive Technician
- Heating and Cooling (HVAC) Tech
- Plumbing
- Electrician
- Welding
- Truck Driving
- Aircraft Maintenance Tech
- Lab Tech
- Construction Management
Each of the programs will have differing costs and completion times based upon the trade, type of credential and school. Some of the programs may be completed in a few weeks, while others will require several months or even two or more years of instruction. Each of these factors should be taken into account prior to choosing a trade and a school.
Online Trade School Programs
Online schools have become more attractive with Tempe AZ students and more and more accredited programs are becoming available. While learning online is a readily available and practical way to earn a certificate or degree, it may not be the best option for all trades or vocations. For example, learning to operate a tractor trailer is not something that you can do online, nor is training how to weld. These are skills that need to be mastered through practical training and by doing it, not by studying or watching videos. But certain elements of the training may be appropriate for online training, such as learning driving and safety guidelines for trucking schools or learning about metallurgy or how to read blueprints for welder schools. Some programs will incorporate online instruction with on-campus practical training, such as for HVAC or plumbing schools. So it is essential to find out before choosing an online program for any vocation if there is a suitable amount of hands-on training allocated to the course of study. One means to help establish that a trade school program is both suitable for online studying and provides in-depth practical training is to verify that it's accredited by a nationally acknowledged accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). For those trades that are suitable for online training, it can be a practical way for those with limited time to learn a new profession.
Things to Ask Vocational School Programs
After you have selected the trade and type of certificate or degree that you desire to attain, either on campus or online, you can begin to limit your selection of schools. As you are certainly aware, there are many technical schools in the Tempe AZ area and throughout the USA to choose from. That's why it is extremely important to have a list of relevant qualifiers when making school comparisons. As formerly mentioned in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will most likely be the initial 2 aspects you will take into consideration. Following are some additional ones that you need to explore before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accreditation. Many Tempe AZ area technical schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school's programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as HVAC technology. Confirm that the school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping ensure that you get a superior education, it may assist in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states mandate that the training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Business? One clue to help assess the quality of a trade school near Tempe AZ is how long it has been in operation. A poorly rated 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 begin from their first day of training, so use it as one of several 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 finish the course. A lower completion rate might suggest that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It might also signify that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It's similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of graduates, which may result in more contacts for the school to utilize 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 graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs in the Tempe AZ area.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most trade programs are taught along with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Tempe AZ 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 form relationships in the regional professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the school facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the specialist you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Tempe AZ contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It's important that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and witness first hand the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk to some of the instructors 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 handle your needs. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Tempe AZ, verify that the programs you are looking at provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.
Find Out More About Vocational Schools in Tempe
Find the Best Tempe Vocational School
Enrolling in the right trade school near Tempe AZ is a crucial beginning toward a fulfilling career in the vocation of your choice. As we have addressed in this post, you need to select a school and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have exceptional reputations within the professional community. Other things to look for are lots of practical training and state-of-the-art facilities. You need to go to each of the schools in person that you are most interested in to explore 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. Also, ask about scheduling options and whether or not evening or weekend classes are available if needed. And don't forget to ask about financial assistance and student loan options as well. If you ask the right questions as we have outlined in our guidelines for assessing schools, you'll be able to filter your choices so that you can make an educated decision. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, you can eventually become a licensed professional in your chosen trade.