Vocational School
How to Find the Right One Near Tempe Arizona
Enrolling in a vocational school near Tempe AZ with the ultimate goal of beginning a new career can be a life altering achievement that must be carefully researched and planned for. However with so many trade schools to select from, just how do you undertake locating the best one? Not only do you have to make sure that you will get the complete training necessary to be successful in your new occupation, but also that the school is highly regarded and reputable. A number of prospective students make the mistake of enrolling in a trade school simply because the campus is closest to their home or where they work. Next, they check tuition and usually gravitate toward the most affordable cost. But there are additional important criteria aside from cost and location that must be part of the decision making process as well. Other factors including accreditation and the completion rates of the schools are important as well. So prior to beginning your evaluations and comparing trade schools, you must know what questions to ask so you can get the information to make a final selection. We will address a few of those questions shortly in this post. But to start with, let's talk about some of the vocation options that are available including the accessibility of online programs.
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Trade School Program Options
There are a number of trades to select from in vocational schools that offer fulfilling and high paying careers. Perhaps you have already decided on one that you have for years desired to pursue. For example, maybe you have always taken pleasure in working on your car and have thought about using that ability to make a living as an automotive tech. Or perhaps a family member has had a long and successful career in a specific trade or vocation and you would love to follow in her or his footsteps. Regardless of what your motivation is for going into a trade, there is probably a program offered that will give you the training that you need. Below is merely a modest representation of the vocational training programs that are available in the Tempe AZ area.
- Auto Mechanic
- Heating And Air Conditioning (HVAC) Tech
- Plumber
- Electrician
- Welding
- Truck Driver
- Aircraft Maintenance Tech
- Lab Tech
- Construction Manager
Each of the programs will have differing completion times and costs based upon the trade, credential earned and school. Some of the programs may be completed in just weeks, while others will necessitate months or even two or more years of schooling. Each of these aspects should be considered prior to choosing a vocation and school.
Trade Schools Online
Trade Schools online have become more attractive with Tempe AZ students and a growing number of accredited programs are being offered. While online learning is a very convenient and accessible way to acquire a degree or certificate, it may not be the best option for every vocation or trade. 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 have to be acquired through hands on training and by doing it, not by reading about it or watching videos. But certain elements of the training may be suitable for online education, for example learning safety and driving guidelines for truck driving schools or learning about metallurgy or how to read blueprints for welder schools. Many programs will incorporate online instruction with on campus practical training, such as for electrician or welding schools. So it is crucial to find out before choosing an online school for any trade if there is an adequate amount of hands-on training devoted to the course of study. One means to help ensure that a vocational school program is both appropriate for online education and delivers in-depth hands-on 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 convenient way for individuals with limited time to learn a new profession.
Concerns to Ask Vocational Schools
Once you have selected the vocation and type of degree or certificate that you wish to earn, either online or on campus, 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 across the Country to pick from. That's why it is extremely important to have a checklist of relevant qualifications when making school evaluations. As earlier mentioned in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will undoubtedly be the initial 2 aspects you will take into consideration. Following are several additional ones that you should research before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accredited. Numerous Tempe AZ area technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school's programs overall, 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, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you receive a superior education, it can assist in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases not available for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states mandate that the training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Operation? One clue to help measure the quality of a trade school near Tempe AZ 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. However, even the top 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 looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. 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 graduates, 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 a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist grads secure apprenticeships or jobs in the Tempe AZ area.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of training programs are taught in conjunction with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of companies or trade unions. Check if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Tempe AZ area contractors in the trade. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also furnishes employment opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area 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 working with in the field. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the tech you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Tempe AZ contracting company if they can provide some suggestions. Also bear in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your home. 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 desirable that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Speak to a few of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with a few of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is in Arizona and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you are only able to attend classes at night or on weekends near Tempe AZ, check that the programs you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family emergencies.
Find Out More About Trade School Programs in Tempe
Enroll in the Right Tempe Trade School
Selecting the right trade school near Tempe AZ is a crucial beginning toward a fulfilling career in the vocation of your choice. As we have discussed in this post, you need to select a trade school and a degree or certificate program that are both accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. Other features to look for are sufficient 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 tour 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, inquire about scheduling choices and whether night or weekend classes are available if needed. And remember to ask about financial aid and student loan options as well. If you ask the right questions as we have detailed in our checklist for evaluating schools, you'll be able to filter your options so that you can make an informed decision. With the appropriate training, hard work and dedication, you can eventually become a licensed professional in your chosen trade.