It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Choose a New Trade and Start Your Career Below
What to Ask Trade Schools
Once you have chosen the vocation and type of certificate or degree that you would like to attain, either online or on campus, you can start to decrease your list of schools. As you are no doubt aware, there are a large number of technical schools in the Fond Du Lac WI area and throughout the United States to choose from. That's why it is very important to have a checklist of relevant qualifiers when making school assessments. As earlier mentioned in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will undoubtedly be the initial 2 factors you will look at. Following are several additional ones that you will want to investigate before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accreditation. A large number of Fond Du Lac WI area technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can earn Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school's programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to an individual program, such as HVAC technology. Verify that the school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you receive a superior education, it can help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Operation? One clue to help evaluate the quality of a trade school near Fond Du Lac WI is how long it has been in operation. A poorly reviewed or a fly by night school typically will not be in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. Having said that, even the top schools had to begin from their first day of training, so consider it as one of several qualifications.
Completion Rates. Ask the tech schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A lower completion rate might indicate that students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. It may also mean that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It's also important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of alumni, which can produce more contacts for the school to use 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 field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help grads obtain apprenticeships or employment in the Fond Du Lac WI area.
Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of training programs are taught along 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 labor unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Fond Du Lac WI area specialists in the field. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed 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, check with the technician you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Fond Du Lac WI contractor if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It's desirable that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with a few of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is in Wisconsin and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Fond Du Lac WI, verify that the schools you are considering 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, illness or family emergencies.