Vocational School
How to Select the Right One Near Green Bay Wisconsin
Enrolling in a vocational school near Green Bay WI with the final goal of beginning a new career can be a life changing accomplishment that must be carefully researched and planned for. But just how do you go about locating the best one with numerous vocational schools to pick from? Not only do you need to make sure that you will get the extensive training required to succeed in your new occupation, but also that the school is reputable and well regarded. To start, one of the important qualifications that most prospective students hone in on when starting their search is the distance the trade schools are from home. Others might gravitate to the one that charges the lowest tuition. But there are additional important criteria besides location and cost that should be part of the decision making process as well. Additional factors including the completion rates and accreditation of the schools are important as well. So before you begin evaluating and comparing trade schools, you must know what questions to ask so you can get the information to make a final choice. We will cover some of those questions later in this article. But first, let's look at some of the trade options that are available including the availability of online programs.
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Vocational School Career Options
There are a number of professions to choose from in vocational schools that offer gratifying and good paying careers. Perhaps you have already decided on one that you have long wished to pursue. For instance, maybe you have always had fun working on your car and have thought about utilizing that skill to make a living as an auto mechanic. Or maybe a family member has had a long and successful career in a particular trade or vocation and you would love to follow in his or her footsteps. No matter what your motivation is for going into a trade, there is likely a program available that will give you the training you need. Below is merely a modest representation of the vocational training programs that are available in the Green Bay WI area.
- Automotive Technician
- Heating And Air Conditioning (HVAC) Tech
- Plumbing
- Electrician
- Welding
- Truck Driver
- Aircraft Maintenance Tech
- Lab Technician
- Construction Manager
All programs will have differing costs and completion times based upon the trade, credential earned and school. Many of the programs may be completed in a few weeks, while others will require several months or even 2 or more years of instruction. Each of these variables need to be considered prior to selecting a trade and a school.
Vocational Schools Online
Online schools have become very popular with Green Bay WI students and a growing number of accredited programs are being offered. Although learning online is a very convenient and accessible way to earn a degree or certificate, it might not be the best option for all trades or vocations. For instance, learning to operate a tractor trailer is not something that you can accomplish online, nor is training how to weld. These are skills that need to be learned through practical training and by doing it, not by studying or watching videos. But certain elements of the training may be suitable for online learning, for instance studying driving and safety regulations for truck driving schools or studying metallurgy or how to read blueprints for welding schools. Some programs will incorporate online education with on campus lab work, for example for electrician or welding schools. So it is crucial to determine before choosing an online school for any vocation if there is a suitable amount of practical training allocated to the course of study. One way to help ensure that a trade school program is both suitable for online studying and delivers comprehensive hands-on training is to verify that it's accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting organization (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 acquire a new vocation.
Questions to Ask Trade Schools
Once you have decided on the trade and type of degree or certificate that you want to obtain, either online or on campus, you can start to limit your list of schools. As you are no doubt aware, there are many technical schools in the Green Bay WI area and across the United States to pick from. That's why it is essential to have a checklist of key qualifiers when making school comparisons. As earlier mentioned in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will undoubtedly be the first 2 factors you will consider. Following are some additional ones that you need to research before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accredited. Many Green Bay WI area vocational programs have attained 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, for example HVAC technology. Confirm that the program is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you get a quality education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, some states mandate that the training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Operation? One clue to help evaluate the quality of a trade school near Green Bay WI is how long it has been in business. A poorly rated or a fly by night school usually will not stay in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. However, even the best of schools had to begin from their first day of training, so consider it as one of multiple qualifications.
Completion Rates. Ask the tech schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A low completion rate could suggest that students were unhappy with the course and quit. It could also indicate that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It's also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to employ 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 help students secure apprenticeships or employment in the Green Bay WI area.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous vocational programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of businesses or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Green Bay WI area companies in the field. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing hands-on training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the area professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make certain that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be using in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the technician you are working under concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Green Bay WI contracting company if they can give you some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It's important that you get as much individualized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between instructors and students. Talk with some of the students and get their feedback concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, talk with a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is in Wisconsin and what certifications or degrees they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Green Bay WI, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.
Find Out More About Technical School Programs in Green Bay
Enroll in the Right Green Bay Trade School
Picking the ideal trade school near Green Bay WI is an important beginning toward a gratifying career in the vocation of your choice. As we have covered in this post, you need to choose a technical school and a degree or certificate program that are both accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. Other features to search for are sufficient practical training and state-of-the-art facilities. You should visit each of the schools in person that you are most interested in to explore the campus and talk with both the current students and faculty. Attempt to get a feel for the quality of the instruction and the interaction between them. Also, inquire about scheduling options and if evening or weekend classes are available if needed. And don't forget to inquire about financial assistance and student loan options also. If you ask the right questions as we have laid out in our checklist for evaluating schools, you'll be able to narrow down your options so that you can make an educated decision. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, you can ultimately become a licensed professional in your chosen trade.