Vocational College
How to Choose the Best 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 altering achievement that requires prior due diligence and careful planning. But just how do you go about finding the best one with numerous trade schools to select from? Not only do you have to ascertain that you will receive the complete training needed to be successful in your new field, but also that the school is reputable and well regarded. A number of prospective students make the error of enrolling in a vocational school simply because the campus is nearest to their home or place of employment. Or they might gravitate to the one that has the most affordable tuition. But there are additional important criteria aside from cost and location that must be part of the due diligence process as well. Additional considerations including the completion rates and accreditation of the schools are critical also. So prior to beginning your evaluations 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 address some of those questions later in this article. But to start with, let's look at a few of the vocation options that are available including the availability of online programs.
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Trade School Career Options
There are an abundance of professions to pick from in vocational schools that offer fulfilling and good paying careers. Possibly you have already chosen 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 a car mechanic. Or perhaps a member of the family has had a prosperous career in a certain trade or vocation and you would like to follow in his or her footsteps. Regardless of what your inspiration is for entering a trade, there is likely a program available that will provide the training you need. Below is just a small representation of the trade school programs that are offered in the Green Bay WI area.
- Auto Mechanic
- Heating And Air Conditioning (HVAC) Tech
- Plumbing
- Electrician
- Welder
- Truck Driver
- Aircraft Maintenance Tech
- Lab Tech
- Construction Manager
All programs will have differing costs and completion times based upon the trade, credential earned and school. Some of the programs may be completed in a few weeks, while others will call for several months or even two or more years of training. All of these aspects need to be taken into account before choosing a vocation and school.
Online Trade Schools
Trade Schools online have become very popular with Green Bay WI students and a growing number of accredited programs are becoming available. Although learning online is a readily available and practical way to acquire a certificate or degree, it may not be the ideal option for all trades or vocations. For instance, training to drive a semi truck is not something that you can accomplish online, nor is learning how to weld. These are skills that must be learned through hands on training and by doing it, not by studying or watching videos. But certain aspects of the training may be appropriate for online learning, for instance learning driving and safety regulations for truck driving schools or studying metallurgy or how to read blueprints for welding schools. Some programs will incorporate online instruction with on campus practical training, for example for electrician or welding schools. So it is very important to ask before enrolling in an online school for any trade if there is an appropriate amount of practical training allocated to the syllabus. 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 recognized accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). For those vocations that are suitable for online training, it can be a convenient way for those with limited time to acquire a new trade.
Concerns to Ask Trade School Programs
As soon as you have picked the vocation and type of certificate or degree that you want to acquire, either online or on campus, you can start to limit your selection of schools. As you are certainly aware, there are many vocational schools in the Green Bay WI area and all over the Country to pick from. That's why it is extremely important to have a checklist of important qualifiers when making school evaluations. As previously mentioned in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will probably be the first two factors you will take into consideration. Following are some additional ones that you need to investigate before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accreditation. Many Green Bay WI area trade schools have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves 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 agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you acquire a quality education, it may help in acquiring financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, some states require that the training program be accredited in order to be approved for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Operation? One indicator to help measure the quality of a vocational school near Green Bay WI is how long it has been in operation. A negatively ranked or a fly by night school normally will not stay in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. However, even the best of schools had to begin from their opening day of training, so use it as one of several qualifiers.
Completion Rates. Ask the trade schools you are reviewing what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the program and quit. It might also mean that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It's similarly imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list 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 graduates secure apprenticeships or employment in the Green Bay WI area.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many training programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical 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 comparing have referring partnerships with Green Bay WI area companies in the field. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be trained on are up-to-date and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Green Bay WI company if they can give you some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It's desirable that you receive as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Speak with several of the students and get their comments regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is in Wisconsin and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Green Bay WI, confirm that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, be sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family issues.
Learn More About Vocational Schools in Green Bay
Find the Best Green Bay Vocational School
Picking the ideal trade school near Green Bay WI is an important beginning toward a fulfilling career in the vocation of your choice. As we have covered in this article, you should select a vocational school and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. Other factors to look for are plenty of practical training and state-of-the-art facilities. You need to check out each of the schools personally that you are most interested in to tour the campus and speak with both the faculty and current students. Try to get a feel for the quality of the instruction and the interaction between them. Also, inquire about scheduling options and whether or not evening or weekend classes are offered if needed. And don't forget 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 comparing schools, you'll be able to filter your options so that you can make an educated decision. With the appropriate training, hard work and dedication, you can eventually become a licensed professional in your chosen trade.