Vocational College
How to Find the Best One Near Milwaukee Wisconsin
Enrolling in a trade school near Milwaukee WI with the ultimate goal of beginning a new profession can be a life changing accomplishment that requires prior due diligence and careful planning. However with so many trade schools to select from, exactly how do you approach finding the ideal one? Not only do you have to make sure that you will receive the complete training required to succeed in your new profession, but also that the school is reputable and well regarded. Many prospective students make the error of enrolling in a trade school just because the campus is closest to their residence or place of employment. Or they may be attracted to the one that has the most affordable tuition. Naturally the cost and location of the programs are important factors when assessing trade school options, but they must not be the only ones. Additional considerations including accreditation and the completion rates of the schools are important as well. So before you begin evaluating and comparing trade schools, you will need to know what questions you should be asking so you can get the information to make a final choice. We will review some of those questions shortly in this post. But to start with, let's talk about a few of the vocation options that are available including the availability of online programs.
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Vocational School Program Options
There are a number of trades to pick from in vocational schools that offer rewarding and high paying careers. Perhaps you have already decided on one that you have long wished to pursue. For instance, maybe you have always taken pleasure in working on your car and have given thought to utilizing that talent to earn a living as an automotive tech. Or perhaps a family member has had a long and successful career in a certain trade or vocation and you would like to follow in her or his footsteps. Regardless of what your inspiration is for going into a trade, there is likely a program available that will give you the training that you need. Following is just a small representation of the trade school programs that are offered in the Milwaukee WI area.
- Automotive Technician
- Heating And Air Conditioning (HVAC) Tech
- Plumber
- Electrician
- Welding
- Truck Driver
- Aircraft Maintenance Tech
- Lab Technician
- Construction Management
Each of the programs will have varying costs and completion times based upon the trade, type of credential and school. A number of the programs may be completed in a few weeks, while others will require several months or even 2 or more years of schooling. Each of these aspects need to be taken into account before choosing a trade and a school.
Trade School Programs Online
Schools available online have become very popular with Milwaukee WI students and increasingly more accredited programs are being offered. While online learning is a very convenient and accessible way to earn a degree or certificate, it may not be the best option for all trades or vocations. For example, training to operate a tractor trailer is not something that you can accomplish online, nor is learning how to weld. These are skills that need to be mastered through hands on training and by doing it, not by reading about it or watching videos. But certain aspects of the training may be suitable for online education, such as learning safety and driving guidelines for truck driving schools or learning about metallurgy or how to read blueprints for welder schools. A number of programs will incorporate online education with on-campus practical training, such as for HVAC or plumbing schools. So it is essential to find out before enrolling in an online school for any trade if there is an appropriate amount of hands-on training allocated to the course of study. One way to help establish that a vocational school program is both suitable for online learning and provides comprehensive practical training is to check that it's accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). For those trades that are appropriate for training online, it can be a practical way for individuals with time constraints to learn a new trade.
Questions to Ask Vocational School Programs
Once you have selected the trade and type of degree or certificate that you wish to acquire, either on campus or online, you can start to decrease your list of schools. As you are certainly aware, there are a large number of technical schools in the Milwaukee WI area and across the United States to pick from. That's why it is imperative to have a list of relevant qualifiers when making school comparisons. As previously stated in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will probably be the initial two factors you will look at. Following are several additional ones that you will want to explore before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accreditation. Many Milwaukee WI area technical schools have acquired either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school's programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example HVAC technology. Make certain that the school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you get an excellent education, it may help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, a number of states mandate that the training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Operation? One clue to help measure the quality of a trade school near Milwaukee WI is how long it has been in business. A poorly ranked or a fly by night school normally will not be in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. On the other hand, even the top schools had to begin from their opening day of training, so consider it as one of several qualifiers.
Completion Rates. Ask the vocational schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate may suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It may also mean that the teachers were not qualified to instruct the students. It's similarly essential that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only confirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist grads secure apprenticeships or jobs in the Milwaukee WI area.
Apprenticeship Programs. Many technical programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and technical programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Milwaukee WI area contractors in the trade. An apprenticeship not only provides a valuable experience by providing hands-on training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the local professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be trained on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the tech you are working under regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Milwaukee WI contracting company if they can provide some tips. Also bear in mind that unless you are able to relocate, the school needs to be within driving distance of your residence. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there might be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It's desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on some of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and teachers. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and learn 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 programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Milwaukee WI, verify that the programs you are looking at offer those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Finally, ask what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family responsibilities.
Find Out More About Technical Colleges in Milwaukee
Find the Right Milwaukee Trade School
Selecting the right trade school near Milwaukee WI is an important first step toward a rewarding career in the vocation of your choice. As we have addressed in this article, you need to pick a technical school and a degree or certificate program that are both accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. Other factors to search for are sufficient practical training and modern facilities. You need to 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 choices and whether or not night or weekend classes are offered if needed. And don't forget to ask about financial assistance and student loan options as well. If you ask the appropriate questions as we have outlined in our guidelines for evaluating schools, you'll be able to filter your choices so that you can make an educated decision. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, you can eventually become a licensed professional in your chosen trade.