Vocational College
How to Pick the Best One Near Stevens Point Wisconsin
Deciding to work in a new profession and enroll in a vocational school near Stevens Point WI are serious decisions that will profoundly influence your future career. But exactly how do you go about locating the right one with so many trade schools to pick from? Not only do you need to ascertain that you will get the complete training required to be successful in your new field, but also that the school is highly regarded and reputable. To start, one of the important qualifications that most future students focus in on when beginning their search is the distance the trade schools are from home. Next, they check tuition and often gravitate toward the lowest cost. Naturally the location and cost of the training are important considerations when evaluating trade school options, but they must not be the only ones. For example, you should ask whether or not the vocational schools are accredited, or if they provide job placement assistance. 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 review some of those questions later in this post. But to start with, let's look at a few of the vocation options that are available as well as the availability of online schools.
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Vocational School Career Options
There are an abundance of professions to choose from in vocational schools that provide fulfilling and high paying careers. Perhaps you have already decided on one that you have for years desired to pursue. For instance, maybe you have always enjoyed working on your car and have given thought to utilizing that ability to make a living as an automotive tech. Or perhaps a member of the family has had a prosperous career in a specific vocation or trade and you would like to follow in her or his footsteps. No matter what your inspiration is for going into a trade, there is undoubtedly a program offered that will give you the training you need. Below is just a modest representation of the vocational training programs that are offered in the Stevens Point WI area.
- Auto Mechanic
- Heating And Air Conditioning (HVAC) Tech
- Plumber
- Electrician
- Welder
- Truck Driver
- Aircraft Maintenance Tech
- Lab Tech
- Construction Manager
All programs will have varying completion times and costs depending on the vocation, credential earned and school. Some of the programs may be completed in a few weeks, while others will call for several months or even 2 or more years of training. Each of these factors must be considered before choosing a vocation and school.
Online Trade School Programs
Schools available online have become very popular with Stevens Point WI students and a growing number of accredited programs are becoming available. Although learning online 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 drive a tractor trailer is not something that you can do online, nor is learning how to weld. These are skills that must be mastered through hands on training and by doing it, not by studying or watching videos. But certain elements of the training can be suitable for online learning, for instance learning driving and safety guidelines for truck driving schools or studying metallurgy or how to read blueprints for welding schools. Many programs will blend online education with on campus practical training, such as for electrician or welding schools. So it is very important to determine before enrolling in an online program for any vocation if there is a suitable amount of practical training allocated to the course of study. One way to help establish that a trade school program is both suitable for online studying and delivers in-depth hands-on training is to confirm that it's accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). For those vocations that are appropriate for training online, it can be a practical way for individuals with time constraints to acquire a new vocation.
What to Ask Trade Schools
Once you have chosen the vocation and type of certificate or degree that you wish to acquire, either on campus or online, you can begin to limit your selection of schools. As you are probably aware, there are numerous technical schools in the Stevens Point WI area and across the United States to choose from. That's why it is extremely important to have a list of important qualifications when making school assessments. As formerly mentioned in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will most likely be the initial 2 variables you will consider. Following are several additional ones that you need to investigate before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accredited. Many Stevens Point WI area vocational programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school's programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for example HVAC technology. Make sure that the school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you acquire a quality education, it may assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Also, a number of states require that the training course be accredited for it to qualify for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Business? One indicator to help assess the quality of a trade school near Stevens Point WI is how long it has been in operation. A negatively ranked or a fly by night school typically will not stay in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. On the other hand, even the best of schools had to begin from their opening day of training, so use it as one of multiple qualifiers.
Completion Rates. Ask the tech schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate may signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also signify that the teachers were not competent 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 broader list of alumni, 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 an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs in the Stevens Point WI area.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most training programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of contractors or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have referring partnerships with Stevens Point WI area professionals in the field. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the specialist you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Stevens Point WI company if they can give you some pointers. Additionally keep in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your home. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, in addition to relocation costs there may be increased tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It's desirable that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between teachers and students. Speak to a few of the students and get their comments concerning 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. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Stevens Point WI, confirm that the programs you are comparing offer those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Finally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family responsibilities.
Learn More About Vocational School Programs in Stevens Point
Enroll in the Right Stevens Point Trade School
Selecting the right trade school near Stevens Point WI is a crucial first step toward a rewarding career in the vocation of your choice. As we have addressed in this article, you should pick a trade school and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have exceptional reputations within the professional community. Other things to search for are ample hands-on training and modern facilities. You should visit each of the schools personally that you are most interested in to explore the campus and speak with both the current students and faculty. Try to get a feel for the quality of the training and the interaction between them. Also, ask about scheduling options and if evening or weekend classes are available if needed. And don't forget to inquire 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 right training, hard work and dedication, you can ultimately become a licensed professional in your chosen trade.
Stevens Point Trade Courses | Stevens Point Vocational Schools