Vocational School
How to Choose the Right One Near Wausau Wisconsin
Choosing to enter into a new occupation and enroll in a trade school near Wausau WI are serious decisions that will profoundly affect your long term career. But with numerous vocational schools to choose from, exactly how do you go about locating the best one? Of course you must select a school that is reputable and well regarded so you can be assured that you will obtain the complete training required to succeed in your new field. A number of potential students make the mistake of enrolling in a trade school just because the campus is nearest to their home or where they work. Or they might be attracted to the one that charges the most affordable tuition. But there are additional important qualifications besides location and cost that should be part of the decision making process as well. For instance, you must find out 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 you should be asking in order to get the information to make a final selection. We will review some of those questions shortly in this article. But first, let's look at a few of the vocation options that are offered including the accessibility of online schools.
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Trade School Career Options
There are a number of trades to pick from in vocational schools that provide fulfilling and high paying careers. Maybe you have already decided on one that you have for years desired to pursue. For instance, perhaps you have always enjoyed working on your car and have thought about utilizing that ability to earn a living as an auto mechanic. Or maybe a relative has had a long and successful career in a specific vocation or trade and you would like to follow in his or her footsteps. Regardless of what your motivation is for entering a trade, there is probably a program offered that will provide the training you need. Following is merely a modest representation of the trade school programs that are offered in the Wausau WI area.
- Auto Mechanic
- Heating and Cooling (HVAC) Tech
- Plumber
- Electrical Technician
- Welder
- Truck Driver
- Aircraft Maintenance Tech
- Lab Tech
- Construction Management
All programs will have varying completion times and costs depending on the vocation, type of credential and school. A number of the programs may be completed in a few weeks, while others will require months or even two or more years of instruction. All of these factors should be taken into account prior to choosing a vocation and school.
Online Trade Schools
Trade Schools online have become more attractive with Wausau WI students and increasingly more accredited programs are becoming available. Even though online learning is a very convenient and accessible way to obtain a certificate or degree, it might not be the ideal option for every vocation or trade. For example, learning to operate a semi truck is not something that you can accomplish online, nor is training how to weld. These are skills that need to be mastered through practical training and by doing it, not by studying or watching videos. But certain elements of the training may be appropriate for online education, for example studying driving and safety regulations for truck driving schools or studying metallurgy or how to read blueprints for welding schools. Some programs will blend online instruction with on-campus lab work, for example for electrician or welding schools. So it is essential to determine before choosing an online school for any vocation if there is a suitable amount of hands-on training devoted to the curriculum. One means to help establish that a vocational school program is both appropriate for online learning and delivers in-depth hands-on training is to check that it's accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). For those vocations that are suitable for training online, it can be a practical way for students with limited time to learn a new profession.
Questions to Ask Trade Schools
After you have decided on the trade and type of certificate or degree that you would like to obtain, either on campus or online, you can start to limit your list of schools. As you are certainly aware, there are numerous technical schools in the Wausau WI area and all over the United States to pick from. That's why it is extremely important to have a checklist of important qualifiers when making school comparisons. As earlier stated in our opening paragraph, location and tuition will most likely be the initial 2 factors you will take into consideration. Following are some additional ones that you will want to explore before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accredited. Numerous Wausau WI area vocational programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may earn Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school's programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, such as HVAC technology. Confirm 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 make certain that you receive a superior education, it may help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states mandate that the training program be accredited in order to qualify for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Operation? One clue to help assess the quality of a vocational school near Wausau WI is how long it has been in operation. A poorly reviewed or a fly by night school usually will not be in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. Having said that, even the top schools had to start from their opening day of training, so consider it as one of several qualifications.
Completion Rates. Ask the vocational 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 program. A low completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It might also signify that the teachers were not qualified to train the students. It's also essential that the schools have higher job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to help grads obtain apprenticeships or employment in the Wausau WI area.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most trade programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and technical schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of businesses or trade unions. Find out if the schools you are considering have working relationships with Wausau WI area companies in the field. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the local professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with on the job. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the technician you are working under regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Wausau WI contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It's desirable that you get as much personalized training as possible, which can be difficult in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to some of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk with 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. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are evaluating are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Wausau WI, confirm that the programs you are comparing provide those options. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select permits part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, sickness or family issues.
Find Out More About Technical Schools in Wausau
Enroll in the Right Wausau Vocational School
Enrolling in the ideal trade school near Wausau WI is an important first step toward a rewarding career in the vocation of your choice. As we have discussed in this post, you need to pick a school and a degree or certificate program that are both accredited and have outstanding reputations within the trade. Other features to look for are lots of hands-on training and modern facilities. You need to go to each of the schools personally that you are most interested in to inspect the campus and talk with both the faculty and current students. Try to get a feel for the quality of the training and the interaction between them. Also, inquire about scheduling choices and if evening 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 right questions as we have detailed in our checklist for evaluating schools, you'll be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make an educated decision. With the appropriate training, hard work and commitment, you can eventually become a licensed professional in your chosen trade.