What Are Trade Schools?
If you’re a high-school graduate and looking for a secure and affordable path that’ll allow you to start earning quickly, you should consider a trade school. It’ll provide you with the opportunity to learn specialized skills faster than a traditional four-year college.
In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about trade schools so that you can make the right choice for your future.
What Are Trade Schools?
A trade school, also known as a technical school or vocational school, is a post-secondary institution that specializes in skilled trades. It teaches technical skills and prepares students quickly to enter a specific occupation.
Trade schools focus on high-in-demand fields and offer hands-on training, known as CTE (Career and Technical Education) so that students can start earning right after graduation.
It’s important to note that you don’t get a bachelor’s degree after graduating from a vocational school. Students who graduate from these institutions receive a trade certificate, diploma, or associate degree (in the case of a community college). Some common types of trade schools include carpentry, specialty trade contractors, electrical installation and maintenance, and HVACR mechanics and Installers.
What Are the Most Popular Trade Careers?
The following are some of the most popular and highly-paid trade careers.
Construction Manager
Construction managers, also known as project managers, need to supervise residential, commercial, industrial, and public construction projects. It’s one of the highest-paying trade jobs with an annual average salary of $98,890, according to the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics). In addition, employment in this sector is expected to grow by 11% from 2020 to 2030.
Other construction and extraction occupations such as boilermaker, carpenters, electricians, ironworkers, and masonry workers are also popular. The demand for these occupations is expected to grow by 6% from 2020 to 2030. The average annual salary of these jobs is $48,210.
Electronic and Electrical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
A person involved in this job needs to help engineers create electrical and electronic equipment like navigational gadgets, medical monitoring devices, and computers. The median annual salary of this job is $63,640 and the employment in this sector is expected to grow 2% from 2020 to 2030, as per BLS stats.
Installation, Repair, and Maintenance Occupations
The installation, repair, and maintenance occupations include a range of trade jobs such as:
- Aircraft avionics equipment technicians
- Automotive body and glass repairers
- Diesel service mechanics
- General maintenance and repair workers
- Line installers and repairers
- Small engine mechanics
According to the BLS stats, the average annual salary of these occupations is $47,940. In addition, the employment in these trade jobs is expected to grow 7% from 2020 to 2030.
HVACR Mechanics and Installers
The HVACR (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration) mechanics and installers are also highly popular. They have a median annual salary of $48,630 and it’s expected that the employment rate of these occupations will increase by 5% from 2020 to 2030.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
These trade jobbers can work anywhere from homes to industrial areas where pipes and related systems are installed. The average annual salary of these jobs is $59,880 and the employment rate is expected to grow 5% from 2020 to 2030. In addition, the projected growth of plumbing alone is 12% from 2014 to 2024.
How Do You Apply to Trade Schools? What Are the Requirements? A Step-By-Step Process
The process to apply to a trade school is a lot easier than applying to a traditional four-year college or university. You can use the following steps to apply to a trade or vocational school.
Step 1: Choose a Program
The first step is to choose a program that you want to study. If you want to choose any other program than the ones listed above, make sure that you find out its demand and average annual salary. In addition, it’s also important to choose a trade program that you’ll pursue passionately.
Step 2: Find a Trade School
The next step is to choose a trade school that offers the program you selected. We recommend you look for a school that also offers financial aid to qualifying candidates as well as job placement aid. Not only will it help you afford the school but it’ll also assist you to find a job quickly after graduation.
Another important factor that you need to keep in mind is to make sure you fulfill the age requirements. While most trade schools accept 16-year-old students, there are some institutions and vocational programs that require candidates to be at least 17 or 18 years of age.
Step 3: Fulfill Document Requirements
Most trade schools require high school students to submit their high school diploma or GED. In addition, you’ll also need to have more than a 2.0 GPA to get enrolled in trade schools. If you have a lower score, you’ll need to take remedial courses to improve it.
Some trade schools also ask high school graduates to submit their high-school transcript before getting enrolled. If you have any letter of recommendation or SAT or ACT scores, we recommend you submit them as well. While they’re not required, they’ll make your application stand out. They might also increase your chances to qualify for financial aid.
Other than submitting these documents, you’ll also need to fill out an application form. These forms are like questionnaires that ask you about your previous education and employment history. You may also be asked to provide reasons if you need financial aid.
Step 4: Appear in an Interview
Depending on the school you selected, you might be called for an interview before the exam. The admission representatives will ask you different questions to determine whether your selected field is right for you or not.
They might also talk about their rules and regulations and the facilities they offer. Some vocational schools also give a tour of the institution to candidates to help them see the environment they’ll be training in. Keep in mind that some interviewers allow interviewees to ask questions if they want. Make sure that you ask plenty of them to clear all your confusion.
Step 5: Appear in the Exam
In order to start your training in a trade school, you’ll need to pass the admission test. While some vocational schools consider high ACT or SAT scores, you need to clear the entrance exam for most technical schools.
How Long Does Trade School Take?
The duration to complete your trade school degree depends on the program you’re in. Typically, it takes anywhere from eight months to two years to complete most trade school programs. The maximum time that students need to spend in trade schools or community colleges is two years which is still half of what you need to spend in a traditional college.
How Much Do Trade Schools Cost?
The cost of completing a trade school program depends on your institution, location, and field and it can vary dramatically. However, according to stats, the average tuition and fees for a two-year in-district program are $3,800, and the average room and board fee is $9,330, for one year.
How to Choose a Vocational Program or Trade School?
The following are some of the most important factors that you must consider while choosing a vocational program or a trade school.
- You want to make sure that you feel passionate about the vocational program you choose.
- Choose a trade school that offers the program you have selected.
- Make sure that you get enrolled in a reputable school. You can always check online reviews for that.
- If you can’t afford the trade school education, opt for a school that offers financial aid.
- Check the class sizes and quality of labs that a school offers. It’ll allow you to train properly for your occupation.
- It’s also advisable to choose a school that offers job placement assistance.
Trade School vs. College vs. Apprenticeship
As mentioned earlier, a trade school offers hands-on training to students and helps them start earning quickly. Whereas education in a college, a bachelor’s degree, involves a lot of theory unlike in trading schools and it needs a long time (four to five years typically) to complete.
Apprenticeships are different from both college and trade schools. It’s based on industry-driven education programs that involve practical training. It allows people to learn how to perform a certain job while getting paid.
How Much Do Trade School Graduates Make?
The earnings of trade school graduates depend on their field and experience. For example, the average annual salary of an escalator and elevator installer and repairer is $97,860. Whereas a licensed vocational nurse earns an annual salary of $48,070 on average. In general, trade school graduates make around $40,000 to $100,000 per year.
Online vs. In-Person Trade School
Not all trade schools offer in-person lectures and some of them conduct online classes as well. The online classes suit working students who can’t go to school regularly. They provide working students with the flexibility to listen to pre-recorded lectures whenever they can.
On the other hand, in-person trade schools have a schedule that you need to follow. You need to go to the school building regularly for lectures and training classes.
Keep in mind that going to the building is better than online classes because it allows you to have hands-on experience in labs. You can also ask questions from lecturers in real-time to solve your queries.
Final Words
Opting for a trade school will be a wise choice for you if you want to start earning quickly by pursuing a skilled trade. It’ll also suit you better if you want a less expensive path to enter the professional world. But you need to keep in mind that it’ll allow you to secure an entry-level position in the industry.
