Vocational Schools

If you’ve been thinking about getting a college education through a traditional degree program, you may want to consider technical education instead.

What is technical education?

Technical education typically offers hands-on, skills-based training designed to give students practical, real-world proficiency in a career field. You can often find this type of education at trade schools and community colleges, although technical programs can also be found at more traditional universities, and some are even offered online.

If you’ve been thinking about getting a college education through a traditional degree program, you may want to consider technical education instead.

What is technical education?

Technical education typically offers hands-on, skills-based training designed to give students practical, real-world proficiency in a career field. You can often find this type of education at trade schools and community colleges, although technical programs can also be found at more traditional universities, and some are even offered online.

Let's say you wanted to pursue a career as a computer programmer. In a traditional university program, you might take a 100-level computer-science course your first semester that gives you a broad overview of the subject along with other core classes in subjects like English and math. Compare that to a technical program, where you might jump straight into a computer programming course and start learning specific programming languages right away.

Let's say you wanted to pursue a career as a computer programmer. In a traditional university program, you might take a 100-level computer-science course your first semester that gives you a broad overview of the subject along with other core classes in subjects like English and math. Compare that to a technical program, where you might jump straight into a computer programming course and start learning specific programming languages right away.

Other examples of career fields and job positions you can explore with a technical education, as categorized by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), include:

·         Information Technology: Computer Network Security, Software Engineering, Web Development

·         Fine Arts: Computer Animation, Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography

·         Allied Health:  Medical Assistant, Medical Billing Specialist, Emergency Medical Technician

·         Culinary Arts: Professional Chef, Baking and Pastry Specialist, Culinary and Restaurant Management

·         Building and Industrial Trades: Structural Welding, Electrical Systems Technician, HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning) Technician

When looking at your options, accrediting bodies like ACCSC can be valuable in determining the quality of a school. You can also seek information from reliable sources and experts in the subject field you’re interested in.

For example, if you’d like to become a professional chef, you could look for guidance from a respected culinary organization like the International Association of Culinary Professionals, which highlights the best vocational cooking school every two years.

2012: International Culinary Center (ICC)

2010: The French Culinary Institute (Now the ICC)

2008: The Institute of Culinary Education

2006: The French Culinary Institute (Now the ICC)

2004: The New England Culinary Institute

Why get technical education?

While the education one can receive from a general degree program should certainly not be discounted, the skills you can gain if you complete a technical education program could possibly make you more attractive to potential employers when you’re ready to enter the job market.

High-skill workers with technical expertise are in high demand in industries like manufacturing and mining according to a 2012 CNN article, as more American companies are shifting production back to U.S. soil.

As you can see, getting a technical education can be a great alternative to traditional college academics.

Sources:

"Manufacturing boom: Trade school enrollment soars", CNN Money

Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges

International Association of Culinary Professionals