Vocational School May Be Your Best Bet

Tom Hanson, Contributing Writer

Updated: 3/14/2010

While a traditional college diploma carries with it a great deal of prestige, more and more students are taking advantage of schools that offer training for a specific career. Vocational education programs that focus on developing work skills in addition to academics generally offer more hands on opportunities for students and learning tasks are tailored towards a student’s specific career choice. If you are interested in a specific career or trade, vocational schools are likely to be your best schooling bet.

Vocational versus Traditional Schooling

Examples of vocational programs abound, from culinary arts to health occupations.

While many schools can offer students a general education that allow for many possible career options, vocational schools generally do not offer such flexibility. Therefore, one of the key factors in choosing a vocational program over a more traditional program is the student must have a greater sense of what he or she wants to do upon graduating.

At the same time, many students find vocational programs more advantageous as they must immediately put subject knowledge to use. Specific classroom learning tasks are put into a meaningful context for students as they put their skills and knowledge to work in their specific choice of trade.

Choosing a Two or Four - Year Program

Most vocational schools offer two levels of options, an associate's degree program that will take two years of study to complete, or a bachelor's degree program that will demand four years of study. In each case, there will be some general courses in addition to the specific vocational courses students take and the specific time for completion will vary with the individual student's ability to devote time to his or her studies.

Choosing between the two and four-year option can be as simple as affordability, both in terms of costs and time to complete. If a student has limited time or funds, at two-year program may be the only viable option initially. Such a program will generally help students qualify for a number of entry level job options that would not be available with just a high school diploma.

However, if a student is looking for the possibility of a management or leadership position within the industry, then he or she will need to think about obtaining a four-year degree eventually. In addition, within many of the health-related fields, completing a four year program may be necessary for even some entry level positions.

Apprenticeship versus the Classroom

Another key consideration for students is the potential learning environment. Some schools offer a number of classes within the school setting. Such classes will also have lab-based experiences to help students develop the necessary skill set for certain careers.

Other programs seek to have students involved in combined programs where students take some courses but also apprentice in the field. Culinary arts programs offer many such options where students gain valuable experience in a work setting as they move through their course of study.

If you as a student learn better through experiential educational options, you will want to look for a program that offers as much work and apprenticeship options as possible.

Choosing a Vocational Program

If you are definitely interested in a specific career or trade, vocational schools are likely to be your best schooling bet. As with all programs, be sure to give careful consideration to the actual components of the program to be certain they fit your schedule and your learning style.

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