What are the benefits of a vocational Education?
The benefits are numerous and advantageous:
- Fast-track your career into a high paying job
- Receive training you need to succeed in the workplace
- If you do decide to go onto a 4-year school, most universities will recognize your previous training and give you unit credit
- More likely to start working sooner in the field of your choice
- Gain diploma, license, and certification
- Some vocational programs do not require a high school diploma or GED to enroll (anyone with a strong and determined work ethic is qualified!)
- Over 500 Programs Possible!
If you choose to go to a vocational school, you will have more benefits than not continuing your education at all. You will most likely have higher:
- Wealth (your job is more likely to offer you health insurance and a good salary!)
- Life Satisfaction/Quality
- Employment Opportunities (Vocational schools teach many technical skills needed in the work force)
- Higher Professional Status
- Individual Motivation
What are the Highest paying vocational Careers?
Many careers only require a two-year associate’s degree from a vocational school, and some of these careers are America’s highest paying jobs! Here are a few options and resources:
- Registered Nurse
- Job Description- assisting doctors in providing patient care plans in hospitals, nursing facilities, and other health care settings
- Top Pay: $96,320 or more
- Average Pay: $66,220
- Some Skills Needed: critical thinking, flexibility, compassion, patience, organization, attention to detail, and interpersonal and communication skills
- Breckinridge School of Nursing provides an Associate’s Degree Program in Nursing. Link: www.breckinridgenursing.com
- Electrician
- Job Description- trained on wiring buildings for electrical power and communications
- Top Pay: $83,860 or more
- Average Pay: $50,510
- Some Skills Needed: communication and reading skills, aptitude for mathematics, mechanical ability, strength and manual dexterity, planning skills, and organization
- ITT Technical Institute offers an Associate Science Degree from its School of Electronics Technology located in Oxnard. Link: http://www2.itt-tech.edu/electronicstech/campus/courses.cfm?prog_id=7269
- Paralegal or legal Assistant
- Job Description- supporting lawyers by taking care of responsibilities such as legal research, administrative tasks, or document drafting
- Top Pay: $76,960 or more
- Average Pay: $47,570
- Some Skills Needed: critical thinking skills, organization, reading and writing skills, oral communication, interpersonal skills, and research and investigative skills
- Charter College has a program for a Paralegal Certificate. Located in Oxnard. Link: http://www.chartercollege.edu/programs/legal/paralegal-studies-certificate
Which Vocational Schools Are Near You?
There a lot of vocational programs available in California. Here are some options:
- CET (Center for Employment Training) Santa Maria
- Programs: Construction, Medical, Nursing, Truck Driving, Welding, Accounting, etc.
- Job Corps, located in Long Beach, Sacramento, and Los Angeles
- Some Programs: welding, Pharmacy technician, and optician
- Laurus College, local to Santa Maria with both online and on campus courses
- Some Programs: business, design art, and information technology (IT)
- Kaplan College, with 10 California campuses (including San Diego and Riverside)
- Some Programs: Criminal Justice, Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography, and Medical Office Specialist
- Art Institute of California, with 7 California campuses (from San Francisco to San Diego)
- Some Programs: cooking, fashion design, audio production, and web design & interactive media
Who is the Best Candidate for a Trade school education?
There is really no “best candidate” for a vocational school education.
However, individuals who enroll often fit into one of the following categories:
- Attempting to gain experience in order to enter into a new industry
- Shortening the amount of time needed for training
- Deciding to experiment in an industry before jumping into the job market
- Deciding what career they’re most interested in
- Enjoys hands-on work
- Excited to get out into the workforce
Beware of Sketchy Vocational schools!
A sketchy vocational school, or “diploma mill” is a company that offers ‘degrees’ for a flat fee in a short amount of time and requires little to no course work. Degrees awarded through diploma mills are not legitimate.
Signs of a Diploma Mill
No Studies, No Exams, No Interaction- If you’re getting a degree without doing any work, chances are you’re dealing with a diploma mill. Legitimate colleges or universities — including online schools — require substantial course work and interaction with professors.
Flat Fee- Many diploma mills charge on a per-degree basis. Legitimate colleges charge by the credit, course, or semester — not a flat fee for an entire degree.
No Waiting- Though there are schools that offer accelerated degrees in-person or online, earning a degree still takes some time. If an ad promises that you can earn a degree in a few days, weeks, or even months, it’s probably a diploma mill.
A great way to see if your program is legitimate is through the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.
