Navigating Trade School: Understanding Duration and Decisions
When you see rising demand in an exciting career field, or you have a passion you want to turn into a long-term job, what’s your next step? Enrolling in trade school or vocational school can be the perfect answer, setting you up with the skills you need.
Since trade school programs are focused on hands-on, highly specific training and education, it’s possible to complete them in a short time compared to a traditional college diploma program. Even the longest programs rarely exceed two years, and many are significantly faster — eight months or even less.
In addition to short program duration, trade schools, and vocational schools offer other helpful advantages to help you receive useful training in your field of choice. For example, since many trade school enrollees are already working professionals, class schedules may accommodate people with demands on their time. The sooner you get started with trade school, the sooner you’ll have your credentials.
What Kinds of Programs Do Trade Schools and Vocational Schools Offer?
There are a few levels of trade school programs, based on the type of credential a student is studying for. While all these programs are designed to be shorter and more focused on hands-on skill training than a four-year college education, there is a range of options within the field.
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- Certificate program or diploma program: These are shorter options based on building skills within a certain area of focus. They prepare graduates to perform specialized work.
- License program: Some fields are governed by bodies that require participants to be licensed — trade school programs in these industries are specifically designed to prepare students for licensure.
- Associate degree program: An associate degree is a longer option than a diploma or certificate, only available (or relevant) in certain fields. Credits for these may be transferable between a community college and a longer program at a four year college.
Discover specialized courses in underwater welding and nondestructive testing.
What Do You Need To Enroll in Trade School?
Enrolling in trade school is an option open to high school graduates seeking to boost their skills for the job market, mid-career professionals looking for a change in field, military personnel building toward a civilian role, or anyone interested in becoming deeply involved with a specific subject matter.
While the requirements may differ depending on the school or the type of program, the following are the necessary credentials to enroll with The Ocean Corporation:
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- All students must be 18 years of age or older.
- Enrollees must possess either a high school diploma or an equivalency degree (GED).
- For diving certificate courses, students must pass a physical examination.
As the physical requirement shows, some fields require extra preparation or qualifications due to their demanding, hands-on nature.
For applicants whose participation in trade school or vocational school depends on financial aid, there are options available. For example, the U.S. Department of Education provides financial aid in the form of Federal Pell Grants, other types of grants, and student loans for trade school enrollees.
Learn more about the admissions process for The Ocean Corporation’s courses.
How Long Is Trade School? Lengths of Different Programs
The length of a trade school program in a specific industry depends on what students in that particular field need to know — as well as the focus of the school.
Factors affecting trade school length include:
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- Relevant type of degree for that field: An associate degree may take two years to earn, while certificates and diploma programs are typically quicker.
- Scheduling of the program: While some programs are designed for students to take only a few hours of classes a week, potentially on nights and weekends, others run daytime classes every day, leading to more hours in fewer days and a shorter overall duration.
- The institution’s focus and philosophy: Course design may affect the length of time it takes to finish a trade school educational program, and could add months to a student’s tenure.
Example: The Ocean Corporation’s Programs
While there’s no all-purpose answer to the question “How long is trade school?” there is a simple answer to how long it takes to graduate from The Ocean Corporation’s courses in commercial diving or nondestructive testing: 30 weeks, which comes out to approximately 7 ½ months.
This is on the low end of the average time it takes to complete a trade school program and is a reflection of the institutional focus on highly focused education. Students learn everything they need to know to be effective, safe, and capable in their chosen fields, without any extra “filler” material designed to stretch out the program.
What Kinds of Career Options Come From Trade School Education?
Career opportunities after a trade school program come in a few forms. The general idea is always the same, however: Students who take the time to build their knowledge and credentials in specific fields are building resumes specifically designed to impress hiring managers in those industries and trades.
More specifically, trade school education can equip graduates with:
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- In-depth knowledge and understanding of esoteric subjects.
- Credentials valued by hiring managers at companies in a specific field.
- Career services with assistance from staff and access to networking events.
Choice of career path can make all the difference for prospective students considering trade school as a potential leg-up for their employment prospects in a skilled trade. Some industries, like commercial diving and nondestructive testing, are actively searching for large numbers of new employees, and enrolling in an aligned trade school is one way to become a more intriguing candidate for those open roles.
Learn how demand for nondestructive testing has caused The Ocean Corporation to add more courses.
Ready To Learn More About Specialized Class Offerings?
Industries such as nondestructive testing and commercial diving exemplify the trade school experience. These are career paths that demand specialized knowledge not typically picked up during college, and where employers are looking for new recruits who possess a relevant background.
The Ocean Corporation exists to prepare students with that know-how, and to help them on their way during and after their enrollment. Specific advantages of The Ocean Corporation for prospective students include:
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- A focus on highly focused learning, with classes as short as 30 weeks.
- Deep subject matter expertise, equipping students with everything they need to know about these specialized fields.
- Hands-on components to each training program, to prepare learners for the exact requirements of nondestructive testing and commercial diving jobs.
- Career services resources for students, including events and gatherings to help pupils network within their new industries.
Trade school is a short time commitment compared to traditional college education. The months spent in these specialized courses, however, can represent a major turning point in a student’s academic life and overall career journey.
Request more information about The Ocean Corporation’s courses, sign up for classes, or call us at 800-321-0298.