Find out how long it will take to complete a trade school program and what programs you can consider if your time frame is limited.
Trade schools offer training programs that prepare students for careers in various fields. They also provide hands-on experience working alongside experienced instructors without committing to a four-year course.
These schools are often stepping stones into higher education. Students who complete their program receive a certificate or school diploma from the institution they attended. Some trade schools even award associate degrees.
Let's find out more about the length of the trade school and what skills you gain from attending one.
A trade school, also known as a vocational school, provides instruction in skilled trades to equip students for a precise occupation. These include engineering, nursing, computer technology, plumbing, and many others.
You can find out if a particular trade school is right for you by checking with local high schools, community colleges, or apprenticeship programs. Each has its own admissions process, so it's important to research them before applying.
Some schools only offer short-term certificate programs, while others may grant diplomas and associate degrees.
The amount of time required for trade schools varies per student. It all depends on whether you're taking classes part-time or full-time, how much support you need during your studies, and what type of certificate or diploma you're looking for.
If you're starting, an 18- to 24- month vocational program is the standard. However, some people take longer courses to ensure they have all the skills required for their occupation.
Trade schools programs vary in length, especially if you decide to take on a course full or part-time.
If you plan to attend a trade school full-time, you'll likely spend at least 20 hours a week studying. Unfortunately, you may not have the time to work simultaneously.
However, if you're going to be a trade school student part-time, you can balance community colleges with more hours to work and support your studies.
There are different types of programs available at trade schools. The most common ones include the following:
HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) helps regulate the temperature inside buildings. Therefore, HVAC techs are essential for maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures.
They also play a crucial role in protecting our homes from extreme weather conditions.
If you wish to take up full-time study, this can take up to one year to finish. At the same time, some courses take up to two years to complete.
Electrical engineering is a broad field that covers almost every aspect of modern life. From computers to cars, appliances to medical devices, electricity plays a major role in our daily lives.
If you do this full-time, this course will take six months to a year. However, if you wish to study this part-time, it will take up to two years to finish.
Vehicle mechanics are professionals who repair vehicles. They are also known as auto mechanics or automotive technicians.
As a full-time student, achieving your certification will take up to a year to finish the course. Part-time would take longer as you're not committing as much time each week to your studies.
This is an exciting career choice. Aircraft maintenance engineers ensure aircraft engines and other components are safe to use. They also perform routine inspections and repairs.
To become certified, it takes about two years to finish the course if you were to study for a bachelor's in college.
However, you will reduce the time if you do this in trade school.
Welders are skilled tradespeople who specialize in welding metal together. Welding is used in numerous industries—like construction and even aerospace—so welding technology is a very important skill.
To become certified in technical schools, it usually takes up to one year to finish the course.
However, some students may only require half that time, depending on how quickly they can pass each education class.
If you want to be a professional truck driver for a living, you'll need a commercial driver's license (CDL) to start.
You'll need a few months to complete the CDL course and obtain the appropriate certificates.
Hands-on job training is also necessary to ensure you can drive the vehicle correctly before getting behind the wheel and earning a salary.
Vocational schools support the health and wellness industry. Here we'll look at some health and wellness programs offered in trade schools.
Medical assisting is a profession where people help doctors and nurses by performing organizational duties such as scheduling meetings, taking notes during doctor visits, and handling medical devices.
As a student, you may need a high school diploma or GED certificate to apply for admission into a medical assisting program.
However, the trade school route allows you to accelerate your course when you obtain a certain certification, like a medical assistant associate degree, which can take up to two years.
A cosmetologist is someone who provides beauty services to clients. These include hair styling, skincare, nail care, and waxing.
The first step to becoming a cosmetologist is to earn a cosmetology license.
After that, you can either attend a cosmetology school or find a cosmetology program that can take up to two years to complete if you take the course full-time.
The dental assisting field requires a person to assist dentists and dental hygienists—helping them with patient records, preparing patients for procedures, and cleaning instruments.
After completing high school and obtaining a general education development (GED), you can study for a dental assisting license.
It typically takes around two years to complete a dental assisting program in tech school, compared to a four-year college degree if you go the traditional college route.
Culinary arts is a career path that involves working in restaurants and hotels. Students of culinary arts work in kitchens and food preparation areas.
You can study culinary arts through an apprenticeship program similar to job placement. This can take between six months to a full year.
Or, you can enroll in a culinary arts school, which can take an average of four years to complete if you choose a bachelor's degree, not a trade school.
Advantages of Trade Schools over Traditional Universities
There are many advantages to attending a trade school over attending a university.
For example, there is a predicted growth of 6% through 2026 in the trade school industry, making it more appealing to new students. Some other benefits of trade school include:
With a trade school, they may require more time commitment than a university, or it might be the opposite, depending on your course.
However, part-time trade school courses allow you to fit in extra hours to find additional work.
And once you become a trade school graduate, you have the opportunity to start working straight away.
Trade school programs can cost significantly less than traditional college tuition fees at universities.
Some schools offer scholarships or financial aid to students who meet their requirements.
But if you don't have the funds to pay for a 4-year undergraduate degree and know the field you want to work in has vocational school routes, it would be more cost-effective to go that way.
Another advantage of attending a trade school is that they often provide training for specific jobs. For example, a nursing assistant program will prepare you to work as a nurse's aide.
You'll have a better chance of getting hired at an entry-level position immediately because employers already know what you can do.
A trade school also allows you to pursue different careers. If you decide to change your major later, you can continue your studies without repeating any classes. You can use your transferable skills in various courses' curricula.
In addition, trade school courses and access to job roles are predicted to grow by over 20% in the next couple of years, which is great for career training in the future.
Many trade schools offer an advantage that university degrees don't offer: hands-on training.
By allowing you to shadow professionals in their fields, you'll learn about the industry and acquire practical skills by doing it yourself.
You'll be able to see what it's like in that industry and see if it's somewhere you want to work.
For example, a trade school could be perfect if you've always wanted to work in the restaurant business. It gives you the practical experience needed to land a position in this environment and see how you feel about the industry.
Here are some common questions about why you should consider a trade school over a college degree.
If you're looking for a specific program, like becoming a licensed electrician, the best place to start is by checking websites like ours that offer a range of program options.
Then you can discover where the closest institution is to your location, the price, and how long it will take to complete.
A CET course will teach you how electricians are responsible for installing, maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting all electrical systems in homes and businesses.
In addition, you'll learn safety rules, know how to use tools safely, and understand basic math concepts.
How long it takes to complete the program can vary depending on where you study.
However, the education course will take anywhere from seven to nine months to complete, with around 900 hours needed to be prepared for the job market.
It will be a mix of classroom lessons and hands-on training, so you're familiar with the correct tools and equipment needed on the field and will learn basic electrical wiring.
You will complete the course in under a year, but you will need some on-the-job training before becoming a master.
The main goal of a trade school is to prepare students for employment in specific industries.
Most trade schools offer programs in various disciplines, such as construction, automotive, plumbing, and cosmetology.
If this career journey interests you, discover our vocational programs and find the right one.