Trade Schools

Learn about attending a trade school

Trade schools prepare students for niche technical careers. In the United States, trade schools are divided into two categories: vocational institutions and career colleges. Vocational schools are generally non-profit organizations that receive government funding, while career colleges are private, for-profit institutions.

In recent years, online trade schools have also sprung up on the Internet. These schools can be useful if you're studying a subject that doesn't require hands-on practical training in a traditional classroom setting, like accounting or business finance. However, if you want to take up a skilled trade like carpentry, welding or plumbing, going to an in-class environment is a must.

Types of Trade Schools

Vocational schools and career colleges are often subdivided according to the specific trade they help students master. Common types of trade schools include:

• Welding trade schools. These vocational institutions teach both general and specific welding techniques; if you're interested in the highly specialized field of underwater welding, you may have to relocate to attend classes. Underwater welding trade schools are much rarer than standard ones.
• Automotive trade schools. Auto trade schools tend to focus on car mechanics or auto body repair. However, some offer instruction in specialized fields like air conditioning repair, car electrical repair or drivetrain mechanics.
• Carpentry trade schools. At carpentry trade schools, you're taught the skills you need to succeed in both the residential and commercial construction industries.
• Plumbing trade schools. Like construction trade schools, plumbing trade schools offer a variety of programs, depending on whether you see yourself working in a residential or industrial setting.

While tuition costs at trade schools are generally more affordable than what you'd pay to go to college, most of these schools still make financial aid available to students in need. If you have the desire to learn a trade and qualify for admission to the school, money shouldn't get in your way.

Admission Requirements for Trade Schools

Most trade schools only require a high school diploma or its equivalent, the GED, for admission. Trade schools tend to focus less on academic success and more on the real-world applicability of your skill set. The true test of your success is measured by employability. Thus, the key metric you should use when evaluating a trade school is the percentage of the graduates who go on to find work in their field of study within one year of graduation.