How Do I Find the Right Trade & Certificate Program?

The Next Step Department aims to support your post-graduation journey toward entering the trades or earning a career certification.

Vocational schools, also known as trade or career schools, and certificate programs offer training for various skilled jobs such as automotive technicians, medical assistants, hair stylists, certified nursing aids, electronics technicians, paralegals, truck drivers and more. These are great career fields for someone not interested in the traditional college pathway, but who still want to continue their education after high school and secure a solid future.

It is essential to consider whether additional training is necessary and what kind of training is best for the desired job. There are tools to assist in the decision-making process like TrainingProvidersResults.gov and College Scorecard which can be good resources for information on program costs, completion rates, and post-graduate employment rates, enabling students to make informed comparisons between different programs.

Unlock Your Future

Career and technical certifications can be earned at trade or vocational schools, community college programs, or on the job. Career fields like EMT/fire, cosmetology, auto mechanics, HVAC, healthcare, trucking, construction, and more.

Watch the video to learn more about the types of vocational schools, who thrives in these schools and how to assess their quality to secure a job after you earn a certificate.