How to Select the Right Technical School Program near Essex Connecticut

Choosing to begin a new occupation and enroll in a trade school near Essex CT are serious decisions that will greatly affect your long term career. However with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you go about locating the right one? Not only do you have to make sure that you will receive the extensive training required to succeed in your new field, but also that the school is reputable and well regarded. A number of potential students make the error of selecting a vocational school just because the campus is closest to their residence or where the work. Or they might gravitate to the school that charges the most affordable tuition. Of course the cost and location of the training are important factors when assessing trade school options, but they must not be the only ones. Additional considerations such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools are important as well. So prior to beginning your evaluations and comparing trade schools, you will need to know what questions you should be asking so you can get the information to make a final selection. We will cover some of those questions shortly in this post. But first, let’s look at some of the trade options that are available including the availability of online schools.

Trade School Program Options near Essex CT

There are a number of professions to select from in vocational schools that offer fulfilling and high paying careers. Possibly you have already chosen one that you have for years desired to pursue. For instance, perhaps you have always had fun working on your car and have given thought to utilizing that talent to make a living as a car mechanic. Or maybe a relative has had a prosperous career in a certain vocation or trade and you would love to follow in his or her footsteps. Whatever your inspiration is for going into a trade, there is likely a program offered that will provide the training you require. Following is just a small representation of the trade school programs that are offered in the Essex CT area.

• Auto Mechanic
• Heating and Cooling (HVAC) Tech
• Plumbing
• Electrical Technician
• Welder
• Truck Driver
• Aircraft Maintenance Tech
• Lab Technician
• Construction Management

All programs will have varying costs and completion times based upon the trade, type of credential and school. Some of the programs may be completed in a few weeks, while others will necessitate several months or even 2 or more years of schooling. Each of these factors need to be considered prior to choosing a trade and a school.

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Learning a Vocation Online

Schools available online have become very popular with Essex CT students and increasingly more accredited programs are being offered. Even though online learning is a readily available and practical way to obtain a degree or certificate, it may not be the ideal option for every vocation or trade. For instance, training to drive a semi truck is not something that you can accomplish online, nor is learning how to weld. These are skills that have to be learned through practical training and by doing it, not by studying or watching videos. But certain elements of the training can be suitable for online education, for example studying driving and safety guidelines for truck driving schools or studying metallurgy or how to read blueprints for welder schools. A number of programs will incorporate online education with on campus lab work, for example for electrician or welding schools. So it is crucial to find out before choosing an online program for any trade if there is an adequate amount of practical training devoted to the curriculum. One means to help ensure that a trade school program is both appropriate for online education and delivers in-depth hands-on training is to check that it’s accredited by a nationally acknowledged accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). For those vocations that are suitable for training online, it can be a convenient way for those with time constraints to acquire a new trade.

Points to Ask Vocational School Programs

When you have selected the trade and type of certificate or degree that you want to attain, either online or on campus, you can begin to limit your selection of schools. As you are probably aware, there are a large number of vocational schools in the  Essex CT area and across the United States to pick from. That’s why it is imperative to have a checklist of important qualifiers when making school comparisons. As formerly stated in our opening paragraph, location and tuition will most likely be the initial 2 aspects you will consider. Following are several additional ones that you will want to explore before enrolling in your school of choice.

Accreditation.  Many Essex CT area trade schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for instance HVAC technology. Make certain that the school is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you acquire a quality education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, some states mandate that the  training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing where applicable.

How Long in Business? One indicator to help measure the quality of a vocational school near Essex CT is how long it has been in business. A negatively ranked or a fly by night school normally will not stay in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. On the other hand, even the best of schools had to begin from their first day of training, so consider it as one of multiple qualifications.

 Completion Rates.  Ask the trade schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate could suggest that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It could also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to instruct the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader directory of graduates, which can mean more contacts for the school to use for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist graduates obtain apprenticeships or jobs in the Essex CT area.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Many training programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of businesses or labor unions. Check if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Essex CT area professionals in the trade. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies employment opportunities and helps to build relationships in the area professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Make sure that the school facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the tech you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. If not, ask a local Essex CT contracting company if they can provide some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the school needs to be within commuting distance of your residence. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added relocation costs there may be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s desirable that you receive as much personalized instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can see how large they are and witness first hand the interaction between instructors and students. Speak with several of the students and get their comments concerning class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is in Connecticut and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you are only able to go to classes in the evening or on weekends near Essex CT, confirm that the schools you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make sure that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.

Best Trade School Careers Essex Connecticut

Choosing the ideal trade school near Essex CT is a crucial first step toward a rewarding career in the vocation of your choice. As we have addressed in this article, you need to select a vocational school and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. Other things to search for are plenty of hands-on training and modern facilities. You should visit each of the schools in person that you are most interested in to explore the campus and talk with both the current students and faculty. Attempt to get a feel for the quality of the training and the interaction between them. Also, ask about scheduling options and if evening or weekend classes are available if needed. And don’t forget to inquire about financial assistance and student loan options too. You initially came to this website because of your interest in Best Trade School Careers and wanting more information on the topic 2 Year Trade School Programs. However, if you ask the appropriate questions as we have detailed in our guidelines for assessing schools, you’ll be able to filter your options so that you can make an educated decision. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, you can eventually become a licensed professional in your chosen trade.

Other Connecticut Hard Working Locations

 

Essex, Connecticut

Essex is one of the few American towns to ever be attacked by a foreign power; this occurred on April 8, 1814, and the economic losses were among the largest sustained by the United States during the War of 1812. 28 vessels, with a total value estimated to be close to $200,000 (at a time when a very large two story home in Essex, then known as Potapoug Point, would have been worth no more than $1,000), were destroyed by the British.[1] One historian has called it the "Pearl Harbor" of that war.[2]

On that date, approximately 136 British marines and sailors under the command of Richard Coote[1][3] (or Coot[2]) rowed 6 boats from four British warships (the Hogue, Endymion, Maidstone and Borer) anchored in Long Island Sound, 6 miles up the Connecticut River, past the unmanned fort in Old Saybrook, arriving at the boat launch at the foot of Main Street in Essex close to 4 A.M. The boats were armed with swivel guns loaded with grapeshot, the officers armed with swords and pistols, the marines with "Brown Bess" muskets, and the sailors with torches and axes; they responded to the single cannon fired by the town's surprised defenders with a massive volley, neither side incurring any casualties. They quickly commandeered the town, eliciting a promise of no resistance from the Essex militia in return for promising not to harm the townspeople or burn their homes, while a messenger rode to Fort Trumbull in New London for help. A dubious local myth states that Coote did not burn the town as a favor to a local merchant who greeted him with a secret Masonic handshake.[2]

The British marched to the Bushnell Tavern (now the Griswold Inn), then seized the town's stores of rope (each ship of that time requiring 8 miles of rope) and, according to the April 19, 1814 Hartford Courant, "$100,000 or upwards" worth of rum (acquired from the East Indies in trade for beef and wood from Connecticut).[2]

 

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