How to Choose the Right Trade School Program near Decatur Georgia
Choosing to enter into a new occupation and enroll in a vocational school near Decatur GA are important decisions that will greatly impact your long term career. But with so many vocational schools to choose from, exactly how do you undertake locating the ideal one? Not only do you have to ascertain that you will receive the comprehensive training necessary to be successful in your new profession, but also that the school is highly regarded and reputable. A number of prospective students make the error of enrolling in a vocational school simply because the campus is closest to their residence or where the work. Or they might be attracted to the school that has the lowest tuition. Of course the cost and location of the programs are critical considerations when analyzing vocational school options, but they can not be the sole ones. Added variables such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools are critical also. So before you begin evaluating and comparing trade schools, you will need to know what questions to ask in order to get the information to make a final selection. We will address some of those questions shortly in this post. But first, let’s talk about some of the vocation options that are offered including the accessibility of online programs.
Trade School Career Options near Decatur GA
There are an abundance of professions to select from in vocational schools that offer rewarding and high paying careers. Perhaps you have already chosen one that you have for years desired to pursue. For example, maybe you have always taken pleasure in working on your car and have considered using that skill to earn a living as an auto mechanic. Or maybe a relative has had a prosperous career in a specific trade or vocation and you would like to follow in his or her footsteps. No matter what your inspiration is for going into a trade, there is undoubtedly a program offered that will provide the training you require. Following is just a small representation of the vocational training programs that are offered in the Decatur GA area.
- Automotive Technician
- Heating And Air Conditioning (HVAC) Tech
- Plumber
- Electrical Technician
- Welder
- Truck Driver
- Aircraft Maintenance Tech
- Lab Technician
- Construction Management
All programs will have differing completion times and costs depending on the trade, credential earned and school. Some of the programs may be completed in a few weeks, while others will necessitate months or even 2 or more years of schooling. Each of these aspects must be considered prior to selecting a vocation and school.
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Learning a Trade Online
Trade Schools online have become more attractive with Decatur GA students and increasingly more accredited programs are becoming available. While learning online is a very convenient and accessible way to obtain a certificate or degree, it might not be the ideal option for every vocation or trade. For example, training to operate a tractor trailer is not something that you can do online, nor is learning how to weld. These are skills that have to be learned through hands on training and by doing it, not by studying or watching videos. But certain components of the training can be suitable for online education, for instance learning driving and safety regulations for truck driving schools or studying metallurgy or how to read blueprints for welder schools. A number of programs will incorporate online instruction with on-campus practical training, for example for HVAC or plumbing schools. So it is crucial to determine before choosing an online school for any trade if there is an appropriate amount of hands-on training devoted to the syllabus. One way to help ensure that a trade school program is both suitable for online education and provides comprehensive practical training is to confirm that it’s accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). For those vocations that are appropriate for online training, it can be a convenient way for those with limited time to acquire a new trade.
Questions to Ask Trade School Programs
When you have selected the vocation and type of certificate or degree that you want to obtain, either online or on campus, you can start to narrow down your list of schools. As you are no doubt aware, there are many trade schools in the Decatur GA area and all over the United States to pick from. That’s why it is essential to have a checklist of key qualifications when making school assessments. As previously stated in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will probably be the initial two factors you will look at. Following are some additional ones that you need to explore before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accredited. A large number of Decatur GA area trade programs have earned either a regional or a national accreditation. They may acquire Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to a specific program, for instance HVAC technology. Verify that the school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved accrediting organization, for example the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping make certain that you acquire an excellent education, it can help in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Furthermore, many states mandate that the training course be accredited in order to be approved for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Operation? One clue to help measure the quality of a vocational school near Decatur GA is how long it has been in business. A negatively ranked or a fly by night school usually will not stay in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. Having said that, even the top schools had to start from their opening day of training, so consider it as one of several qualifiers.
Completion Rates. Ask the vocational schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and finish the course. A lower completion rate could indicate that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It could also signify that the instructors were not competent to instruct the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a broader list of graduates, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only validate that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help students obtain apprenticeships or employment in the Decatur GA area.
Apprenticeship Programs. Numerous vocational programs are taught together with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of businesses or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Decatur GA area contractors in the field. An apprenticeship not only offers a valuable experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also supplies job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional professional community.
Modern Facilities. Make sure that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, consult with the technician you are working with concerning what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Decatur GA contractor if they can provide some suggestions. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can move, the school must be within commuting distance of your residence. Take note that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there may be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a couple of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between students and instructors. Speak to several of the students and get their comments relating to class sizes and instruction. Finally, talk to a few of the instructors and learn what their level of experience is in Georgia and what certifications or degrees they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Make sure that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Decatur GA, check that the programs you are comparing offer those options. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Technical Vocational Schools Decatur Georgia
Choosing the ideal trade school near Decatur GA is a crucial first step toward a rewarding career in the vocation of your choice. As we have covered in this post, you need to pick a school and a degree or certificate program that are both accredited and have outstanding reputations within the trade. Other things to look 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 inspect the campus and speak with both the current students and faculty. Attempt to get a feel for the quality of the training and the interaction between them. In addition, inquire about scheduling choices and whether or not evening or weekend classes are offered if needed. And don’t forget to inquire about financial aid and student loan options too. You initially came to this website because of your interest in Technical Vocational Schools and wanting more information on the topic 6 Week Trade Schools. However, if you ask the appropriate questions as we have laid out in our checklist for assessing schools, you’ll be able to narrow down your options so that you can make an educated decision. With the appropriate training, hard work and commitment, you can eventually become a licensed professional in your chosen trade.
Other Georgia Hard Working Locations
Decatur, Georgia
Decatur is a city in, and the county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia that is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. With a population of 20,148 in the 2013 census,[3] the municipality is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple ZIP Codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name. The city is served by three MARTA rail stations. The city is located approximately 5 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta and shares its western border with Atlanta.
Decatur was established at the intersection of two Native American trails: the Sandtown, which led east from the Chattahoochee River at Utoy Creek, and the Shallowford, which follows today's Clairmont Road, and eventually crossed near Roswell. It was named for United States Navy Commodore Stephen Decatur.
During the American Civil War, Decatur became a strategic site in Sherman's Atlanta Campaign. In July 1864, Major-General James McPherson occupied the town to cut off the Confederates' supply line from Augusta. On July 22, during the Battle of Atlanta, Confederate cavalry under Major-General Joseph Wheeler attacked McPherson's supply wagons and the Union troops left to defend the wagons. A historical marker at the old courthouse marks the site of this skirmish.
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