How to Select the Right Vocational School near Prentiss Mississippi

Deciding to begin a new profession and enroll in a vocational school near Prentiss MS are important decisions that will greatly impact your long term career. However with numerous vocational schools to pick from, just how do you undertake identifying the ideal one? Not only do you need to make certain that you will obtain the comprehensive training needed to be successful in your new occupation, but also that the school is reputable and well regarded. Some prospective students make the error of choosing a vocational school simply because the campus is nearest to their home or place of employment. Or they might gravitate to the one that charges the lowest tuition. Of course the location and cost of the training are important factors when assessing trade school options, but they can not be the sole ones. Added variables including reputation and accreditation of the schools are important also. So prior to beginning your evaluations and comparing trade schools, you will need to know what questions to ask so you can get the information to make a final selection. We will cover several of those questions shortly in this post. But to start with, let’s talk about some of the vocation options that are offered including the availability of online programs.

Vocational School Training Options near Prentiss MS

There are a number of trades to choose from in vocational schools that provide rewarding and good paying careers. Possibly you have already decided on one that you have for years desired to pursue. For instance, maybe you have always had fun working on your car and have given thought to using that ability to earn a living as a car mechanic. Or perhaps a family member has had a long and successful career in a certain trade or vocation and you would love to follow in her or his footsteps. Whatever your motivation is for entering a trade, there is probably a program offered that will provide the training you need. Below is merely a modest representation of the vocational training programs that are available in the Prentiss MS area.

• Auto Mechanic
• Heating And Air Conditioning (HVAC) Tech
• Plumbing
• Electrician
• Welder
• Truck Driving
• Aircraft Maintenance Tech
• Lab Tech
• Construction Management

All programs will have varying completion times and costs depending on the trade, type of credential and school. Many of the programs may be completed in just weeks, while others will call for months or even 2 or more years of schooling. Each of these elements need to be considered prior to selecting a trade and a school.

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Online Trade Schools

Schools available online have become more attractive with Prentiss MS students and a growing number of accredited programs are becoming available. While online learning is a very convenient and accessible way to obtain a degree or certificate, it might not be the best option for all trades or vocations. For instance, learning to drive a tractor trailer is not something that you can accomplish online, nor is training how to weld. These are skills that need to be learned through practical training and by doing it, not by studying or watching videos. But certain components of the training may be suitable for online training, for instance studying safety and driving regulations for truck driving schools or studying metallurgy or how to read blueprints for welding schools. Many programs will incorporate online instruction with on campus practical training, such as for HVAC or plumbing schools. So it is very important to determine before enrolling in an online school for any vocation if there is a suitable amount of hands-on training allocated to the curriculum. One way to help ensure that a vocational school program is both appropriate for online learning and provides comprehensive practical training is to confirm 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 limited time to learn a new profession.

What to Ask Trade Schools

After you have picked the trade and type of degree or certificate that you want to obtain, either on campus or online, you can begin to narrow down your list of schools. As you are probably aware, there are a large number of vocational schools in the  Prentiss MS area and across the Country to pick from. That’s why it is essential to have a list of key qualifications when making school assessments. As earlier stated in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will most likely be the initial 2 factors you will consider. Following are some additional ones that you should investigate before enrolling in your school of choice.

Accredited.  Many Prentiss MS area trade programs have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They may receive Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, for example HVAC technology. Confirm that the school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping make certain that you obtain a superior education, it can help in obtaining financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Additionally, many states mandate that the  training program be accredited for it to be approved for licensing where applicable.

How Long in Operation? One indicator to help evaluate the quality of a trade school near Prentiss MS is how long it has been in business. A negatively reviewed or a fly by night school normally 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 use it as one of multiple qualifiers.

 Completion Rates.  Ask the trade schools you are considering what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and finish the program. A lower completion rate may signify that students were dissatisfied with the course and dropped out. It might also mean that the teachers were not competent to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive 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 will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help graduates secure apprenticeships or jobs in the Prentiss MS area.

Apprenticeship Programs.  Most trade programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating trade and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of companies or labor unions. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have working relationships with Prentiss MS area contractors in the trade. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing hands-on training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to form relationships in the local professional community.

Modern Facilities.  Confirm that the campus facilities and the tools that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be using in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the specialist you are working with regarding what you should be expecting. Otherwise, ask a local Prentiss MS contractor if they can give you some tips. Additionally keep in mind that unless you are willing to relocate, 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 moving costs there can be higher tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes.   It’s important that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be difficult in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor some of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with some of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to a few of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is in Mississippi and what degrees or certifications they have earned.

Flexible Scheduling.  Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are evaluating are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Prentiss MS, check that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, find out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Going To Trade School Prentiss Mississippi

Choosing the ideal trade school near Prentiss MS is an important first step toward a rewarding career in the vocation of your choice. As we have discussed in this article, you should pick a technical school and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have excellent reputations within the professional community. Other factors to search for are lots of hands-on training and state-of-the-art facilities. You need to go to 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. Try to get a feel for the quality of the teaching and the interaction between them. In addition, ask about scheduling choices and whether night or weekend classes are available if needed. And remember to inquire about financial aid and student loan options as well. You initially came to this website because of your interest in Going To Trade School and wanting more information on the topic Technical Colleges Near Me. However, if you ask the appropriate questions as we have outlined in our checklist for evaluating schools, you’ll be able to narrow down your options so that you can make an informed decision. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, you can eventually become a licensed professional in your chosen trade.

Other Mississippi Hard Working Locations

 

Prentiss, Mississippi

A depot was established in Blountville when the Pearl & Leaf Rivers Railroad (later Illinois Central Railroad) was completed in 1903. That same year the town was officially established and named "Prentiss", possibly after Seargent Smith Prentiss, a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives and U.S. Representative from Mississippi, or after Prentiss Webb Berry, a prominent landowner in the area. When Jefferson Davis County was created in 1906, a special election determined that Prentiss would serve as the county seat.[5][7][8]

In 1907, Jonas Edward Johnson and his wife Bertha LaBranche Johnson established the Prentiss Institute. Situated on 40 acres (16 ha) of land, with remnants of slave quarters on the property, it was considered one of the finest schools for African Americans in Mississippi. The school at first taught only the elementary grades, and began with 40 students whose tuition was often paid with chickens, eggs and produce. A Rosenwald classroom was built on the campus in 1926, and by 1953 the "Prentiss Normal and Industrial Institute" included a high school and junior college, had 44 faculty and more than 700 students, and included 24 buildings and 400 acres (160 ha) of farmland, pasture and forest. In 1955, Heifer International donated 15 pure-bred cows to the school with the intention that the offspring be donated to needy farm families. It is noteworthy that the school gave some of the animals to poor white families. The school closed in 1989 and was designated an official Mississippi landmark in 2002.[9][10]

Prentiss is located in central Jefferson Davis County at 31°35′49″N 89°52′11″W / 31.596990°N 89.869776°W / 31.596990; -89.869776.[13]U.S. Route 84 passes north and west of the town center on a bypass; the four-lane highway leads east 20 miles (32 km) to Collins and west 16 miles (26 km) to Monticello. Mississippi Highway 13 passes through the town slightly east of the center; it leads north 27 miles (43 km) to Mendenhall and south 26 miles (42 km) to Columbia. Mississippi Highway 42 leads southeast from Prentiss 11 miles (18 km) to Bassfield.

 

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