Accredited Trades & Vocational Education Programs

A trade or vocational education prepares you for a career in a professional trade and is often available through technical or vocational colleges, a career training college, or a trade school. Community colleges also offer career education and job training courses. Popular trade degrees include animal care, artistic design & fashion, beauty & fitness, construction & utilities, and vehicle technology & repair. People who master these trades often look for jobs such as veterinary technician, fashion designer, aesthetician, electrician, and mechanic.

The outlook for skilled trade jobs is positive well into the future. The population of skilled trade professionals is aging and many will soon retire and open up new positions to those with specialized skills. Trades and vocational studies are a great option if you like to work in a hands-on environment and enjoy taking things apart, understanding how they work, and putting them back together. Construction, utilities, and vehicle repair workers play a crucial role in building and maintaining the infrastructure everyone uses from roads to buildings, and cars to boats. Trade and vocational jobs pay well and salaries are expected to remain steady.

Depending on the job, vocational careers generally do not require a bachelor’s degree. However, in this digital age you can boost your value and earning potential with industry certification at the very least, an associate degree or higher.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010 – 2011 Edition.