Vocational Programs

Vocational programs focus on career training and prepare students for the workforce. The intent of vocational programs is to provide students with necessary skills to find employment in their chosen fields.

Vocational Programs vs. Traditional Colleges

Vocational programs differ from traditional college programs in that they don't cover a broad range of subjects. While the intent of a college or university is to provide a well-rounded education, vocational programs focus on providing a student with only the skills needed for specific careers.
 
In the U.S. and Canada, vocational programs can often be found in specialized high schools. Students enrolled in these vocational programs may attend the programs part-time and spend the rest of their days taking traditional courses at another high school.

Community colleges also offer vocational programs and career training programs.

Pros and Cons of Vocational Programs

Vocational programs are ideal for students who know which career they want to pursue and for those who need to enter the job market quickly. Students can graduate from vocational career training programs in as little as six months. However, some vocational programs take two years to finish.

Therefore, on the plus side, students can complete career training programs quickly, find work with their new skills and begin earning money.

Also, vocational programs often include practicum time, meaning that students spend a portion of their school time working and learning in the workplace. This gives the students first-hand experience in their industry, helping them become more valuable once they enter the workplace.

On the down side, vocational programs don't offer the well-rounded education provided by traditional university degrees and are usually limited to a single career.

Timely Vocational Programs

Certain careers go through periods during which there is a large demand for employees, either due to an increased demand for services or the retirement of an aging workforce.

During such times, vocational career training programs offer a relatively fast way for people to acquire the skills needed to fill the workplace void. When an industry is desperate for employees, it may even be possible to negotiate free career training from an employer.

Timing is everything when an industry has a shortfall in employees. Enrolling in vocational programs too late in the cycle of employee demand, and you could graduate with skills for an industry suddenly glutted with new employees.
 
If you are considering enrolling in a vocational program because an industry desperately needs employees, find out how long the industry has needed employees to ensure the employee void isn't already filling.

Vocational Program Options

Vocational programs include a wide range of career training options. Possible career training courses offered by vocational programs include:
  • accounting
  • automotive repair
  • carpentry
  • childhood education
  • computing
  • culinary arts
  • electronics
  • hospitality management
  • plumbing
  • technical drawing
  • welding.
 
Career training for many vocational programs continues after gradation. Electronics, carpentry and automotive repair, for instance, require apprenticeships as part of their career training programs.

Apprenticeships may require several years of career training, at the end of which the apprentice must pass a requirement exam. On the plus side, apprentices are paid, so the time on the job amounts to free career training.

Career Training Online

Vocational programs are now available online. While it is possible to find some free career training online, paid vocational programs provides more training and useful information.
 
Career training online uses chat rooms, instant messages and message forums for distance education. While some career training programs online are little more than scams, with a little research it's possible to find reputable online vocational programs.

Vocational Programs and Fees

Career training programs are significantly cheaper than college programs. College tuition can run anywhere from 5,000 to more than 30,000 dollars per year.
 
In comparison, vocational programs cost, on average, 500 to 1,000 dollars a semester. Additional costs such as student fees, books and materials increase the cost of career training programs, but the total cost remains a fraction of the cost of a university degree.

After Vocational Training

The completion of career training programs does not end a vocational student's education. Today's industries change rapidly, and employees are expected to keep up with new developments.

Vocational programs often offer short training programs to keep industry workers current. Short courses may cost as little as 80 dollars or as much as 500 dollars. Some industries may be willing to cover the cost of such instruction, providing you with free career training. In other cases, you will have to cover the cost of these mini-programs.
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