What is a Trade School?
A trade school, also known as a vocational or technical school, offers programs that focus on one specific industry and the jobs that support that industry. Whether you are looking to become an HVAC technician, computer technician or work in one of the many trades available for employment, attending a trade school gives you the knowledge and skills to succeed.
Top 5 Benefits of Going to Trade School
There are many benefits to attending a trade school. From getting a quick start to working with industry-experienced instructors and everything in between, attending a trade school prepares you for more than a job. It will prepare you for a career.
1. A Quick Start
An important reason to attend a trade school is that most diploma programs can be completed in as little as a year. While many students opt to attend a 2-year or 4-year college, trade schools prepare you with the same curriculum in a fraction of the time.
How can they do this without cutting corners? Trade schools focus only on the knowledge and skills you need to start working in a new role or prepare for a certification exam. No need for 16th century poetry classes, just the curriculum you need to start working on day one.
2. A Flexible Schedule
Some trade schools offer both day and evening classes for those of us that have daytime responsibilities. Whether holding down a job or taking care of family members, you can still achieve that all-important education with a flexible schedule offered by trade schools.
3. Industry Experienced Instructors
Trade schools look to hire experienced instructors that know what you need to succeed in your given industry. They have been in your shoes and know what employers seek in candidates. With the small class sizes that come with trade schools, you get one-on-one attention and have all your questions answered by industry-experienced instructors. They may even mentor you and offer opportunities that can help you advance throughout your career.
4. Networking Opportunities
When you attend a trade school, you often make life-long relationships with classmates and instructors. You never know when you will need a shoulder to lean on or a colleague to give a good word to their employer. It is important to network, and you can start on day one while attending a trade school. Making friends is all a part of the trade school experience. Just remember to keep in touch with your friends on social media.
5. Externships
Another great benefit of attending a trade school is the externships they offer to give you real-world experience. Not only does it look good on your resume, but it will also build your confidence, so you are ready to go on day one of your new career.
Although some trade workers prefer to learn on the job, many obstacles may arise using this route to learn the trade. Those that only get on-the-job training may develop knowledge gaps and not get a complete education. By attending a trade school and completing an externship, you know you are qualified for day one of your new career.
6. Career Services
The best benefit is the career services assistance you will receive before and after you graduate from a trade school. The career services staff will help you build your resume, prepare you for interviews, and help you write quality thank you emails to put you in the running for a new opportunity in your trade. Many trade schools will also follow you throughout your career and help you when you need assistance finding the right job and advancing. Two heads are better than one.
What Are Some of the Programs a Trade School Offers?
Trade schools offer many programs to choose from. Some more popular trades include healthcare, HVAC, information technology, and criminal justice.
Healthcare Programs
There are many opportunities within trade school programs including medical assistant, health information technician and EKG technician to name a few.
Medical Assistant
This trade school program is designed to teach you the clerical and clinical duties of a medical assistant working in a physician’s office or other medical facility. Some of the many classes you will master during this program include anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, pharmacology, laboratory and clinical procedures, and the medical principles and foundations that shape a medical assistant.
Health Information Technician
Also known as a medical records technician, the health information technician is responsible for classification systems, medical coding, insurance reimbursement, registries, and databases and maintaining patients’ medical and treatment records.
During this program, you learn the basics of anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, pharmacology, insurance coding, collections and reimbursement, medical bookkeeping, electronic health records, and ICD-10-CM coding better to perform your duties as a health information technician.
EKG Technician
Physicians and nurses supervise EKG technicians; EKG technicians administer EKG diagnostic examinations and report results to the treatment team. During this program, you will learn the basics of anatomy and physiology, patient care, and medical terminology, as well as how to use the equipment and maintain it for successful tests properly. An EKG technician will also learn to interpret cardiac rhythms, manage patient records, and uphold professional standards and ethics.
HVAC Programs
During an HVAC program, you will prepare for an entry-level heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration position. You will learn how to maintain, diagnose, and install HVAC systems under the supervision of an instructor. You will build the knowledge and technical skills needed to start working after graduation. The curriculum will also prepare you for the EPA 608 Universal Certification, an exam you must pass to be EPA-compliant during your HVAC duties.
Information Technology
Many trade schools prepare students for entry-level positions in information technology, from help desk support and network administrator to software developer and beyond. The information technology industry is growing as we rely on computers and mobile devices to participate in everyday life.
During a software development program specifically, you will learn about web development. Some programming languages taught during this program include HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, XML, JAVA, C#/C++, and VB.NET.
Criminal Justice
If you are interested in criminal justice, some trade schools offer criminal justice programs that prepare you for entry-level positions in state, local, or federal law enforcement, corrections, and private security. You will study the U.S. Constitution, American court systems, Federal and California state laws, and past and current criminal trends. You will be prepared to properly articulate, format, and complete various reports and professional communication.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know what a trade school is, it is time to learn more about ATA College. We offer you opportunities in many different trades including healthcare, HVAC, information technology, and criminal justice. Learn more about our diploma and degree options that prepare you for more than a job. We identify your passion and find a career that matches your ambitions. Take the first step today and learn more about ATA College.
