• Trade School Definition

      A trade school is any post-secondary educational institution that offers training for a specific job. Students attend a trade school program to learn the skills needed for their chosen career path, such as welding, business administration, or computer repair. Trade schools are focused on quickly preparing students to enter the workforce in a skilled trade.

      Program Overview

      Their curriculum is primarily focused on a technical job and the skill set it requires. A wide variety of options exist for those interested in attending a trade school. For example, some trade schools cater to personal service and entertainment careers, such as those in culinary arts, film making, music production, radio and television broadcasting. Others have programs in business administration or paralegal studies. Schools for the commercial arts, including graphic or Web design, are also common.

      In the area of healthcare, there are trade schools for nursing, radiology technology and other healthcare technology careers. Some schools concentrate on technology, like computer technology or mechanical engineering. Students might also attend a trade school to start careers in welding, electrical work, carpentry and furniture upholstery.

      Trade School vs. College

      Trade schools are focused on providing training for a specific job in the shortest amount of time possible, to quickly prepare students to enter the workforce in their chosen area. In contrast, most college programs are much more general and provide education in a wide range of subject areas, both to help students explore what areas of study might interest them and to build a foundation for more advanced college studies. In a trade school, you will study just the subjects you need for the career you want; in college, you will take a broader range of classes in your major area as well as classes in different subject areas.

      College may be the right choice for those pursuing a career path that requires a bachelor's degree or who are planning to earn a master's or doctoral degree in the future; trade school may be the right choice for someone wanting to train for a specific job or vocation and who hopes to enter the workforce quickly. The cost of trade school vs. college is also important to consider - the cost of college is typically much higher than that of the average trade school program.

      Finding college, university, and trade school programs has never been easier.

       

      Navigating your educational options may seem like a daunting task. This tool will help you make your search as simple as possible. Because finding a school that can help you follow your dreams should not be a stressful process.

       

      Maybe you don't know where to start. Or maybe you're interested in a general career area like healthcare or skilled trades and want to explore the vocational training possibilities. Or perhaps you have a specific type of program in mind and simply need to find a college or trade school that offers it.

       

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