According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers requiring trade or vocational training are projected to have the most growth between now and 2026. Thus, the next step to achieving your career goals might be a trade certificate.
What is a trade certificate?
A trade certificate is a career-specific certificate earned in no more than two years. Students take courses and get credit for hands-on work at apprenticeships or skills training sessions.
What can I do with a trade certificate?
A trade certificate can open the door to a rewarding career in fields such as automotive service, computer programming, culinary arts, and human services, to name just a few. Specifically, careers in medical records/health information, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), information technology, and accounting services are projected to have a 13 to 14 percent increase in employment prospects between now and 2026.
Where can I get a trade certificate?
Usually, people attend classes at either a trade school or a community college to earn their trade certificates.
- Community College:
- Community colleges can offer a wide variety of accredited trade certificate programs taught by knowledgeable, trained instructors. They can be less expensive than private trade school, and the certificate programs are equivalent when applying for jobs.
- If you become interested in earning an associate degree, community college is a good option because credits may transfer and count toward that degree.
- Disadvantages may include less depth of resources dedicated to your specific program and less hands-on learning, with more classroom-based learning instead.
- Trade school:
- The advantages of choosing to get your certificate at trade school include flexibility of schedule (because they typically don’t use the traditional academic calendar) and more resources focused on the specific program.
- Hands-on learning is typically a valuable feature of trade school, with opportunities to intern or apprentice for credit.
- Disadvantages may include less breadth of certificate programs to choose from and potentially higher costs.
What are some specific trade programs and schools that I could look into?
- Los Angeles Trade and Technical College
- Offers 68 different trade certificate options.
- Students receive certificates in two years or fewer.
- The campus has a Child Development Center where student-parents can find care for their infants and toddlers.
- The sticker price for in-state tuition is $1,380 per year.
- Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon
- Offers a wide variety of certificate programs, including programs related to agriculture, industry, business, education, healthcare, and more.
- Makes sure required courses are relevant to students’ careers. For example, instead of requiring all students to take a generic algebra class, it offered a class called Math for Welders.
- Offers advising related to academics, career goals, and personal well-being.
- The net price for in-state tuition is $3,957 per year before financial aid.
- Job Corps
- Provides free job training programs for low-income students ages 16-24 at over 100 different locations.
- Offers training programs for dozens of jobs in ten different industries.
- Provides free housing, meals, basic medical care, and a living allowance.
- Training lasts from eight months to three years, depending on the student and program.
- Helps students also earn a high school diploma and driver’s license, if needed.
- Helps each student find and become established in a career.
- U.S. Career Institute
- Offers 29 online career certificate programs.
- All classes are self-paced, which helps accommodate your busy schedule.
- Tuition includes access to instructors, study materials, and career support.
The Bottom Line: When looking to get your trade certificate, it’s a good idea to do your research. Check for your program of interest, tuition estimates, accreditation, program schedule, and opportunities for hands-on learning. These can be found on the school’s website, in online reviews, and by talking to career/college counselors or students who have gone through the program. Before long, you can be certified to start a career that the world needs and you love!
By Annemarie Arnold and Clare Hettich
Sources:
https://www.lattc.edu/about/at-a-glance
https://www.linnbenton.edu/educational-options/areas-of-study.php
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/linn-benton-community-college/tuition-and-costs
https://www.jobcorps.gov/faqs#section1
