A trade school is a post-secondary educational institution. It provides hands-on training for specific work. Trade schools designed trade programs to teach students technical skills. These trade programs prepare them for actual work in their chosen field.
Trade school programs have the shortest programs compared to other post-secondary educational programs. Trade school programs focus only on relevant job training, unlike universities. Depending on the program, students can get their degrees within six months to two years.
Students who finish their chosen program will receive the relevant industry certification. They may also enter into the workforce immediately after graduation most of the time. Others may have to study further for a licensure exam. Some of the occupations that may need a license are CNA and CDL.
You may enroll in trade schools if you are interested in becoming a:
And a lot more!
Your time in trade school depends on the program and school you choose. You can complete trade programs in six months; others may take over a year or two. Other factors could be student progress, program complexity, and school schedule.
Here are some of the most common trade programs and their respective duration:
HVAC Technician program – Earning an HVAC certificate may require 6 months to 2 years above. This time includes classroom time, field training, internship, and apprenticeship.
Aircraft Technician and Mechanic Program – Becoming an Aircraft Technician and Mechanic generally requires 18 to 24 months. It may include an apprenticeship.
Commercial Diver Certification Program – CDL training takes 1 month to 3 months to complete. It is generally one of the shortest of all trade schools.
Plumbing Program – Plumbing training takes around 2 years to complete. Apprenticeship, in contrast, takes 5 years.
Welding Program – Welding trade school program usually takes 7 months to a year to complete.
Automotive Technician and Mechanic Program – Automotive Technician and Mechanic training takes 9 months to 24 months to complete.
Nursing Assistant Training Program – Nursing Assistant programs take 3 weeks to 6 months to complete. Length varies depending on state requirements.
Medical Assistant Program – Medical Assistant training program length varies from months to a year. An associate degree in medical assisting usually takes 2 years to finish.
Dental Assistant Program – Dental Assistant program takes 9 months to 2 years to complete. Length varies depending on the school and the type of program you choose.
Cosmetology Program – Cosmetology program length varies from 12 months to 20 months. It may take longer if you account for apprenticeship and internship.
Barbering Program – Barbering program takes about 10 months to complete. An apprenticeship may take 2 to 3 years.
Massage Therapy Program – Massage Therapy programs can last from weeks to years. The length depends on the program structure.
AWS Program – It generally requires 80 to 120 hours of study to earn your AWS certification. The required hours will translate to 2 to 3 months.
Web Development Training Program – Web Development training can dramatically range from months to years. The length depends on the structure of the program you choose.
Trade school program costs vary depending on the program, the school, and the location. Tuition is one of many things to keep in mind. Books, supplies, and your living expenses are factors to consider.
Tuition costs differ, too, depending on the type of trade school offering the programs. Trade schools can be public, private not-for-profit, and private for-profit. Students complete their trade programs for two years or less generally.
Here is the tuition comparison depending on the type of institution based on U.S. Department of Education's College Affordability and Transparency List for the years 2020 – 2021:
2-year, public – $3,863
2-year, private not-for-profit – $15,549
2-year, private for-profit – $15,033
Less than 2-year, public – $8,683
Less than 2-year, private not-for-profit – $13,127
Less than 2-year, private for-profit – $15,636
Other expenses to consider are books and supplies. Some schools and programs include books and supplies in tuition fees, while others do not. These costs vary depending on the programs, the schools, and locations.
The average cost for books and supplies is $1,460 for 2022-2023 as estimated by College Board.
Living expenses are another thing to account for. Living with family members while studying may reduce your rental and food costs. In contrast, those who live independently may need to set more budget for rental and food expenses.
The overall estimated cost of trade school, inclusive of tuition fees, books and supplies, boarding, and other expenses, according to the National Center for Education Statistics:
2-year, public, on campus: $15,900
2-year, public, off campus, living with family: $9,700
2-year, public, off campus, not living with family: $19,600
2-year, private nonprofit, on campus: $33,300
2-year, private nonprofit, off campus, living with family: $23,700
2-year, private nonprofit, off campus, not living with family: $33,100
2-year, private for-profit, on campus: $27,200
2-year, private for-profit, off campus, living with family: $21,400
2-year, private for-profit, off campus, not living with family: $30,700
If you are still thinking about whether trade school is for you or not, these benefits of enrolling in trade school might help you decide:
Here are the general steps if you are considering enrolling in trade school:
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