Career Training Programs

Vocational Ed – Quicker To Finish = Quicker To Work

What’s the difference between the auto engineer who designs the car and the auto mechanic who repairs it? They illustrate two equally important, but distinct career paths: the professional and the vocational.

Professional careers require significant investments in time and money to complete a four-year college education, if not more. Vocational jobs, on the other hand, require specific skills and knowledge that can be imparted in two years of comparatively low-cost training, sometimes with additional certification. Vocational careers are wide ranging. Some jobs are hands-on, while others require more brain power than physical strength. Many are a combination of both, like licensed practical nurses or dental assistants. It’s the quickest, most affordable way to get skilled training for in-demand jobs, with some opportunities for flexible hours and tuition reimbursement. In this tough economic market, what’s not to love?

Career Outlook for Vocational

The future is so bright for some vocational careers you’ll have to wear shades! Take a look at the following predicted job growth for vocational based careers:

Things look particularly good in the medical and health fields, but also in beauty, fitness, law and computers, according to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics. While many computer programming jobs are heading overseas, computer network systems analysts – who design, test and evaluate computer network systems – top the list with an anticipated 50% job growth by 2018. Hot careers in the medical field include physicians assistants (a 39% increase), dental hygienists and assistants (36%), medical assistants (34%), physical therapy aides (33%), occupational therapy aides (30%) and radiation therapists (27%). The health and beauty field will also see an upswing in hiring for skin aestheticians and aerobics and fitness instructors, with ten-year job growth anticipated at 38% and 29%, respectively. Love animals? Become a Vet Tech (36%). Attracted to law? Paralegals are expected to increase by 74,000 jobs – or 28%.

Salary Forecast for Careers in Career Training

A Little Education Goes A Long Way Towards Bumping Up Salary

In the current list by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics of the fastest-growing occupations in the U.S., not all jobs require education – but those that require even a small amount show a significant improvement in salaries. A physical therapist aide, who receives only on-the-job training, makes about $23,000 per year. But a physical therapist assistant, requiring two years of study, averages a $46,000 salary. It’s the same in the dental field: a dental assistant can get training on job, and salaries average at about $32,000. A dental hygienist, who requires an associate’s degree, makes an average of $66,000. In other words: a little bit of education can go a long way towards boosting your earning potential. An added benefit is that you can probably work as a lower-paying dental assistant or physical therapist aide while earning your degree in either field, because both careers are anticipated to be booming. Some jobs might even offer partial or full tuition reimbursement, and plenty of career advancement.

Education Requirements for Vocational

Vocational Degrees Take One to Four Years to Complete

The majority of vocational careers require at least two years of study, or an associate’s degree. Some expect more - computer network administrators, for example, can be hired at the two-year degree level, but a four-year degree, ultimately improves your marketability and advancement opportunities. For the paralegal degree, training programs are one to five years a long (a certification program up to a master’s degree), but some law firms will also consider on-the-job training for bright candidates who are a quick study. Beyond the fact that the two-year degree takes less time and is often offered on a flexible schedule so students can work and attend school, the biggest advantage of an associate’s degree is its low cost. If you are attending an instate community college, or working on an online degree, you’ll pay as little as $300-$500 per credit, compared to an average of $1,000-$1,500 or more per credit at a traditional four-year university.