In Depth Guide to Vocational Degree Programs

What will you study in a Vocational degree program?

When the United States first began investing in vocational education, back in 1917, it was seen as a way to learn a specific trade. Usually the trades involved working with your hands--carpentry, metalwork, welding, and, later, automobile and aircraft mechanics. As the economy evolved, vocational programs evolved along with them. Today, vocational programs are a fairly large educational umbrella with a number of excellent study and career options, from traditional trades to those that are far more modern It has also become a significant entry point for those whose ultimate goal is a bachelor's degree.

Some of the more common vocational degree programs include:

• Auto Mechanics
• Accounting and Bookkeeping
• Computing and Information Technology
• Criminal Justice
• Early Childhood Education
• Electronics
• Graphic Design
• Health Science
• Interior Design
• Nursing
• Web Development and Design

Largely, vocational degree programs focus on a prescribed course of study for a specific trade or career. For example, a chef-in-training takes courses in cooking methods, baking and pastry arts, food sanitation, and nutrition. Certification and degree programs also expose students to the business side of culinary arts--from bookkeeping to inventory to marketing.

Vocational programs that result in a certificate or diploma are generally shorter, lasting several months to a year, and are more focused on training specific job skills. Longer programs, from a year to three years, often often result in an associate's degree. In addition to hands-on career training courses, they can include courses similar to what you might find in a four-year liberal arts program, such as writing, college math, and basic computing skills. These courses help to ensure students in vocational programs are prepared to enter today's workforce. It is important to note that vocational education also includes bachelor's and master's degree programs as well.

Which characteristics do Vocational degree majors typically possess?

Whether they are just out of high school or working professionals looking to retrain, vocational degree seekers have an important characteristic in common--specific career training is their goal. This degree path is ideal for students who have already decided on a career and what they need are on-the-job skills and the credentials to get started.

Traditionally, vocational education was for those who wanted to work with their hands--carpenters, welders, mechanics, and HVAC technicians. These trades continue to be in demand and, are often, well paid. They are skilled jobs that cannot be outsourced.

However, today's vocational education focuses as much on white-collar jobs as well. According to the Career College Association, the typical private career college student is a working adult. Often they are seeking additional certifications or credentials to achieve a better paying position or switch careers altogether. To find out the personality profile and characteristics for your desired career, log on to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Website.

Which specific careers can Vocational majors pursue?

The National Center for Educational Statistics reports the most popular postsecondary field for career and technical education at two-year institutions is health care. At four-year colleges, it is business and marketing. Here are a few common and emerging vocational career paths:

• Nurses: Prospective nurses can pursue careers in licensed practical nursing (LPN), licensed vocational nursing (LVN), or as registered nurses (RN), providing much of the direct patient care in hospitals, nursing homes, and doctors' offices.
• Physical therapy assistants: In this burgeoning field, physical therapist assistants help patients regain mobility lost due to aging, illness, and injury.
• Medical records and health information technicians: By maintaining accurate and complete records of patients' conditions and care, these technicians are a crucial link in the health care chain.
• Chefs: From fine French cuisine to the corner pastry shop, chefs prepare and cook delicacies and delights.
• Automotive service technicians: Automotive service technicians keep our vehicles running while keeping up with the increasing sophistication and computerization of car repair and maintenance.
• Computer support specialists: These professionals keep the software and hardware that powers the modern economy up and running.
• Bookkeeping and accounting clerks: In small companies, bookkeepers may be responsible for managing all the financial transactions and keeping the books; in larger companies, they may specialize in an area like accounts payable.
• Paralegal: These legal eagles do much of the work of a lawyer, from researching to writing briefs, with the exception of tasks like arguing cases in court.
• Carpenters: On top of knowing how to hammer and saw, a carpenter must be able to read blueprints as well as make accurate measurements and calculations.
• Electrical engineering technicians: It is the job of these technicians to design, build, and maintain electrical equipment.

Which well-known people in the industry have completed Vocational degree programs before becoming successful?

Thanks to the Food Network, the most famous graduates of vocational programs are celebrity chefs. Starting with Julia Child, many high-profile chefs have come through culinary training schools and colleges. The tradition continues with big names in food entertainment like Emeril Lagassee, Gordon Ramsey, and Jamie Oliver.

You may have never heard of registered nurse Dee Rule, but you've heard of her clients. Dee Rule is known as the baby nurse to the stars and has helped celebrities like Adam Sandler and Julia Roberts welcome new additions to their families. Another registered nurse, Tracey Hogg, has helped millions of new parents with her "Baby Whisperer" books.

Turn back to the tube to find your favorite interior designer--chances are they graduated from an interior design program. Take HGTV's Kristin Cunningham from Design on a Dime for example. Before she was a star, she studied interior design in West Virginia.

How much do Vocational majors typically earn in the various fields they can pursue?

Here is a sampling of median earnings from 2008, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• Nurses, LPNs and LVNs: $39,030
• Registered nurses: $62,450
• Physical therapists assistants: $46,140
• Medical records and health information technicians: $30,610
• Automotive technicians and mechanics: $35,100
• Chefs and head cooks: $38,770
• Computer support specialists: $43,450
• Bookkeeping and accounting clerks: $32,510
• Paralegals: $46,120
• Carpenters: $38,940
• Electrical engineering technician: $53,240

Which part of the country or world do prominent Vocational communities flourish?

Because of the nature of the vocation major, you can find people with vocational degrees almost anywhere you look. They may be keeping the books at a grain company in Wichita, working alongside doctors at the Mayo Clinic, or driving freight across the country.

Generally speaking, it is not too hard to find a community that supports specific vocational degree majors. For example, nurses might consider heading to the major medical centers of New York, Boston, or Washington, D.C. Smaller cities can host medical powerhouses, too, like the Cleveland Clinic. What if a licensed practical or vocational nurse is eager to work among peers? A quick check of the Bureau of Labor Statistics site lists these five cities as having the highest concentration of LNPs and LVNs:

• Abilene, TX
• Dothan, AL
• Sandusky, OH
• Lawton, OK
• Utica-Rome, NY

What type of "real world" experience could you combine with your Vocational Degree program to supplement what the program teaches you?

Because hands-on experience is essential to reaching your career goals, many vocational degree programs include apprenticeships or internships. Trades such as carpentry often have formal, paid apprenticeship programs. It is highly recommended that you pursue these opportunities.

If apprenticeships or internships are not a part of your course of study, the best thing you can do is to create your own. You can start by seeking out opportunities with your current employer. Explain that you are involved in career training and offer to take on additional responsibilities. A carpenter studying construction management might volunteer to supervise one aspect of a project.

What can a Vocational degree give you that on-the-job experience may not be able to?

Typical 6-month to two-year vocational degree programs are geared toward producing graduates who are ready to hit the workforce running. And, this means understanding more than just nuts-and-bolts of performing a specific task.

Graphic designers know this well. It is possible to learn your way around design software on your own. With formal training, however, you can learn about the principles of good design, how to prepare files to be professionally printed, and even how to market your own work.

Additionally, many programs help students with "employability" skills. This can include help with building resumes and portfolios, job seeking assistance, and interview techniques. As well, they can provide students with basic career success strategies like how to dress for an office job and the importance of showing up on time.