The Vocational Information Center provides links to technical schools by specific field as well as by state. The College of Engineering of the University of Toledo offers over 1,000 two-year colleges including technical schools, junior and community colleges and other two year institutions. Some certificate programs entail less than two years of study. TechSchool Directory, Trade-School.org and RWM also provide directories and databases of technical and vocational schools across the United States.
There are a wide range of programs available from two-year technical schools. Some of the fields available include automotive technology, paralegal, culinary training, advertising, construction, electronics, computer technology, graphic design, criminal justice, accounting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), electrician and fields in the healthcare industry.
Technical schools prepare you for immediate entry into the workforce in a short period of time. The Federal Trade Commission notes that some technical schools help with job placement. Whether you are planning to begin a career, expand your knowledge and skills for your current job or retraining for a new field, technical schools may offer flexible options such as full-time, part-time or online programs to get you going quickly. Some employers may offer tuition reimbursement or pay for the training up front.
The US Department of Education (USDE) recommends that you make certain that the school you choose is licensed by the state and accredited, preferably by a nationally recognized accrediting agency. The USDE provides a list of those agencies. Students are also encouraged to check on the admissions requirements and to determine if the coursework is transferrable to another school for credit. Other considerations include cost, availability of financial aid, length of the program, scheduling and crime statistics at the school.