Paramedical trade schools train students to work in health vocations. Medical assistants, dental assistants and x-ray technicians fall into this category. Vocational trade schools for medical workers cover classroom theory, laboratory and preclinical instruction. Students can complete most programs and receive a diploma or certificate in about one year. Kaplan College, with campuses in 10 states and online, and Everest College, with locations in 11 states, offer programs in disciplines such as dental assisting, massage therapy, medical assisting, medical billing, nursing and pharmacy technician.
Paralegal vocational trade schools provide training in the legal vocations. Paralegals, legal assistants and court reporters are examples of legal vocations. Both Kaplan College and Everest College also offer programs in criminal justice and paralegal studies. Kaplan offers certificate programs in corrections, crime scene technician and private security. Most private court reporting schools are independently owned. Bryan College offers court reporting programs out of its campuses in Los Angeles and Sacramento, California.
Vocational trade schools offer training in hospitality specialties such as culinary arts, restaurant ownership, hotel management, and travel and tourism. Le Cordon Bleu, with 16 locations and an online program in the United States, operates certificate programs in culinary arts and baking and associate programs in culinary arts, hospitality and restaurant management, and patisserie and baking.
The building and construction vocational trade schools prepare students for a career in construction. Everest College offers programs in carpentry, residential HVAC, plumbing technology and electrician technology. Students can complete programs in as little as nine months and qualify for entry level positions in the construction trades.
There are dozens of other trades that people train for by attending vocational trade schools. Some of these trades are cosmetology, landscaping, truck-driving, garment-making, industrial design and auto repair. Some trades require a state license in addition to a certificate or diploma. The length of time required to complete training varies from vocation to vocation.
Before deciding which trade school to enroll in, investigate the options carefully. Enrolling in a private trade school carries some risk. Private trade school credits usually do not transfer to other schools, and some students have been victims of trade school fraud scams. Ask your state attorney general's office whether a school has been investigated for fraud, and check the Better Business Bureau for consumer complaints. Talk to people in your community who work in the trade you want to work in, and find out where they trained for their jobs and which schools their co-workers went to. Conduct a thorough investigation before you pay tuition or commit to borrow money for student loans.