A machinist certificate can take from two months to two years to complete and is the most common accreditation held by machine operators. Graduates of these programs know how to operate specific machinery both manually and via computers. Prerequisites usually include a high school diploma, although some trade schools will admit high school students if they show proficiency in math and science. Most graduates will continue on into apprenticeship programs.
An associate's degree in machinist prepare students to work in the tool-and-die industry. Graduates of this program can start employment on an entry-level basis or join an apprenticeship program for work in companies that manufacture machine tools. Students are instructed on all aspects of the machine industry, from traditional precision tools to the use of highly computerized equipment. Practical training on different types of machinery helps to prepare them for work in the industry. A high school or equivalent diploma is a prerequisite to obtaining an associate's degree in machinist, and an aptitude for math is necessary.
While a bachelor's degree is not usually necessary to become a machinist, some colleges, such as College of Lake County in Illinois, offer a bachelor's degree in machine tool trades. This course focuses on the Computerized Numerical Control program so that graduates can find work in the area of lathes, milling machines, as well as in the use of precision tools and reading and interpreting blueprints for manufacturing precision tools and machinery.
Some trade schools offer an associate of applied science -- engine machinist degree. Graduates of this program learn how to build vehicle engines from scratch or from parts. This degree is not a necessity to acquire a machinist job. Students learn to interpret specifications for precision tool manufacturing and learn such things as how metals react when exposed to heat and pressure.
Most of the coursework is practical.