Vocational education has been around for many years. It is often considered an investment in your child's future because it prepares them for the skills needed for a specific career or job. It helps develop leadership qualities and provides students with the skills they need to succeed in a variety of settings. A vocational education program offers a wide range of opportunities including healthcare positions, technical careers, sales and service jobs, education and training. With this wide range of opportunities comes a wide range of educational levels from associate's degrees to doctoral degrees.
Today's high school students have an incredible array of choices when it comes to choosing a high school vocational education program. The choice is staggering! There are specializations in art, business, computer science, health, human resources, marketing, physical sciences, religious and spiritual activities, technology and many other areas. Many employers prefer to enroll students in vocational courses that focus on a specific area so that they can provide the highest quality training for the job they are hiring for.
Vocational and technical education programs in high schools offer students a wide variety of career options. Students may choose to major in healthcare, business, electronics, automotive, nutrition, health, information technology, nursing, paralegal, nutrition, public safety, and technology. Many vocational schools also offer certificate programs that allow students to earn credits towards a career path without obtaining a four year degree. This certification is very important because employers look for people with a high school diploma or the equivalent when they hire.
There are two main types of vocational education: On-the-job training and apprenticeships. On-the-job training typically consists of learning how to perform a specific skill or job. For example, auto mechanics learn how to fix cars to prevent disasters. On-the-job training typically requires at least two years of course work at an accredited college and extensive on-the-job training at a vocational training facility.
Apprenticeships are another form of vocational education. An apprentice is an individual who is hired to do manual labor or a repetitive task in exchange for being paid minimal wage or free labor. Many times apprentices will travel from city to city and state to state performing tasks that require specific skills. This type of education is very common in the auto repair and specialty stores. Apprentices must complete the necessary courses and pass a final exam before being employed as an apprentice. However, there are now colleges that offer this type of higher education.
Specialized vocational training centers usually consist of a physical plant, where students attend for both on-the-job training and apprenticeships. Students in the Specialized Veterinary Technician (Vet) program complete a two-year degree program in preparation for the Certified Veterinary Specialist (CVS) examination. This exam is a nationwide, mandatory test that must be passed before becoming certified. Vet techs complete a four-year general veterinary degree from a community college or technical/vocational school that is approved by the American Association of State Colleges and Schools (AACSCS) before they can apply to take the national certification exam.
An associate's degree or certificate from an accredited college or vocational school takes about two years to complete. The certificate program gives students the tools, information, and instruction they need to prepare for their vet certifications. Both the associate's and the certificate programs have coursework that includes everything from patient care and first aid practices to horse sportsmanship and psychology. Students who successfully complete the programs are awarded their certificates. Students can pursue further education and earn a graduate level degree if they want to become certified as a veterinary nurse. These programs require additional study to prepare students for their state-mandated national exams.
There are many ways to complete veterinary training and veterinary medicine qualifications. But the two most common ways to complete these requirements are through community colleges or through a vocational/technical school. Community colleges usually offer the best quality education while vocational or technical schools offer a higher quality and more flexible schedule to get students to their vet qualifications in a shorter period of time.
