How to Find the Best Trade School Program near Naugatuck Connecticut
Choosing to enter into a new profession and enroll in a trade school near Naugatuck CT are serious decisions that will greatly influence your future career. But with numerous trade schools to choose from, just how do you undertake locating the best one? Not only do you need to make sure that you will get the extensive training required to be successful in your new field, but also that the school is reputable and well regarded. Many potential students make the error of enrolling in a vocational school simply because the campus is nearest to their residence or place of employment. Others may be attracted to the school that has the most affordable tuition. Of course the cost and location of the training are critical considerations when assessing trade school options, but they should not be the only ones. Added considerations such as accreditation and the reputation of the schools are important as well. So prior to beginning your evaluations and comparing trade schools, you must know what questions you should be asking so you can get the information to make a final choice. We will address a few of those questions shortly in this article. But to start with, let’s talk about a few of the trade options that are offered as well as the accessibility of online programs.
Vocational School Training Options near Naugatuck CT
There are a number of professions to choose from in vocational schools that provide fulfilling and good paying careers. Maybe you have already decided on one that you have long wished to pursue. For example, maybe you have always taken pleasure in working on your car and have given thought to utilizing that ability to make a living as a car mechanic. Or maybe a family member has had a prosperous career in a particular vocation or trade and you would love to follow in his or her footsteps. No matter what your motivation is for going into a trade, there is likely a program available that will provide the training that you need. Following is merely a modest representation of the vocational training programs that are offered in the Naugatuck CT area.
- Automotive Technician
- Heating and Cooling (HVAC) Tech
- Plumbing
- Electrical Technician
- Welder
- Truck Driver
- Aircraft Maintenance Tech
- Lab Tech
- Construction Management
All programs will have varying costs and completion times depending on the trade, type of credential and school. Some of the programs may be completed in a few weeks, while others will require several months or even two or more years of training. Each of these variables need to be considered prior to selecting a vocation and school.
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Trade Schools Online
Trade Schools online have become more attractive with Naugatuck CT students and increasingly more accredited programs are being offered. Although learning online is a readily available and practical way to obtain a degree or certificate, it might not be the best option for all trades or vocations. For instance, learning to operate a semi truck is not something that you can accomplish online, nor is learning how to weld. These are skills that need to be learned through hands on training and by doing it, not by reading about it or watching videos. But certain aspects of the training can be appropriate for online classes, for instance learning safety and driving guidelines for trucking schools or studying metallurgy or how to read blueprints for welder schools. A number of programs will blend online education with on-campus practical training, for example for HVAC or plumbing schools. So it is very important to find out before enrolling in an online program for any vocation if there is an adequate amount of hands-on training allocated to the course of study. One way to help ensure that a trade school program is both appropriate for online education and provides comprehensive practical training is to check that it’s accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). For those vocations that are appropriate for online training, it can be a practical way for individuals with limited time to acquire a new vocation.
Questions to Ask Trade School Programs
Once you have selected the trade and type of certificate or degree that you would like to attain, either on campus or online, you can begin to decrease your list of schools. As you are probably aware, there are numerous trade schools in the Naugatuck CT area and throughout the USA to choose from. That’s why it is imperative to have a list of important qualifiers when making school assessments. As formerly stated in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will most likely be the initial 2 variables you will look at. Following are several additional ones that you need to investigate before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accreditation. A large number of Naugatuck CT area technical programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They can receive Institutional Accreditation, which focuses on the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as HVAC technology. Confirm that the school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping ensure that you get a quality education, it can assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are in many cases unavailable for non-accredited schools. Also, many states require that the training program be accredited for it to qualify for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Operation? One indicator to help determine the quality of a trade school near Naugatuck CT is how long it has been in business. A negatively reviewed or a fly by night school normally will not stay in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. On the other hand, even the best of schools had to start from their opening day of training, so use it as one of multiple qualifiers.
Completion Rates. Ask the tech schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage of students who enroll in and complete the course. A low completion rate might signify that students were disappointed with the course and dropped out. It may also mean that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s similarly important that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive directory of alumni, which may produce more contacts for the school to employ for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has a good reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs in the Naugatuck CT area.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most training programs are taught together with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating technical and vocational programs will help place you in an apprenticeship program inside their network of contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Naugatuck CT area specialists in the trade. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by furnishing practical training, but it also provides job opportunities and helps to build relationships in the regional professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the campus facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are state-of-the-art and what you will be working with in the field. If you are presently in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the specialist you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. If not, ask a local Naugatuck CT contractor if they can provide some pointers. Additionally bear in mind that unless you can relocate, the school must be within commuting distance of your home. Remember that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much one-on-one instruction as possible, which can be challenging in larger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can observe how big they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk with some of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and learn what their level of experience is in Connecticut and what degrees or certifications they have earned.
Flexible Scheduling. Confirm that the class schedules for the programs you are reviewing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you are only able to go to classes at night or on weekends near Naugatuck CT, verify that the schools you are reviewing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure that the school you select allows part-time enrollment. Additionally, check out what the policy is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, illness or family issues.
Trade And Technical Schools Naugatuck Connecticut
Finding the right trade school near Naugatuck CT is an important first step toward a rewarding career in the vocation of your choice. As we have discussed in this article, you should pick a school and a certificate or degree program that are both accredited and have outstanding reputations within the professional community. Other factors to look for are ample practical training and modern facilities. You need to check out each of the schools personally that you are most interested in to tour the campus and speak with both the current students and faculty. Attempt to get a feel for the quality of the training and the interaction between them. Also, ask about scheduling choices and whether evening or weekend classes are offered if needed. And don’t forget to inquire about financial aid and student loan options also. You initially came to this website because of your interest in Trade And Technical Schools and wanting more information on the topic Career Training. However, if you ask the proper questions as we have detailed in our checklist for assessing schools, you’ll be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make an informed decision. With the proper training, hard work and commitment, you can ultimately become a licensed professional in your chosen trade.
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Naugatuck, Connecticut
Naugatuck is a consolidated borough and town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town spans both sides of the Naugatuck River just south of Waterbury, and includes the communities of Union City on the east side of the river, which has its own post office, Straitsville on the southeast (along Route 63), and Millville on the west (along Rubber Avenue). As of the 2010 census, Naugatuck had a population of 31,862.[2]
Naugatuck was settled in 1701 as a farming community in rural western Connecticut. As the Industrial Revolution commenced, Naugatuck was transformed into a hardscrabble mill town like its neighbors in the Naugatuck Valley.
Rubber was the chief manufactured product. Charles Goodyear worked at his brother's rubber company, the Goodyear Metallic Rubber Shoe Company & Downtown Naugatuck, until the company was consolidated into the United States Rubber Company. The United States Rubber Company (renamed Uniroyal Inc. in 1961) was founded in Naugatuck in 1892 as a consolidation of nine rubber companies, and maintained their corporate headquarters there until the 1980s. Their Footwear Division manufactured Keds sneakers in Naugatuck from 1917 until the 1980s. U.S. Rubber also produced Naugahyde in a Naugatuck factory, but it is no longer produced there.
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