How to Pick the Best Trade School Program near Lafitte Louisiana
Deciding to work in a new occupation and enroll in a trade school near Lafitte LA are serious decisions that will greatly affect your future career. However with numerous vocational schools to select from, just how do you go about identifying the right one? Not only do you have to make sure that you will receive the extensive training needed to be successful in your new occupation, but also that the school is highly regarded and reputable. Many potential students make the error of selecting a trade school simply because the campus is closest to their home or where the work. Or they may be attracted to the school that has the most affordable tuition. Of course the location and cost of the programs are critical factors when assessing vocational school options, but they should not be the only ones. Other factors including reputation and accreditation of the schools are critical also. So before you begin evaluating and comparing trade schools, you must know what questions you should be asking so you can get the information to make a final selection. We will cover several of those questions later in this article. But first, let’s look at a few of the trade options that are offered as well as the accessibility of online programs.
Trade School Training Options near Lafitte LA
There are an abundance of professions to pick from in vocational schools that provide fulfilling and good paying careers. Perhaps you have already chosen one that you have for years desired to pursue. For example, perhaps you have always had fun working on your car and have given thought to using that skill to make a living as an automotive tech. Or maybe a relative has had a prosperous career in a specific trade or vocation and you would love to follow in his or her footsteps. Regardless of what your motivation is for entering a trade, there is likely a program available that will provide the training you need. Below is merely a small representation of the vocational training programs that are available in the Lafitte LA area.
- Automotive Technician
- Heating and Cooling (HVAC) Tech
- Plumber
- Electrical Technician
- Welding
- Truck Driver
- Aircraft Maintenance Tech
- Lab Tech
- Construction Management
Each of the programs will have differing completion times and costs depending on the trade, credential earned and school. Some of the programs may be completed in just weeks, while others will call for several months or even 2 or more years of training. All of these variables need to be considered prior to selecting a trade and a school.
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Trade Schools Online
Schools available online have become very popular with Lafitte LA students and more and more accredited programs are being offered. While online learning is a very convenient and accessible way to acquire a certificate or degree, it might not be the best option for every vocation or trade. For example, learning to drive a tractor trailer is not something that you can accomplish online, nor is learning how to weld. These are skills that have to be mastered through practical training and by doing it, not by studying or watching videos. But certain aspects of the training may be appropriate for online classes, for example learning driving and safety guidelines for truck driving schools or studying metallurgy or how to read blueprints for welder schools. Some programs will blend online instruction with on campus practical training, such as for HVAC or plumbing schools. So it is crucial to find out before enrolling in an online program for any vocation if there is a suitable amount of hands-on training allocated to the course of study. One means to help ensure that a vocational school program is both suitable for online learning and provides in-depth hands-on training is to check that it’s accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). For those trades that are suitable for online training, it can be a practical way for students with time constraints to learn a new vocation.
What to Ask Vocational Schools
Once you have chosen the vocation and type of certificate or degree that you would like to acquire, either online or on campus, you can start to limit your selection of schools. As you are probably aware, there are many vocational schools in the Lafitte LA area and throughout the United States to pick from. That’s why it is imperative to have a list of relevant qualifiers when making school assessments. As earlier mentioned in our opening paragraph, tuition and location will probably be the first 2 factors you will consider. Following are several additional ones that you should research before enrolling in your school of choice.
Accreditation. A large number of Lafitte LA area technical schools have received either a regional or a national accreditation. They can attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs as a whole, or Programmatic Accreditation, which relates to an individual program, for instance HVAC technology. Confirm that the school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, which includes the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. In addition to helping guarantee that you get an excellent education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Also, a number of states mandate that the training course be accredited in order to qualify for licensing where applicable.
How Long in Operation? One clue to help measure the quality of a trade school near Lafitte LA is how long it has been in business. A poorly reviewed or a fly by night school usually will not be in business very long, so longevity is a big plus. Having said that, even the top schools had to start from their opening day of training, so consider it as one of multiple qualifiers.
Completion Rates. Ask the vocational schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students who enroll in and complete the program. A low completion rate may signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. It may also indicate 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 utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate will not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the industry, but also that it has the network of contacts to assist grads obtain apprenticeships or jobs in the Lafitte LA area.
Apprenticeship Programs. Most vocational programs are taught along with an internship or an apprenticeship program. Those participating vocational and trade schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of contractors or labor unions. Ask if the schools you are comparing have working relationships with Lafitte LA area companies in the field. An apprenticeship not only offers a rewarding experience by providing practical training, but it also furnishes job opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area professional community.
Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with on the job. If you are already in an internship or an apprenticeship, talk to the tech you are working with concerning what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Lafitte LA company if they can provide some tips. Additionally bear in mind that unless you are willing to move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your residence. Remember that if you decide to attend an out-of-state school, besides the added moving costs there can be higher tuition charges compared to in-state residents.
Smaller Classes. It’s important that you get as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can sit in on a few of the classes so that you can observe how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Talk to several of the students and get their opinions regarding class sizes and instruction. Finally, speak to some of the teachers and find out what their level of experience is in Louisiana and what degrees or certifications they hold.
Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the schools you are assessing are flexible enough to handle your needs. If you can only attend classes in the evening or on weekends near Lafitte LA, verify that the programs you are comparing provide those choices. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Additionally, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any due to work, sickness or family issues.
Trade Career Training Lafitte Louisiana
Picking the right trade school near Lafitte LA is an important beginning toward a fulfilling career in the vocation of your choice. As we have covered in this post, you need to select a vocational school and a degree or certificate program that are both accredited and have excellent reputations within the professional community. Other things to search for are lots of hands-on training and state-of-the-art facilities. You need to visit each of the schools in person 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 teaching and the interaction between them. Also, ask about scheduling choices and whether or not night or weekend classes are available if needed. And remember to inquire about financial aid and student loan options also. You initially came to this website because of your interest in Trade Career Training and wanting more information on the topic Trade School Tuition. However, if you ask the right questions as we have laid out in our guidelines for assessing schools, you’ll be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make an educated decision. With the appropriate training, hard work and commitment, you can ultimately become a licensed professional in your chosen trade.
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Jean Lafitte
Jean Lafitte (c. 1780 – c. 1823) was a French pirate and privateer in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century. He and his elder brother, Pierre, spelled their last name Laffite, but English-language documents of the time used "Lafitte". The latter has become the common spelling in the United States, including for places named after him.[1]
Lafitte is believed to have been born either in Basque-France or the French colony of Saint-Domingue. By 1805, he operated a warehouse in New Orleans to help disperse the goods smuggled by his brother Pierre Lafitte. After the United States government passed the Embargo Act of 1807, the Lafittes moved their operations to an island in Barataria Bay, Louisiana. By 1810, their new port was very successful; the Lafittes had a profitable smuggling operation and also started to engage in piracy.
Though Lafitte warned the other Baratarians of a possible military attack on their base of operations, a United States naval force successfully invaded in September 1814 and captured most of Lafitte's fleet. Later, in return for a legal pardon for the smugglers, Lafitte and his comrades helped General Andrew Jackson defend New Orleans from the British in the final battle of the War of 1812.
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