There are many ways to get into the skilled trades, but some methods will be better suited for you than others. If you are looking to enter the skilled trades, here is an overview of the most straightforward ways to jumpstart your new career. Learn more about technical schools, community college programs, union apprenticeships, and on-the-job training in this white paper as well as the strengths and weaknesses of each. For more information about technical programs at The Refrigeration School, contact an RSI Admissions Representative today. - See more at: http://www.refrigerationschool.com/blog/skilled-trades/white-paper-skilled-trades-career-training-so…

1. Skilled Trades
Career Training Solutions
Skilled trade jobs are in undisputable demand across the country, and
they offer life-long career opportunities to high school graduates and
other younger workers. However, with such a strong emphasis on a
traditional 4-year education, it can be difficult to know where to find
places to train for the skills needed to work in this field.
The most popular choices for career training in the skilled
trades are at career colleges, community colleges, and union
apprenticeships. Each has its own benefits, so it’s important to
assess the options available to you in the area where you live
or plan to work.

2. TECHNICAL SCHOOLS AND
CAREER COLLEGES are some of the best
resourcestogetstartedintheskilledtrades.Programs
are designed to teach skills that are immediately
applicable to the field. Industry newcomers as well
as those with prior construction or skilled trades
experience can both benefit from trade school
programs.
Students learn on new, well-maintained equipment,
providing them with optimal training conditions.
Instructors all have professional experience, so
they are able to give both skill training as well as
insider perspective. This closely guided instruction
also ensures that students are learning the correct
techniques for each new skill they learn.
Most importantly, career colleges are aware of their
students’ need to get out into the field with their new
skills as soon as possible, so they tailor curriculums
to feature the most market-relevant skills within a
brief span of time. Career colleges typically offer both
certification as well as degree programs. There are
no extraneous core classes. All course lessons are
streamlined to move students from the classroom
to the workplace in as little time as possible. These
programs fast track students to getting the type of
education they need to advance their career goals.
Career Colleges
& Trade Schools

3. Community Colleges
& Apprenticeships
COMMUNITY COLLEGE programs, with highly affordable tuition rates and ubiquitous campuses,
are the choice of many for skilled trades training, particularly for introductory courses. However, with
funding for community colleges divided across a multitude of different programs, skilled trades programs
tend to be less advanced than those found in career colleges, with older equipment and less specialized
training.
Community college programs may also offer both certification and degree programs. Unlike career
colleges, though, they require students to compete with other students for registration slots in each
class. For students who aren’t able to register before the class fills up, this can delay graduation along
with their career goals. They may also not have the career resources and employer connections that
career colleges are careful to develop.
APPRENTICESHIPS, hosted by labor unions, are extensive training programs that give skilled
trade learners a chance to earn a wage while gaining skill mastery. The training period is long, taking
2 to 6 years to complete depending on the trade, and it requires joining the union you train at. While
training is free, students are still responsible for their own books and union dues (which may vary with
each union chapter).
Unlike career colleges where all qualified candidates are accepted, the application and acceptance
process for union apprenticeships is a long road. Individuals must first pass an aptitude test before
being accepted into the program. The test covers math, reading, and measurement skills. If an applicant
passes the test, they will then interview with theApprenticeship Committee, a process that is also scored.
If the interview score is adequate, the applicant is placed on the acceptance list. As apprenticeship
positions open up, candidates are chosen from the acceptance list, the highest scores first. Applicants
move up and down the list as new testing periods and selection periods add and subtract names from
the list. A candidate can stay on the acceptance list for up to 2 years (at which point the applicant’s
name will be removed).
While the apprenticeship route offers solid hands-on training, there is also no guarantee of acceptance,
and applicants may feel strung along in the meantime waiting for a conclusive decision.

4. CAREER TRAINING may be more suited to certain
individuals depending on their particular situation. In any case, formal career
training is often superior to on-the-job training. Learning on the job may be
a good way to test whether a person wants to seriously pursue a particular
trade, but it can be limiting if the goal is to gain a strong foothold in the
industry.
ON-THE-JOB TRAINING is often narrowed down to a few skills at
a time with workers only familiar with the tasks they have been given.
Without a strong fundamental knowledge of industry techniques,
it can be hard for them to switch careers, particularly for positions
that require a slightly different skill set. Learning on the job can be
piecemeal, and it’s easy for new workers to pick up the bad habits of
their teacher without realizing they are doing anything wrong. This
limited experience can make upward career mobility, especially if
you change companies at some point, more of a challenge.
Formal career training, on the other hand, is a solid way to gain
the experience needed for a variety of positions in your field.
Students in formal programs don’t just pick up skills, they
master them. Students gain a deep understanding of how the
skills they learn can be applied and modified to suit different
situations they may encounter.
Career Training vs.
On-the-Job Training

5. /TheRefrigerationSchool
/rsiaz
Students who are interested in a career that allows them to work with their hands outside of an office
may find fulfilling opportunities across the country in skilled trades. The Refrigeration School in Arizona
is a trade school that offers programs in Refrigeration Technologies, Electrical Technologies, Electro-
Mechanical Technologies, and Mechanical Maintenance Engineering. To learn more about training for
a career in HVACR, contact an RSI Admissions Representative.
Accredited School, ACCSC. Licensed by the Arizona State Board for Private Post Secondary
Education. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who
complete our programs, and other important information, please visit our website at: http://www.
refrigerationschool.com/about-rsi/regulatory-information/.
Sources:
http://iwlocal3.com/apprentices/
http://work.chron.com/difference-between-journeyman-apprentice-15642.html
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes499021.htm
refrigerationschool.com
STEG-03-517