For the past four decades, short-sighted education policies have contributed to the now overwhelming student loan crisis. As of 2022, Americans owed more than 1.7 trillion in federal and private student loans. Not only are young people borrowing more to go to college, but many are not able to earn a high enough wage to pay off their debts.
At the same time, employers are facing an unprecedented labor shortage. This is not because of a lack of workers. Employers report a significant “skills gap” between the types of skills their positions require and what candidates possess. This is in part to the lack of focus on technical skills at the post-secondary level.
Vocational education can address many of these problems. While there is some stigma against vocational education, these training programs have several advantages over traditional college programs.
What Is Vocational Education?
Vocational education training is an alternative personal and professional development pathway for high school students and graduates to gain industry-specific skills. Vocational programs differ in many ways from traditional academic programs. Firstly, vocational programs are shorter. While a bachelor’s degree takes four years of study, most vocational certificates can be earned in less than two years.
Additionally, vocational training programs focus only on teaching technical and soft skills required for a specific industry. Few vocational programs offer theoretical or mandatory prerequisites in unrelated subjects. However, many vocational programs also teach the crucial soft skills that employers are looking for, including collaboration, critical thinking, and leadership. There are numerous examples of vocational education, including the following:
1. Vocational Training Comes in a Variety of Formats
Career and Technical Education: High school programs that offer introductory courses for technical occupations.
Tech Prep Programs: Programs that bridge vocational training between high school and post-secondary work. These programs often last for six years, from 9th grade until two years after graduation.
Community College Programs: Typically, associate degrees, these degrees qualify recipients for specific entry-level positions or entry into four-year college.
Certificate Programs: Short courses that qualify students for specific occupations or activities. Certificate programs may have testing requirements for completion.
Apprenticeships: These competitive training programs combine an entry-level job with supervision and education. Graduates are usually employed full-time after the apprenticeship ends.
2. Vocational Training Is Suited for Various Learning Styles
Most colleges and universities teach through lecture or discussion style formats. These teaching methods are most suitable for specific students, namely verbal, auditory, and visual learners. Vocational training programs are centered around practical skills.
Teachers are experienced industry professionals who work alongside their students and provide immediate feedback. This style of learning works for all learning types, but is much more engaging for kinesthetic learners, which is a commonly overlooked learning modality.
3. Vocational Training Provides Hands-on Experience
One of the ways vocational schools transmit practical knowledge is through hands-on projects. Vocational classrooms look very different from those found in colleges and universities. Rather than desks, classrooms often contain workstations that replicate real work environments.
A vocational classroom may contain fully equipped labs or workshops. Some courses may take place in an actual workspace, such as a construction site, professional kitchen, or salon. Students learn from direct experience how to use common equipment and how to complete the required tasks for their future positions.
4. Vocational Schools Offer Specialized Programs
At the university level, students are often required to undertake broader studies and they require students to take many courses unrelated to their eventual anticipated fields. Vocational training is an excellent choice for students interested in pursuing a very specific course of study. For example, students can focus on automobile or aviation mechanics.
While vocational training will qualify students for a specific role, there is usually a path for advancement. For example, vocational schools can train students to enter the nursing field as licensed practical nurses. From there, graduates can continue their education to become registered nurses.
5. Vocational Training Gets You Working Sooner
Vocational programs are designed to prepare students for their field upon graduation. This is because major employers in the industry often inform the curricula. This ensures that graduates’ skills align with what is in demand in the workforce.
6. Vocational Training Provides Professional Connections
Vocational graduates are not only qualified for entry-level positions right out of training, but they are also better equipped to find work. Many vocational programs coordinate with employers to provide on-the-job training and internships. As a result, students build relationships within their industry from the very beginning of their studies.
Some internships transition into full-time positions after the program has been completed. This early work experience also gives students a more realistic understanding of their field. This encourages the development of critical soft skills like prioritization and time management that can only be gained through relevant experience.