Interested in pursuing a technical or trade career? 

Education programs designed to prepare you for a trade can take anywhere from 6 weeks to 2 years, depending on the field. Choosing the right technical/trade school for you comes down to the following questions... 

1. Does the school have the program you are interested in?
2. If the career you wish to prepare for has a required certification exam, what does the pass rate look like?
3. How much does the program cost?
   1. Does the school take FAFSA? And if not, what types of scholarships and financial aid are available to help cover the costs? 
   2. Will you make enough money in the field to pay back any loans you take?  
4. When is the program you are interested in offered? What does the class schedule look like?
5. How many graduates are hired in their fields after completing the program? 
6. What does the future of that particular career look like? Is the industry growing, shrinking, or staying the same? 
7. If you are hoping to transfer to a 4-year university after completing your 2-year degree - what does support look like to help make sure you are ready to transfer successfully?  
8. Are there prerequisite classes you need to take before officially starting your program?
   1. Example - if interested in nursing, are there classes you need to take before you can actually apply for/start the nursing program? 

Valencia College, Valencia Accelerated Skills Training (AST), and Osceola Technical College are great places to start when considering an education at a 2-year or trade/technical school! Meet with your College and Career Counselor to learn more.