What is Vocational Education?

In today's economy vocational jobs are becoming more and more important. This is why vocational education programs are popular. Vocational education training provides career and technical education to interested students. These students are prepared as trainees for jobs that are based upon manual or practical fields. Jobs are related to specific trades, occupations, and vocations.

Instructors teach students procedural knowledge requires for their field. Community colleges have long been instrumental offerings for vocational education. These colleges around the country provide certificates in various vocational fields. They also offer certain degree programs that focus on some popular occupations. The vocational field expands each year to include fields that were at one time non-traditional to this area.

The training for vocational jobs requires less education than four year degree programs. They are also significantly less expensive. Instructors at this level of education use traditional methods of teaching. They incorporate the use of lesson plans, teacher resources, worksheets, and other tools in this process. One difference to other education programs is the on-the-job training component. Many students will have the opportunity to work in their field while being educated. Some will be accepted into valuable apprenticeship programs.

Some of the jobs in vocational fields include construction workers, blacksmiths, and steel workers. Today, there are other great choices of vocational jobs. This umbrella has broadened and diversified to include retail, tourism, and cosmetology. Some portions of the information technology field are taught in vocational education programs as well. This allows students to decide from a vast array of career choices.

The retail field is one of those career opportunities that allow for growth. Workers can start off in training positions and work their way up to management. Most retail companies have their own training programs for specific jobs. These possibilities make retail even more welcoming to new employees. Tourism is also a great field to consider in the vocational realm. This area includes planning trips to being a tour guide. Cruise lines are popular parts of this field and their employment opportunities are immense.

The Vocational Education Act of 1963 played a role in what this field has grown into. At that time, the government authorized an expansion and redirection of vocational education. The baby boomer generation was targeted to be supplied with multiple arenas for advancement. It was also the country's goal to retrain displaced workers, who had lost jobs because of technology advancements. Today vocational education programs are rivaling those of four year universities. Students are enrolling at unheard of rates than in times past.

Parents find the offerings of these programs and community colleges exactly what they were looking for. There are terrific fields to consider with these avenues. Many of these jobs will provide children with a great living. There are also possibilities to move into other specialized career opportunities. The overall expense of this sort of education will depend on the part of the country that you reside in. In most cases, the benefit well outweighs the expense.

More Information On Vocational Education

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  1. American Society for Training and Development (ASTD)
  2. ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, Vocational Education
  3. International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET)
  4. International Vocational Education and Training Association (IVETA)
  5. The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)
  6. National Skill Standards Board
  7. New Approaches To Integrate Learning In The Workplace