Choosing a Reputable Vocational Program

Vocational training and career education schools are, for the most part, reputable institutions that do an amazing job of training students and helping them build careers.

If you have questions, faculty or administrators are usually only too happy to help.

Here are some questions to ask of your admissions advisors as you evaluate a vocational training program:

1. Get some idea of the program's success rate. Ask about the percentage of students who complete the program. A high dropout rate could be an indicator that students don't like the program or that teachers and content were not good.

2. Ask about how many graduates find jobs in their chosen field? What is the average starting salary? The Career Placement office can help with that.

3. Ask for a list of recent graduates. Ask some about their experiences with the school and avoid schools that won't share that information with you.

4. Find out how much the program is going to cost inclusive of books, equipment, uniforms and lab fees. Are those fees included in the overall rates quoted or are they extra?

5. Ask about accreditation and transferability of credits from one school to the next.

If you have enrolled and feel your needs are not being met. You might need to file a complaint about your vocational program:

If you are not satisfied with the quality of the instruction or training you received from a vocational program you should:
- Talk to faculty members or the school administration
- Report the school to the Better Business Bureau
- Report the school to your local or state consumer protection office
- Report to state Attorney General's office and the Federal Trade Commission