Trade schools, also known as vocational schools, are educational institutions that prepare students to enter professional fields that require specialized training. Professionals who attend trade schools include electricians, dental hygienists, veterinary technicians, and plumbers. A vocation is an occupation or profession, so the terms 'vocational school' and 'trade school' are often used interchangeably. Completing your education at a vocational school will provide you with the certification or degree you need to enter your chosen field. A technical school is a university that focuses on preparing students for a career.
Technical school programs typically contain fewer general education credits than a typical associate degree program at a community college. The other significant difference is that technical schools tend to grant transferable credit, while trade schools do not. Vocational schools were called technical colleges in Australia and there were more than 20 specialized vocational training (VET) schools. Vocational school students are selected by schools based on the criteria established by the Ministry of Education. If you think a four-year college might not be for you, a trade school or technical school could be an attractive alternative. A vocational school, trade school, or technical school is a type of educational institution that provides vocational education or technical skills needed to complete the tasks of a particular job.
If you want to be a cosmetologist or a welder, you could consider a trade school; these programs aren't usually offered by technical schools. Vocational and trade schools have been around since the 1820s when the need for quality education led more and more cities to form day and night schools for various trades. Until the 1970s, vocational schools were considered inferior to the other schools then available in Ireland.
