Career training schools like Helms College—a private, nonprofit postsecondary career school sponsored by Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia Inc.—prepare students for a variety of skilled jobs, offering alternatives to traditional university or 4-year degree programs. So how do you know if our programs are right for you? To help you decide, here are 10 key things to know about career focused schools.

1. You’ll gear your education toward a specific career. Career training schools offer courses that are directly related to the jobs you want, beginning core classes immediately and bypassing some of the unrelated general education courses and prerequisites typically found in traditional four-year programs.
2. Licensed and accredited programs are available. Before you enroll, research your chosen school’s licensing and accreditation status. Licensing, handled by state agencies, and accrediting, typically handled by a private education agency or association, evaluates a school’s educational programs to verify they meet certain requirements.[1] These programs have standards, policies and accountability systems in place to ensure you get the quality training you need.
3. They offer hands-on experience. Classroom instruction is supplemented with experiential learning and laboratory training, as with Helms College’s Edgar’s Hospitality Group, a professionally-led initiative that operates Edgar’s Grille and Edgar’s Bistro restaurants, as well as two conference centers and a private club for real-world experience. Allied health students extern at medical facilities.
4. You’ll gain practical skills. You may be able to follow a recipe, but are you ready to guide a team in a restaurant kitchen? A career training school gives you the technical knowledge you need to succeed as well as skills in leadership, critical thinking and decision-making that translate well to any workforce.
5. Campus faculty are dedicated to student success. Students can thrive in small classes taught by instructors with industry experience, where they develop opportunities for lifelong connections within the community and their career field.
6. They’re great for recent high school graduates, career changers, or adults reentering the workforce. Whether you are just starting out in your professional career or returning after an absence, you can take advantage of the accelerated learning style and flexibility offered at career training schools.
7. They offer diplomas, certificates and associate’s degrees. A study by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce projected that by 2020, 65 percent of all jobs available in the economy would require some postsecondary education and training beyond high school.[2] At a career training school, you can choose the level of education you need to match your professional goals and get on the path to achieving them as soon as possible.
8. Most programs can be completed in two years or less. At Helms, the Culinary Arts Diploma and Multi-Skilled Medical Assistant programs can be completed in as little as 44 weeks, while an Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts can be earned in as little as 77 weeks. The Patient Care Technician and Medical Coding and Billing diplomas can be completed in as little as 33 weeks.
9. Shortened program length and financial aid can reduce your student debt burden. Choosing a career training school could get you out of the classroom and into the workforce sooner. Employer-sponsored programs, federal grants and financial aid, and merit- and need-based scholarships may be available to help you pay for college while reducing the effects of student debt on your financial future.
10. Many schools offer career placement services during and after graduation. While no educational program can guarantee you a job, career training schools frequently offer career assistance to current students, recent graduates and alumni. Programs like Helms’ Job Connection and Career Services can help you stand out in competitive fields with local and regional job leads, workshops and career events, and resume development.

If career training school is in your future, consider Helms College. Licensed by the Georgia Non-public Post-Secondary Education Commission and accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training (ACCET), Helms College offers a caring and supportive environment that will give you the knowledge, skills and experiential learning you need for career success through our Schools of Hospitality and Health Services. Click here to apply today or request more information.

[1] https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0241-choosing-vocational-school

[2] https://cew.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Recovery2020.ES_.Web_.pdf