If you’ve ever considered learning a trade, you may also have wondered how to go about becoming a skilled tradesperson. Learning a trade can be profitable, rewarding, and a plausible way to enter a stable field. But as with any skill, becoming a tradesperson requires dedicated practice and the knowledge of how to perform the trade’s core functions. While they all have a different set of requirements, there is an overarching path you can follow to ensure success in any trade.
Let’s take a closer look at how to become a skilled tradesperson.
What Are Skilled Trades?
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, skilled trades are jobs that require a learned set of skills tradespeople pick up through apprenticeships. Good trade jobs exist in a number of different fields. A few examples of trade jobs include:
- Automotive service technicians
- Commercial motor vehicle operator
- HVAC
- Welding
- Electrical technician
These positions generally require the ability to work with one’s hands and require physical and manual labor. One of the advantages of pursuing a career in a skilled trade is that there is typically no shortage of jobs available and the pay is generally good. Skilled tradespeople are in high demand from employers.
Different states have different programs intended to assist people in entering into skilled trades. For example, the state of Texas Workforce Commission has registered apprenticeship training programs for job seekers.
But for prospective skilled tradespeople, what’s the next step once they’ve identified a career path?
Technical School And Apprenticeship to Become a Skilled Tradesperson
Once you understand what the skilled trades are, you can then begin to learn the process of how to enter one. The specific prerequisites for a skilled trade will obviously depend on the specific field you enter. But there are two prerequisites that many skilled trades do have in common.
One is receiving some sort of formal training. You can achieve this by attending a technical school. Technical schools will provide prospective skilled tradespeople with a curriculum centered on mastering the core concepts associated with the skill they’d like expertise in. A technical school can focus on only one trade or have classes available on many trades. You may need a high school diploma or GED to attend a technical school. You can complete some technical school programs in a matter of months.
Another common prerequisite is an apprenticeship. Many trades require their practitioners to have some sort of hands-on experience before they enter the industry. An apprenticeship allows one to train alongside a master in the craft, learning the techniques needed to succeed through application. The technical school you attend should be able to provide you with more information on whether you need an apprenticeship in that field.
Becoming Trade Certified as a Skilled Tradesperson
Completing technical school and an apprenticeship may not be the only components of your pre-career learning you’ll want to have on your resume. You may also want (or in some cases, need) to become trade certified.
Receiving certification often involves testing (and in some cases, demonstration) to prove you understand the procedures involved in the trade itself. It proves you’ve received the formal training necessary to complete the tasks associated with the job. Different types of trades will require different certifications, so be sure you understand the necessary requirements before entering your training program.
Ideally, your training program will prepare you for any relevant certification exams, providing you with the knowledge you require to receive it. This is why it’s so critical which technical school or training program you choose. If they don’t understand the specific certifications needed to become a skilled tradesperson, it can leave you inadequately prepared for a career in that field.
On-going Skilled Tradesman Training
Let’s say you’ve received the proper vocational training, qualified for all appropriate certifications, and started a career in a trade job. Just because you’ve established yourself in the industry doesn’t mean your job training has to end. Ongoing skilled tradesman training can benefit you in a number of ways, including:
- Making you more proficient in your role. Participating in ongoing training can make you more capable in your job duties, even after you’ve undergone the initial training/apprenticeship.
- Improving your career prospects. No matter where you are in your career, training can help you add skills that can help you advance further in your field. This can allow you to take on more clients or more complicated projects.
- Refreshing your knowledge base and skill set. Skilled tradespeople at every skill level can benefit from ongoing training, as it provides them with an opportunity to re-learn and re-familiarize themselves with the skills they’d first learned in the past.
Training is useful for skilled tradespeople no matter what stage of their career they are at. But what if you’re just looking to get started on your new professional journey? Here’s how you can begin that exciting first chapter in your career.
How To Get Started In Your Skilled Trade Career
To get started as a skilled tradesperson, your first step should be to identify your own personal interests and strengths. That way, you can determine the trade best suited for you. Once you have, you’ll then need to identify a training program that has the information you need while also giving you the opportunity to master the skills required for the position.
It may be important to pursue a training program with flexible scheduling that offers both online and in-person courses. This type of versatility could make it easier for you to find classes that fit your specific schedule.
You’ll need to participate in training programs and school search to identify the best one for you. If you’re in the San Antonio, Texas area, look no further than Southern Careers Institute. SCI has training programs on many skilled trades in demand that you can use to start a new career path. SCI can help you find the job training you need to succeed as a skilled tradesperson without having a college degree.
So what are you waiting for? Whether you’re a skilled tradesperson looking to get ahead or a new one looking to break in, SCI can help you get recognition and the possible promotion and raise that you want. Contact us today.
Sources
https://www.dol.gov/apprenticeship/pdf/ATR-SkillTrades.pdf
https://southerncareer.wpengine.com/technical-school/
https://www.twc.texas.gov/jobseekers/registered-apprenticeship-training-programs-job-seekers
https://southerncareer.wpengine.com/programs/
https://southerncareer.wpengine.com/
This article was published on: 06/11/20 9:03 AM
* SCI does not guarantee employment or a starting salary upon graduation, completion, or withdrawal from SCI. As an accredited post-secondary institution, SCI has various federal financial assistance programs available for students who qualify and are enrolled in SCI programs. This does not apply to seminar students.
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