If you are interested in working in the Trades one of the biggest drawbacks for many people is being able to afford training and certification. The first thing you should understand is that although almost every area requires certification for Plumbing and Electrical Contractors many of the other trades do not need to be certified in every state. For instance in some states to be a HVAC Contractor you need to go through years of training and then take your certification tests. In other states you might just need to sit for a class about the use of refrigerant and then get your EPA Certification so you can purchase refrigerant needed for your job. There are different requirements in every state for every trade so before you get started you need to contact your state and local government offices to find out what is required to perform your job legally. You should also contact your local state employment office to learn about free educational opportunities.
Training For The Trades
In many areas there are opportunities to get trained for free. Training includes both classroom time where you learn the math and science behind your job and then there is on the job training that can either be as a helper or an official apprentice.
If you know someone that is still in high school you should have them talk with their guidance counselor about Trade School Opportunities. Normally you attend regular high school for half a day and Trade School for half a day to learn your trade. Since they are still in high school all of the training is free. This means you can qualify for your educational requirements even before you are out of high school.
If you have already graduated high school there are scholarship opportunities for adults to attend at no cost. Normally it includes the requirement that you attended and graduated from high school in the area or lived in the area and got a GED. There might also be income requirements.
Another opportunity might be your employer paying for Trade School or maybe part of your tuition. Normally you have to get a job as a helper or apprentice and work for a period of time before you start school and then you will be reimbursed for each class that you pass.
Additionally on the job training can be substituted for in classroom training in some trades such as Automotive. Normally you have to work twice as long as your educational requirements to have them be substituted for classroom training. This is a great way to learn because you are being taught what you need to perform your job and not just classroom time. Even if you do attend trade school in high school you should still get a part time job after school and all summer just so you can experience the work and earn some money. While your friends are flipping burgers you can be learning your trade and getting paid.
Certification Testing For Contractors
Like we said not every trade requires certification. There are mechanics, carpenters and other trades people that have never attended trade school or received certification and work their whole lives for a company. The difference is if you ever want to start your own company because then you will need certifications for your work to pass inspections and for things like buying refrigerant for HVAC work. It will also help when you are trying to get loans for your initial equipment and maybe a building to work out of.
If you can get your certifications at trade school then that is a good way to get them free if not its possible you can work for someone and they will pay for your certifications. If not the actual cost of certification is very low and you are likely to make it all back in the first couple jobs you do.
Final Note
In some situations formal education doesn’t really matter but if you want to have your own company some day then you need to have some level of education and certification so that you can do your work in a professional manner that your local building official will pass for inspection.
It is also very important that you select the right trade school to attend. Many of them have a lot of advertising but they aren’t respected in the trades. If you have a part time job working in your trade you should talk with your boss and fellow workers and then talk with outside contractors and see what they did to prepare themselves. Contact your local community or State College Counselors Office and they should be able to help.
If you are in a financial situation its best to save and not take out loans. Trade School really isn’t that expensive and an after school job in high school that you also work full time in the summer should be enough to pay for trade school and most of your books and tools. And don’t buy expensive tools to start out with. There are some tool companies that sell items that are extremely overpriced. Don’t buy expensive tools until you are into your career at least 3 to 5 years and you know you won’t be changing your mind or putting yourself in huge debt.