If you want to get into the trades, the first question is usually: should I go to trade school, or try to get an apprenticeship? They’re different things, and the right answer depends on your situation.
What an apprenticeship is
An apprenticeship is a job. A shop or union hires you, pays you, and trains you on real job sites under experienced tradespeople. You also take classes, usually at night. In a New York State registered apprenticeship, training is usually free to you, and it lasts one to six years depending on the trade.
By the end you have years of documented experience, which is what licenses and better jobs ask for. And you were paid the whole time.
What trade school is
A trade school (including BOCES adult programs and community colleges) teaches the basics in a classroom and shop: safety, tools, code, theory. Programs can be a few months to two years. You usually pay tuition, though aid may be available.
Trade school doesn’t replace an apprenticeship. You’ll still need on-the-job experience to work in most trades. What it can do is give you a head start, make you a stronger candidate, and help you figure out which trade you like.
Side by side
- Cost: an apprenticeship pays you; trade school charges you.
- Getting in: trade school is easier to start; apprenticeships can be competitive and union ones open only at certain times.
- Time: trade school is shorter; apprenticeships take years but you’re working the whole time.
- What you finish with: trade school gives you a certificate; an apprenticeship gives you experience, a record of hours and often a job.
Which one is right for you?
Go straight for an apprenticeship if…
- You need to earn money now.
- You already know which trade you want.
- You’re reliable, can get to job sites, and learn best by doing.
Consider trade school first if…
- You’re not sure which trade fits you.
- You’re switching careers and want the basics before you start over.
- You’ve applied to apprenticeships and want to stand out next time.
The step most people skip
Before you spend money on school or years waiting on a union list, go see the work. Visit a shop, ride along with a crew for a day, ask what a normal week looks like. A few hours on site tells you if a trade is for you, and shops remember the people who show up.
Union apprenticeships in New York are announced by the state Department of Labor, so check its apprenticeship announcements regularly for recruitments near you.