When it comes to pursuing a career, people can choose from multiple pathways to reach their goals. Depending on the kind of career they want, some may be able to find employment with just a high school or GED diploma, while others may pursue a more traditional path to earn a four-year college degree.
An increasingly popular option is trade school, which can be referred to as vocational school. Trade schools provide focused education and training to prepare students for specific careers, and a growing number of people are recognizing the value of such an education. While four-year colleges have experienced stagnant or declining enrollment in recent years, trade schools have experienced rising enrollment, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse.
Attending trade school in Pensacola, Florida, can prepare students for a wide variety of roles, many of which will see increased demand for their skills in the workplace in the coming years.
Benefits of Trade School
Pursuing an education at a trade school can provide several short- and long-term benefits, including a simplified admissions process and the opportunity to develop skills that can deliver dividends for years to come. Below are some of the most notable benefits of a trade school education.
Focused Career Training
Trade school’s main draw is that it provides a career-focused education, often combining classroom instruction with practical, hands-on training. This allows students to build skills that are highly relevant to the professions they’re pursuing, potentially making it easier for them to find jobs soon after they graduate. Many schools also offer students support through a career services department, which can include resume assistance, interview coaching, professional dress guidance, and other soft job search skills.
Simpler Admissions Process
The admissions process for trade school is often much simpler than the admissions process for college. Unlike students applying to college, students applying to trade school generally don’t need to submit SAT or ACT scores, write persuasive essays, or secure letters of recommendation. In most cases, a high school diploma and a personal information sheet are the only admissions requirements for trade school, along with an interview with admissions staff. Often an aptitude test such as the Wonderlic SLE is used to help match to the best career education options.
Shorter Program Length
Earning a diploma or degree from a trade school often takes less time than a traditional degree program, such as an associate or a bachelor’s degree program, which generally takes two or four years. By contrast, most trade school programs can be completed in one to two years, enabling students to join the workforce and start earning a living in the career field much sooner.
Types of Trade School Programs in Pensacola
Trade schools offer a wide range of programs targeting career paths in many sectors or industries, including healthcare, construction, personal care, and commercial driving. Individuals pursuing a trade school education in Pensacola can choose from the programs below to achieve their career goals.
Nursing
Trade schools can prepare students for nursing careers as either licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or registered nurses (RNs). LPN programs teach students the fundamentals of nursing care and prepare them to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) programs are designed for those seeking to become RNs, including LPNs who want to advance their careers.
Both programs feature hands-on clinical work as a critical part of the curriculum, providing students with opportunities to develop practical skills in real-world settings. Additionally, some LPN and ASN programs follow a hybrid model, blending on-campus and online coursework to give students a degree of flexibility in their pursuit of a nursing education.
Medical Assisting
A medical assistant program prepares students for careers in medical assisting, a diverse field with growing employment opportunities for both administrative and direct patient care roles. These programs help students develop the foundational skills to support healthcare professionals and patients in various clinical environments.
Dental Assisting
A dental assistant program helps students develop the interpersonal and technical skills they need to support dentists and patients in various settings, including labs, offices, or chairside.
HVAC-R
Students in a heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC-R) program learn the fundamentals of working with complex climate control systems, including how to install, service, and repair them. HVAC-R technicians are in demand across a wide range of industries and settings, particularly in the Pensacola region and throughout Florida.
Cosmetology
Cosmetology programs help students develop the skills to perform a wide variety of services, from hair styling and coloring to facials. They also prepare students to take the cosmetology licensing exam, which is required in all 50 states. Upon completion of the program and earning their license, students can pursue employment in various settings, including salons and spas, or even start their own cosmetology business.
Trade School Careers in Pensacola
A trade school program in Pensacola can position graduates to pursue diverse career opportunities in various fields, from healthcare to construction.
With its simplified admissions process and shorter program length, a trade school education can also benefit established professionals who are looking to switch careers.
Below are just some of the careers that trade school graduates can pursue.
Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse
Five of the top 10 largest employers in Escambia County, Florida — where Pensacola is located — are in the healthcare sector, with several based in Pensacola itself. Florida is also one of the largest employers of RNs and LPNs in the country, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Additionally, Florida has one of the oldest populations in the country. More than 21% of its residents are 65 and older, tying it with Vermont as the second-oldest state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. As that population grows older, their healthcare needs will increase, driving demand for more healthcare workers like nurses.
Nationwide, employment of RNs and LPNs is expected to grow by 6% and 5%, respectively, between 2022 and 2032, the BLS reports, leading to more than 200,000 new nursing jobs.
Medical Assistant
Demand for healthcare workers also bodes well for aspiring medical assistants, who are projected to see 14% employment growth nationwide between 2022 and 2032, the BLS reports, creating nearly 106,000 new jobs.
Florida is the third-largest employer of medical assistants in the country, after California and Texas, according to the BLS. As baby boomers in the state continue to age, there will be greater demand for medical assistants, who support doctors and nurses by performing administrative and clinical tasks, such as scheduling appointments or taking vital signs.
Dental Assistant
Dental assistants have a wide range of responsibilities, including preparing patients for treatment, sterilizing dental instruments, maintaining patient records, scheduling appointments, and handling billing. Because they play such a vital role — and as more people become aware of the link between oral health and overall health — demand for dental assistants is expected to rise, growing by 7% between 2022 and 2032, according to the BLS. That translates to more than 25,000 new jobs over the time period.
In Florida, demand for dental assistants may be even greater, given the state’s large population of older adults, who generally experience more issues with oral health than young people. As of 2023, Florida was the third-largest employer of dental assistants in the country.
HVAC-R Technician
As one of the hottest and most humid states in the nation, Florida has one of the strongest job markets for HVAC-R technicians, who are responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing high-performance climate control systems. According to the BLS, Florida employed approximately 37,000 HVAC-R technicians in 2023, more than any other state, including the much more populous California and Texas.
Completing an HVAC-R program at a trade school in Pensacola can be advantageous, as graduates can be positioned to take advantage of the region’s construction boom, with new houses, apartments, townhomes, and commercial buildings slated to spring up in the coming years, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
Nationally, employment of HVAC-R technicians is projected to grow by 6% between 2022 and 2032, the BLS reports, creating roughly 23,000 jobs.
Cosmetologist
Florida is also one of the largest employers of cosmetologists in the country, behind only Texas, according to the BLS. Statista indicates that revenue from the hair, nail, and skin care services industry in Florida has been steadily increasing over the last decade and will reach roughly $2.3 billion in 2024 — a figure that also indicates growing demand for cosmetologists in the state.
Nationally, employment of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists will grow by 8% between 2022 and 2032, creating nearly 43,000 jobs over the decade.
Train for a Rewarding Career at Fortis Institute
Completing a program at a postsecondary institution such as a trade school offers a simpler, more streamlined education than traditional college. With a focus on helping you develop the hands-on skills to enter your chosen profession, attending a quality trade school can enable you to start your career quickly and confidently.
If you’re considering a trade school education, explore the Fortis Institute Pensacola of Fortis, which offers a variety of different programs for career-minded individuals looking for a fast track to professional success. Combining classroom instruction in a small class setting with hands-on training, our programs can prepare you for a wide variety of roles in growing sectors, such as healthcare, nursing and the skilled trades.
Find out how Fortis can help you launch your career.
Recommended Readings
Benefits of Career Training Programs
Are Skilled Trades in Demand?
A Day in the Life of a Dental Assistant: Job Description and Responsibilities