Vocational training prepares students for skilled trades by providing practical expertise and knowledge. There are many additional reasons to choose this route. Check out the following five!
Students who find high school’s general education classes more challenging or who lack motivation should consider vocational programs. Why? Because vocational training promotes academic perseverance. In short, students are able to do the following:
- Quickly apply what they learn
- Directly access a field that interests them
- Build motivation
- Complete a workplace internship
- Etc.
Offered in public and private high schools, vocational training programs teach specialized skills for particular trades. Various types of certifications, attestations, and diplomas are offered, including the following:
- 132 semi-skilled trade certificates (900 hours of training, including 450 hours of practical training)
- 140 vocational training programs (600–1,800 hours of training leading to a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS))
- 25 development programs following the DVS (450 hours of training leading to an Attestation of Vocational Specialization (AVS))
- 31 short-term programs (programs that last a few months and respond quickly to regional workforce training needs, leading to an Attestation of Vocational Studies (AVS))
- Etc.
Several vocational programs are available to students as early as Secondary III or age 16.
When it comes to employment opportunities, vocational training works in your favour. The numbers speak for themselves! In Quebec, the employment rate for graduates averages around 75 percent and approaches 100 percent in some programs.
Here are some of the most promising sectors:
- Health care and social assistance
- Transportation and warehousing
- Accommodation and food services
- Retail trade
- Wholesale trade
- Etc.
To learn more about vocational training and job opportunities, speak with the guidance counsellor at your child’s school. They’ll be able to provide information and advice.
Vocational training gives young people access to very good working conditions. In fact, most graduates are able to secure jobs with the following advantages:
- A competitive salary
- Opportunities for advancement (e.g., an executive position in a large company)
- A flexible schedule
- Group insurance
- Etc.
Don’t forget that vocational training can be a gateway to other academic programs. Graduates can continue their studies at CEGEP or university under certain conditions.
Some programs are designed to help students access higher education. For more information on this subject, you can speak with a guidance counsellor.
Want to learn more about your child’s post-secondary options? Read our article on the subject!
Writing : Amélie Cournoyer
Scientific review : Anne Poirier St-Onge, psychoéducatrice
Rewriting : Alloprof Parents' team
Commission scolaire de la Seigneurie-des-Mille-Îles. Choisir la formation professionnelle, 12 p.
Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport, La formation professionnelle et technique au Québec – un aperçu, Québec, Gouvernement du Québec, 2010, 50 p.