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Trade Careers
Interested in seeing whether a career in trades is right for you? Check out the article below from Midwest Technical Institute. It contains a plethora of information on trade and answers to FAQs.
Thinking of a career in a trade after high school? Not sure what schools are available? Check out this list from Only Trade Schools of the "Best Trade Schools in Michigan."
Online Schools Center allows you to search programs and read about the different training centers in Michigan!
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, CareerOneStop provides resources for exploring different careers. job trainings, and job searches.
Apprenticeship.gov is an apprenticeship job finder. Explore popular listings or enter your career path or interest to find opportunities nearby.
Trade School vs Apprenticeship
Trade schools and apprenticeships offer the opportunity for hands-on learning, but they are a little different in how they function.
Trade School
Classroom instruction supplemented by on the job experience
Curriculum based and usually with structured semesters and classes
One location or building
Learning under certified instructors
Specialized for specific trades
Student pays tuition for classes
Receive certification upon completion
Apprenticeship
On the job experience supplemented by classroom instruction
Experience based
Specialized for a field rather than specific trade
Program completed with employers on-site coupled with classroom instruction
Student gets pay increase as objectives are completed
Receive journeyman's card upon completion
While apprenticeships do not cost money like trade schools do, apprenticeship time can potentially be cut in half if you get a few years of training beforehand.
Neither is "better" than the other- it depends on how you learn!
The University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH) is located in Lima, Ohio. They are a worldwide leader in the Automotive, Diesel. and High Performance industries, but also offer degree programs in Business, Health, Marketing, Information Technology, and lots more! They have on-campus housing and 14 athletic teams including a Motorsports Team for those interested in dirt track racing or drag racing.
With 22 campuses across the country, there is no shortage of options at Lincoln Tech! They offer programs in automotive, skilled trades, healthcare, culinary. information technology, and cosmetology. The best part is that they do NOT charge out of state tuition! You can go to any of their campuses in any state and it will cost the same whether you're a resident or not!
Click the picture to apply!
Training at Community Colleges
Most community colleges offer job training and certificate programs at their institutions. These typically take 1 year or less to complete and can usually be paid out of pocket. Successful completion of these courses will have you ready to join the workforce with a network of peers and a bit of training under your belt.
Grand Rapids Community College offers an array of different job training options. These include:
Automotive Technician
Computer Support Technician
Construction Electrical
Machinist/CNC Technician
Medical Assistant
Residential Construction
Welding/Fabrication Technician
Certificate Programs
GRCC also offers a few one-year certificate programs. Click below to check those out!
In partnership with Ed2Go, Lansing Community College offers "Online Non-Credit Workforce Development Programs." Their popular programs are:
Art and Design
Business
Cybersecurity
Healthcare
Information Technology
Legal
Additionally, LCC provides Applied Degrees and Certificates. These are designed for students who seek education and certain job-specific skills. Some programs offered are:
Automotive
Digital Media
Electrical
Fire Science
MRI Technology
Sign Language Interpreter
Sustainability
Vascular Technology
Montcalm Community College has several short-term programs designed for adults who want to quickly join the workforce. Programs include:
Business Management
Child Development Associate
Digital Arts
Long-Term Care Nurse Assistant
Michigan Corrections Officer
Office Applications
Pre-Animal Vet Health Technology
Programming
Web Developer
Welding
MCC also offers 14 certificate programs which take about 1 year to complete. Some of their programs are:
Welding Technology
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Technology
Business Management
Digital Arts
Early Childhood Development
Industrial Automation
Liberal Studies
Apprenticeship Training
Criminal Justice/Corrections
Information Technology
A Job Training Certificate in Apprenticeship offers several benefits to students including a broad skill level of a given occupation, on-the-job training and related classroom instruction that will help prepare them to be superior in a given occupation.
Montcalm Community College also offers an assortment of career services. Click below to explore their career events, get access to career advising, and explore online tools such as Career Coach, online Job Boards & Internships, and lots more.
Mid Michigan College offers Skilled Trades Pathways that help develop specialized technical skills. They are:
Automation/Robotics
Automotive & Diesel
CADD
Facilities, Heating & Electricity
Geothermal
Manufacturing Management
Plastics
Pre-Apprenticeship Welding
Refrigeration & Air Conditioning
Welding
MMC also offers Short-Term training in the following skilled trades:
Commercial Drivers License
Drone Photo & Video
Drone Piloting
Electrical Apprenticeship
Precision Measurement
Welding
Muskegon Community College's Workforce Development provides training programs on campus or at a company site. They have 24 programs, some of which include:
CAD
Electricity
Electronics
Fluid Power
Mechanical
Measurement
Print Reading
Programmable Controllers
Industrial Robotics
Shop Math
SolidWorks
Statistical Process Control
MCC also has 32 Certificate programs. Some of the less common certificates are:
C/Java Programming
Computer Networking
Food Science
Infant/Toddler Development
Patternmaking
Video Editing
Web Design
Wind/Solar
SMC offers the following certificate and credential programs. They also have on campus housing!
Automotive
Business Management
Construction Trades Green Technology
Emergency Medical Technician
Fire Science
IT Cybersecurity & System Admin
IT Help Desk
Medical Assisting
Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Phlebotomy
Robotics
Tribal Leadership
Welding Technology
Ferris State University offers seven different certificate programs. Their certificate programs typically take about 1 year to complete. Click below to learn more about what FSU has to offer.
Click here to explore the rest of the programs at Ferris!
Are you TIP Eligible?
Click here to learn more about TIP and which programs at Ferris are covered!
Not sure if you're eligible for TIP? Explore this website and create a "Student Portal" account or talk to Ms. Hummel!
The Michigan Career & Technical Institute (MCTI) provides training for adults with disabilities in Michigan. They offer on campus and off campus living facilities, and some students are eligible for free tuition, room and board.
MCTI also provides the following for their students:
Medical and counseling services
Occupational therapy
Interpreters for deaf students
Classroom and job accommodations
Job placement services
Michigan Rehabilitation Services
Developing customized workforce solutions for businesses and individuals with disabilities. Click below if you need assistance in this area.
More Resources
If you are interested in finding a career after graduation, check out the resources below!
Companies Near Belding, MI
Located in Belding is Extruded Aluminum Corporation (EAC). They supply products to solar. material handling, automotive, truck/trailer. military, construction, electronics, sporting equipment, and utility companies.
Greenville Tool & Die (GTD) is located on M-91 headed toward Greenville. GTD designs and builds metal stamping dies. They also build and design automotive, appliance, trucking, construction agricultural, and lawn and garden tooling.
Dynamic Wood Products (DWP) is located in Saranac. They manufacture laminate surfaces, office furniture, panel bases, and more.
Mersen is a global expert in electrical power and advanced materials. Mersen designs solutions that allows clients to optimize their manufacturing process in sectors such as energy, transportation, electronics, chemical, pharmaceutical and process industries.
Robroy Enclosures offers the most extensive election of non-metallic enclosures. They are a subsidiary of Robroy Industries serving the electrical products marketplace under family ownership since 1905.
BelleHarvest is committed to delivering consistent, high-quality, flavorful apples season after season. They help the best apples get from field to store shelf.
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