THE TRADES

So you are thinking about joining the trades?  A trade job generally refers to any job whose duties require advanced training and skills gained through means other than a bachelor's degree. For example, many jobs in the construction industry, such as plumber or electrician, require you to have significant experience and training before you can work.  Here are some programs to give you an idea about what is out there - even locally:

Keefe Tech at Night:

https://keefeatnight.org/zerocost-grant-programs/

Assabet has community education programs:

https://assabetace.org/assabet-home-electrician/

The Peterson School:

https://www.petersonschool.com/courses

Become a Dental Assistant:

https://www.massdentalassisting.org

Becoming a dental assistant offers advantages for those interested in a career in healthcare who might not be inclined to attend a traditional 2- or 4-year college. Benefits include:  Job security, competitive wages, and flexible hours; Opportunities to help people; On-the-job training & mentoring; Career advancement & pathways.

Or one can connect with a local union and start there for connections to apprenticeship programs:

https://bostonjatc.com/

There are specific trade colleges, and private schools that house associate degree programs for individual trades.  There are also plenty of options available for individuals to get trained through apprenticeships hosted by employers and trade unions.  Please check out the following document below to see some of the amazing opportunities that you can apply to take part in:  Directory of Joint Apprenticeship Training Centers in Massachusetts.