With unemployment persisting in South Florida, boosting your marketability becomes all the more essential in today’s workforce. With programs offering education in the recession-proof areas, career colleges offer an appealing option for job-seekers. Short but intensive programs mean you can complete training faster and enter the employment market more quickly. The National Weekly looks at the career college and what you should consider before applying.

Getting the skills you need

Once you decide on a new career, do some research on the profession’s required credentials. Do you need to complete a specific degree or pass a license or certification program? Ask people working in the industry about what credentials are most valued. For professions regulated by the state, the website myfloridalicense.com offers guidelines about certifications in Florida. Other websites such as careeronestop.org and onetonline.org provide information about education paths for various careers.

Yet your most important enquiry will be the human resource departments of the businesses where you would like to work. Find out what credentials they expect an ideal employee to have and what schools they found provided the necessary training.

Choosing the right school

The right career college should provide the best employment opportunity for your educational investment. The College Navigator at the National Center for Educational Statistics provides an efficient search for career colleges by profession and region. The profile for each school lists average tuition costs, retention rates, campus security and accreditation.

Accreditation and government licensing offer a baseline to measure quality levels of the institution, weeding out abusive diploma mills from credible institutions. The U.S. Department of Education compiled a list of accredited and licensed schools online. Check to see if the school you are interested in is listed.

If your profession requires a state license, such as teaching or medical services, ask the schools you are considering if their programs qualify students for licensure or certification. Don’t be afraid to request statistics about their students, how many of their graduates pass their licensing exams and find work in their fields. Also aim for career colleges that include job placement assistance as part of their service.

Do you expect to transfer to another school or return to school after gaining experience in your new profession? You might want to transfer your career college academic credit towards your new program. Ask the school about its transfer records to see if previous graduates have transferred academic credit successfully.

Funding your career education

The U.S. Department of Education provides federal funding for students enrolled at accredited institutions. Ask the school you’re interested in if they participate in the federal student aid program, and if other student financial aid would be available for you. This financial aid information could alter the original sticker price of your education. Request from the school the average, total cost of attending the program of your interest. Known as the net price, this average will show your total expenses (including books and equipment) after financial aid deductions.

Your enrollment contract will spell out the expenses paid to your chosen career college. Signing this document will legally bind you to the conditions stated. Before signing, ask someone with legal experience to review the conditions with you. Do not sign if anything is left unclear, or if you do not understand.