How Red Kite Can Help
Are Trades Right For Me?
Wondering if attending Trade School and earning a certification is right for you? There are many benefits of earning an industry based certification towards your career. With a certificate or degree from a trade school, you will have access to today’s most in-demand jobs. Find out more here.
Explore Your Dream Career
Browse through thousands of careers, select a career card and get a feel of what your future could hold. Find something you like? Add careers and training programs to your favorites.
Find the Right Career
Take a quick 6-question assessment to find the career that is just right for you. Once you’ve chosen your career we’ll match you with instructional and training programs to help you get closer to your goals.
We Help You Keep Track
Deadlines. To-do lists. Requirements. We help you manage it all.
Know These Terms
Career Pathways Program
- For high school students in grades 9-12
- Purpose is to better prepare all students to succeed after HS in higher wage, in-demand fields
- Students take academically rigorous classes, explore a range of occupations, identify professional interests, build valuable skills and feel empowered to make informed decisions about education and future careers
- Most high school students have the opportunity to earn industry certifications while participating in career and technical programs
- Opportunity to earn college credits
Externships: Job Shadowing
- Job shadowing within an industry or workplace a student has interest in pursuing
- Typically, unpaid and student usually doesn’t receive school credit for experience
- Shadowing rather than having work delegated and projects assigned
- Used mainly to explore interests and curiosities
Internships: Work-Based Learning
- Students can learn business and industry standards and practices, soft skills, and the application of academics within their chosen field
- Typically take place during the school day, weekends or vacation
- Evaluated by employers and graded by CTE teacher
- Ranges from 10-60 hours in length
Apprenticeship: On-the-job Training
- A program that trains a student to become skilled in a particular trade
- Apprenticeships combine hands-on work with classroom learning to train apprentice
- Considered full-time employment
- Has a chance of a pay increase with each benchmark that is met
- The length of time it takes to receive your certification and complete training varies
- Most of the time, apprenticeships take four years, but can range anywhere from one to six years
- At the end of the apprenticeship, apprentices earn industry-recognized credentials, such as a certification, and in many cases can receive college credits
Vocational / Trade / Technical School
- Career-focused school that trains students for specific occupations
- Also called trade schools, technical schools or career schools
- Most programs take from a few months to two years to complete
- No general education classes – your education will focus only on the skills necessary for your career
- Small classes that provide hands-on learning opportunities
- Cost significantly less than a traditional college program