4 answers
Aaden
Student
Elk River, Minnesota
1
Question
Asked
836 views
Is a trade a good option over a 4 year degree?
Im finding that I may want to be a electrician. I'm hearing it's a good option to graduate with zero college debt.
Login to comment
4 answers
Dr H
Dr. H's Research
1464
Answers
Australia
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Hey Aaden,
Fred’s answer really breaks it down—becoming an electrician doesn’t require a four-year degree. Instead, you can hit up trade school for a year or two and then jump into an apprenticeship, where you start earning while you learn. It’s a smart route if you want to avoid the college debt trap and get straight to hands-on work.
If you love working with your hands and solving real-world problems, a trade like this could be perfect for you. Plus, you get to learn on the job, build your skills, and eventually become a journeyman. And once you’re in, the demand for skilled tradespeople tends to stay strong, which means job security and a steady income.
So if you’re leaning toward being an electrician, consider diving into trade school—it might just be the fastest, most practical way to kickstart your career. Just make sure you’re ready for the physical side of the job and the commitment to learning the craft through real-world experience. Enjoy the journey, and good luck!😉
Fred’s answer really breaks it down—becoming an electrician doesn’t require a four-year degree. Instead, you can hit up trade school for a year or two and then jump into an apprenticeship, where you start earning while you learn. It’s a smart route if you want to avoid the college debt trap and get straight to hands-on work.
If you love working with your hands and solving real-world problems, a trade like this could be perfect for you. Plus, you get to learn on the job, build your skills, and eventually become a journeyman. And once you’re in, the demand for skilled tradespeople tends to stay strong, which means job security and a steady income.
So if you’re leaning toward being an electrician, consider diving into trade school—it might just be the fastest, most practical way to kickstart your career. Just make sure you’re ready for the physical side of the job and the commitment to learning the craft through real-world experience. Enjoy the journey, and good luck!😉
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Aaden !
The best path for you is the one that you want to take ! What's good for one person doesn't make it necessarily good for another person. Also, a college degree is not just for the end purpose of a career, it's a lot more than just that. People who love and like school go to college. Since you want to be an electrician, you have a couple of options that you can consider.
Let's start with the vocational training option for Electrician. You would have both classroom and hands on instruction in a vocational school setting. In your state of Minnesota, you can attend an Electrical School or do an Apprenticeship to prepare you for this career.
Going to a community or technical college in Minnesota offers a lot more. You would obtain your Associate Degree and any of the certifications that some colleges offer which is a real bonus to do this all in one place and also have a campus support system in place. I highly recommend this option because it's great to get a solid education for a career for which there's a lot to learn. You would meet more contacts and probably know about more opportunities in an academic setting. It is a two year path at college for your Associates Degree, during which time you would have the liberty of venturing into much variety if the college has a theatre department and a computer department. You can take courses in theatrical electrics and computer. A college offers much more than an apprenticeship or a vocational school. This would be if you want to advance in your career as you work as an Electrician. College is the experience, not just a piece of paper. The more versatile you are as an electrician, the more work you will obtain.
You may not have to take out any loans for college and if loans are offered to you, you can refuse them in order to not have college debt. At an accredited college, you can apply for Federal Student Financial Aid, College based and General Scholarships, Grants and the Work Study Program for which you could get an electrical based job on campus and get in that experience. So, college is a good deal all around. You may like it so much that you decide to continue for your Bachelors Degree either after your Associates or later on in life. Consider the college route keeping in mind that in Minnesota, the other training for Electrician takes 6 months to 2 years anyway.
Think about your future for this career and exactly how you want to take your progress as a professional electrician. I hope this helps and wish you all the best !
The best path for you is the one that you want to take ! What's good for one person doesn't make it necessarily good for another person. Also, a college degree is not just for the end purpose of a career, it's a lot more than just that. People who love and like school go to college. Since you want to be an electrician, you have a couple of options that you can consider.
Let's start with the vocational training option for Electrician. You would have both classroom and hands on instruction in a vocational school setting. In your state of Minnesota, you can attend an Electrical School or do an Apprenticeship to prepare you for this career.
Going to a community or technical college in Minnesota offers a lot more. You would obtain your Associate Degree and any of the certifications that some colleges offer which is a real bonus to do this all in one place and also have a campus support system in place. I highly recommend this option because it's great to get a solid education for a career for which there's a lot to learn. You would meet more contacts and probably know about more opportunities in an academic setting. It is a two year path at college for your Associates Degree, during which time you would have the liberty of venturing into much variety if the college has a theatre department and a computer department. You can take courses in theatrical electrics and computer. A college offers much more than an apprenticeship or a vocational school. This would be if you want to advance in your career as you work as an Electrician. College is the experience, not just a piece of paper. The more versatile you are as an electrician, the more work you will obtain.
You may not have to take out any loans for college and if loans are offered to you, you can refuse them in order to not have college debt. At an accredited college, you can apply for Federal Student Financial Aid, College based and General Scholarships, Grants and the Work Study Program for which you could get an electrical based job on campus and get in that experience. So, college is a good deal all around. You may like it so much that you decide to continue for your Bachelors Degree either after your Associates or later on in life. Consider the college route keeping in mind that in Minnesota, the other training for Electrician takes 6 months to 2 years anyway.
Think about your future for this career and exactly how you want to take your progress as a professional electrician. I hope this helps and wish you all the best !
Fred Rosenberger
Data Analyst
515
Answers
St. Louis, MO
Updated
Fred’s Answer
An electrician does not generally go to a four year college. They would go to a trade school for (I think) a year or two, then would get an apprenticeship. That can last another few years, but you would start getting paid while doing that.
To become a journeyman, you'd need between 4000 and 8000 hours (2 to 4 years). Then there are licensing exams and certifications.
The specific rules will vary depending on what state you are in, but this gives you a general idea.
To become a journeyman, you'd need between 4000 and 8000 hours (2 to 4 years). Then there are licensing exams and certifications.
The specific rules will vary depending on what state you are in, but this gives you a general idea.
You rock! This advice is very helpful.
Simon
Natasha Rieder
Occupational Health Nurse
48
Answers
Wentzville, Missouri
Updated
Natasha’s Answer
PLEASE become an electrician!! I'm not sure how old you are, but I'm 34 and my parents generation was flooded with the notion that you HAD to have a college degree to make a livable wage, so that's what they told us to do. Well guess what? Now all the trades people (HVAC, plumbers, electricians, ect) are retiring, creating a shortage and therefore a higher demand for those types of positions. This also means means mucho denero for people going into those fields (that's you!!).
But of course there is a con to every pro; some of these types of jobs have high rates of lay offs in slower seasons. Getting laid off isn't necessarily the same as getting fired, but it does typically mean you're going without a paycheck for sometimes an unknown length of time. I don't have experience with that so I'll let someone else delve further into that for you, but it's just something to keep in mind.
Good luck!!
But of course there is a con to every pro; some of these types of jobs have high rates of lay offs in slower seasons. Getting laid off isn't necessarily the same as getting fired, but it does typically mean you're going without a paycheck for sometimes an unknown length of time. I don't have experience with that so I'll let someone else delve further into that for you, but it's just something to keep in mind.
Good luck!!