Thinking about getting into a trade? There has never been a better time. Trades offer good pay, solid job growth, and many don’t require a four-year degree. If you want to start working quickly, learn usable skills, and grow in a meaningful job, trades can be an excellent choice.
At Career Prep High School, we offer trade certification programs designed to help students step into careers right away. Our programs are free, and many include credentials recognized by industries. Below, you’ll learn why trades are smart, what our trade-programs offer, and how to pick the best one for you.
Here are some of the advantages people often mention in high-quality trades blogs and guides:
Quick Career EntryMany trade jobs can be started with a certificate or credential in a few months to a year. That means less waiting and quicker earnings.
Lower Cost Than College Degrees Trade training is often cheaper and involves less time overhead. You get credentials, not heavy tuition debt.
High Demand & Stability Fields like construction, manufacturing, hospitality, and IT are growing. Skilled workers are needed. The demand offers job security.
Good Pay & Growth Opportunities With experience and additional credentials, many trade careers lead to higher income. Some trade jobs even rival starting pay of traditional degrees in certain regions.
Hands-On & Rewarding Work If you like working with your hands, building or fixing things, interacting with real equipment and making visible progress each day, trades deliver satisfaction.
Not every trade is the best fit for every person. When blogs about the best trades point out “top trades to learn,” they often use criteria like:
How quickly you can get credentials
How strong the job growth is in that field
What pay is like both starting and after a few years.
Whether demand is rising (or stable) for that work
What skills you already have or want to gain
Using those criteria, Career Prep’s offerings match up well for many students.
Here are some of the trade/world-of-work credentials you can earn through Career Prep. These are industry recognized, meaning employers know and value them. And the program is free, so you don’t pay tuition fees.
| Trade/Program | What You Earn / Learn | Why It's Valuable |
|---|---|---|
| IT (Information Technology) | Certification in IT, skills to work without a college degree. Flexible options. | Good pay, multiple career paths. Can work remotely or in flexible settings. |
| Construction | Credentials like NCCER Core (six-point credential), OSHA-10/30 certification, forklift training, CPR/First Aid, Leadership Excellence. | Construction is always in demand; physical work; immediate results; wide variety of job roles. |
| Manufacturing | Certifications like MSSC CPT + Skillboss (twelve-point credential), 3M Safety Suite, OSHA certifications, CP-R/First Aid, etc. | Advanced manufacturing uses technology. Good job opportunities, often with benefits. |
| Hospitality | Certifications like ServSafe, RISE UP, CPR/First Aid, Leadership Excellence. | Jobs are everywhere (restaurants, hotels, events). Great if you like working with people. |
| Credentials Common Across Programs | CPR/First Aid, OSHA-10/30, Leadership Excellence, Microsoft Office suite etc. | Makes your resume stronger. These skills are useful in almost any work setting. |
Here is how Career Prep makes those programs more accessible and useful than many other options:
Everything is FreeYou don’t pay tuition. There are no hidden fees. If you qualify, you can earn credentials without worrying about cost.
Hands-on Learning & Real Credentials You don’t just study, you earn credentials that employers recognize. This means when you finish, you’re ready to work.
Flexible Program Formats For many learners who work, care for family, or have other responsibilities, flexible schedules or online components help finish training.
Support ServicesExtra help: tutoring, mentoring, counseling. If you’ve faced challenges, academic, behavioral, or life circumstances, Career Prep supports you in overcoming those.
Focus on Employability & Life ReadinessPrograms include not just technical skills but work readiness: leadership training, safety certifications (OSHA), first aid, and also customer service skills (Hospitality) or digital skills (Microsoft Office). All of those help you stand out to employers.
Here are some ideas to help you decide which trade to learn, using what Career Prep offers plus what we know from trade-career guides:
From our trade programs, here are outcomes many students see:
Here are simple steps you can take if you’re considering a trade:
Contact us today to explore trade programs and see which one is the best fit for you. You can start your trade career on your own terms.