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Whether you are trying to decide to go back to school or continue your education after secondary school, you are looking at a major investment. But look at it this way, an education in the skilled trades is an investment that will pay for itself pretty quickly. You will be building your skill set, expanding your employment opportunities in the skilled trades and even have the ability to increase your income. By choosing part-time skilled trades school in Ontario, you can get the best of both worlds — you are able to continue earning a pay cheque while bettering your career opportunities.

Is a part-time education the right choice for you?

When you are pursuing skilled trades jobs in Ontario, it can be hard to balance school and work, but there are some key factors that can help you decide if part-time education is right:

• Do you need to keep working to support yourself and your family while you work to better your career?
• Are you anxious about committing to going to school full-time?
• Do you currently have a job that you could begin applying your new skills while you learn?
• Are you looking to grow the career you already have by pursuing further certification?
  
  

If the answer to any of these questions is "Yes," part-time studies could be your best option for getting the education you need for the career you want.

How can you make it all work?

Of course, working full-time and going to a trade school part-time is going to make you busy. Add in all of your other responsibilities to your family and friends and you're looking at a pretty full schedule. You'll be facing some long days — if you have night school, your courses will begin right after work and run until 9 or 10 at night plus you may have Saturday classes. But when you are upgrading your career, there are lots of reasons why you should make time for it all:

• Your new education will have a huge impact on you and your family — and having a good support system is key to your success as a trades person
• Many financial assistance programs expect you to make acceptable progress and pass your courses to receive full funding
• Most courses require you to complete your certification in a specified time limit, so you can't skip class or try to catch up later.
• You need your job to support yourself and your family while you're going to school, so you can't let your current career suffer. 

The best way to make it all work is to sit down and look at your goals, the expectations of your certification courses and job requirements. Make a schedule that has time for work, school and your family and stick to it to keep up your motivation and focus.

By combining a part-time skilled trades education with a full-time job, you are making huge progress towards bettering your future and your career. Keep picturing that goal for a skilled trades career and think about the impact your new job will have on your happiness and your family. It may seem like a lot of demanding work, but it is only for a few months. At the end, it will all be worth it.