--- title: What to Consider when Choosing your Ontario Skilled Trades Education description: With so many options available for skilled trades education, how can you decide which is best for you? Here are some things to think about: image: https://blog.getatrade.com/hs-fs/hub/388155/file-1910386936.jpg --- [![NHSTA_Round-Logo_2021_NO-BACKGROUND](https://blog.getatrade.com/hs-fs/hubfs/NHSTA_Round-Logo_2021_NO-BACKGROUND.png?width=150&height=150&name=NHSTA_Round-Logo_2021_NO-BACKGROUND.png) ](http://getatrade.com) # Skilled Trades Blog # What to Consider when Choosing your Ontario Skilled Trades Education Posted by [Brad Dixon](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/author/brad-dixon) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ESTIMATED READING TIME: 3 MINUTES ![canadian_high_schools](https://blog.getatrade.com/hs-fs/hub/388155/file-1910386936.jpg?width=600&name=file-1910386936.jpg "canadian_high_schools") If you have decided to pursue a career in Ontario skilled trades, the first thing you need to do is find the right trade school and program to get you the necessary certifications and licensing. With so many options available for skilled trades education, how can you decide which is best for you? Here are some things to think about:   ## Specialty Deciding to go into the skilled trades isn't like deciding to be a teacher; there isn't one broad course you can take that will prepare your for your career. You need to dive a bit deeper and determine exactly which skilled trade you would like to [specialize](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/kickstarting-a-career-in-the-skilled-trades-finding-your-niche) in. Plumbing? Gas fitting? Sheet metal working? The key to success in the skilled trades industry is finding your niche and getting trained for in those specific skills. Make sure the Ontario trade school or skilled trades course you choose gets you those techniques. As well, skilled trades jobs require licensing, be sure that the program you enroll in gives you the certifications required by law to practice in the industry.   ## Course length The sooner you can work, the better, right? So, why go to school for years when you can [get certified quickly](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/busting-skilled-trades-myths-it-takes-too-many-hours-of-training)? Consider a trade school that cuts out the courses that are often required in college programs, like English and math. That way, you get more hands-on learning with a focus only on what you need to know for your license. Gas Fitting, for example, can be completed in just 17 weeks!   ## Class size Large classes means less one-on-one time with your instructor - not great. When you are working in state-of-the-art labs, workshops and classrooms, class size matters. If you have questions, they need to be answered and if there are too many people around, your instructor may not have time to address everyone's needs. The fewer students, the better — try to find a class with around 20 students of less so you can get the attention, assistance and one-on-one environment.   ## Location This may be something that is more important to some than it is for others, but location can play a major role in your decision making. If you don't have access to a vehicle every day, you will want to make sure the trade school is located on a public transportation line. And if you will be driving, check out the location to make sure there is plenty of available parking — the last thing you want is to be late for class because you had to park around the corner!   The best way to get to know about Ontario trade schools is to visit. Book a tour, talk to instructors and, if you can, talk to students and [graduates](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/gas-technician-graduate-profile-stephanie-freeze) to get to know the program. Seeing it first-hand and hearing about it from the people who have experience in the program is a great way to find out if it is the class for you.   [![Contact to Change Your Life Today](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/388155/a7c702b5-a5c3-40cd-8ab3-3e1563e22407.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/388155/a7c702b5-a5c3-40cd-8ab3-3e1563e22407)     Topics: [Course Length and Time](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/course-length-and-time), [Trade School](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/trade-school), [Small Class Size](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/small-class-size), [Class Length](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/class-length) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [Gas Technician (59)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/gas-technician) - [Career Opportunities (48)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/career-opportunities) - [Skilled Trades (29)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/skilled-trades) - [Gas Technician Careers (27)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/gas-technician-careers) - [Ontario Gas Technician Training (23)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/ontario-gas-technician-training) - [Trade School (19)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/trade-school) - [Course Length and Time (18)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/course-length-and-time) - [HVAC Careers (16)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/hvac-careers) - [Hands On Learning (16)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/hands-on-learning) - [Ontario Gas Technician (14)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/ontario-gas-technician) - [Transferrable Skills (14)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/transferrable-skills) - [Class Length (12)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/class-length) - [Women in the trades (12)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/women-in-the-trades) - [Graduate Profile (11)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/graduate-profile) - [Funding (10)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/funding) - [Skilled Trades Myths (9)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/skilled-trades-myths) - [Air Conditioning (8)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/air-conditioning) - [Night School (8)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/night-school) - [Ontario College of Trades (8)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/ontario-college-of-trades) - [Adult Education (7)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/adult-education) - [Air Conditioning technician (6)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/air-conditioning-technician) - [Training Schedule (6)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/training-schedule) - [Ontario HVAC Training (4)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/ontario-hvac-training) - [Halton Campus (3)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/halton-campus) - [Skilled Trades Career Fair (3)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/skilled-trades-career-fair) - [Skilled Trades Shortage (3)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/skilled-trades-shortage) - [Small Class Size (3)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/small-class-size) - [TSSA (3)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/tssa) - [Oakville Campus (2)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/oakville-campus) - [Ozone Depletion Prevention (2)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/ozone-depletion-prevention) - [National Skilled Trades and Technology Week (1)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/national-skilled-trades-and-technology-week) - [National Tradesmen Day (1)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/national-tradesmen-day) - [ODP (1)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/odp) - [Onto (1)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/onto) - [Summer Courses (1)](https://blog.getatrade.com/blog/topic/summer-courses) see all ### Follow Me - Course Information - [Course Calendar](http://getatrade.com/course-calendar/) - [Course Information](http://getatrade.com/course-information/) - [Ozone Depletion Prevention](http://getatrade.com/ozone-depletion-prevention/) - [Gas Technician](http://getatrade.com/gas-technician/) - About Our School - [About Us](http://getatrade.com/about/) - [Blog](http://getatrade.com/blog/) - [Resources](http://getatrade.com/resources/) ©2015 Skilled Trades Academy· Built with love by [Hughes & Co.](http://www.hughesandco.ca) Niagara and Halton Skilled Trades Academies are Technical Standards and Safety Authority training providers and are registered as a Career College under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005.