Vocational education is a form of education in which people are provided with practical skills which will allow them to engage in careers which involve manual or practical abilities. Some examples of careers for which people can receive vocational education training include: aviation mechanics, hotel management, hairstyling, plumbing, air conditioner installation, and cab driving. Vocational education is also known as vocational education and training (VET), Voc. Ed., or “technical school.”

People who are interested in vocational education usually have a high school diploma, and they pursue vocational education rather than college or professional school. Vocational education has a specific and practical focus, rather than an academic one, and it is designed to provide people with the skills needed to start a career in an area of interest. After training, people will be eligible for licensure if a license is required in their chosen field, and they can start work immediately.

Many governments contribute to vocational education to ensure that people with technical skills will be readily available, and to provide career options for people who are not interested in college, or who may not be able to afford a technical or trade school on their own. For example, low income people in the United States can participate in Job Corps, a program which provides vocational education, housing, and support.

Learning a trade can generate immediate income after graduation, and technical school tends to be much less expensive than college or professional school. The trade may require some investment in equipment, such as a truck and tools for a plumber, and over time, a skilled tradesperson can potentially achieve a very high salary, with benefits attached, for those who work for other people and companies. Trade schools also offer opportunities for people who are interested in switching careers, as they are equipped to work with older adults as well as youths.

Some high schools offer vocational training to their students so that students can graduate with job skills which may be applied immediately or honed in an advanced program. These schools may specifically cater to people who are interested in entering a technical trade, or they may have two educational tracks, with one aimed at college preparation, while the other gets students ready to enter the work force. These programs can provide students who are struggling over what to become when they graduate with exposure to several different trades and career possibilities.