Differences Between a Technical Diploma & a GED
Technical diplomas and General Education Development certificates, or GED's, are two educational options that provide different life opportunities. Understanding these opportunities can help you decide what is best for your future.
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Income
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On average, those with at least a high school diploma earned $175 more per week in 2005 than non-high school graduates. Those with some college experience but no degree, including those with technical diplomas, earned $70 more per week than high school graduates.
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Schooling
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Earning a GED requires participating in a test preparation course and then taking the GED exam. Earning a technical diploma requires that you have a GED or high school diploma and that you attend at least one year of classes in a technical program.
Accessibility
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GED preparation classes are available online and in person but the exam must be taken at a testing site. Technical diploma programs generally require on-site study, though some online programs are available.
Difficulty
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GED's provide proof that the recipient possesses the same basic education as a high school graduate. Technical diplomas build on this by proving that the recipient possesses adequate knowledge to participate in a certain field of work.
Future Opportunities
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Both technical diploma and GED recipients can obtain jobs and go to college, though technical diploma recipients may not need to attend college to find gainful employment in their field. GED recipients will be limited in job opportunities without further education.
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References
- Photo Credit "Graduation Girl" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: BdwayDiva1 under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
