How to Start a Trade School

Do you have experience in a trade and want to share your knowledge with others? Here are some tips for starting your own trade school.

Things You'll Need

• School building and/or offices
• Appropriate permits and licenses
• Credentialed staff
• Liability insurance

Instructions

Decide on your School's Specialization

1. Pick a trade (or trades) for which there is a demand for training in your area: Most people want to attend a trade school that is close to where they already live, so make sure there is a need for your school in your locality.

2. Select a trade or trades that you personally have some interest in: You don't necessarily have to practice the trade yourself, but you should have some enthusiasm and understanding of the industry.

3. If the trade is licensed, contact its state licensing board to learn about its educational requirements and the process for becoming approved as a school. (If the trade is not licensed, or education is not required for licensure, contact trade associations to find out about industry standards for education and training.)

Curriculum Development

1. Once you have determined what kind of school you would like to open, do some research on education material providers (i.e. providers of textbooks, workbooks, course exams and other teaching material). Find out which are the most respected in your industry: The better the curriculum, the better chance you have of getting your school approved.

2. In some cases, you can open a franchise in a chain of existing trade schools. In other cases, a school or provider of educational material will offer you a "turnkey" option in which it provides you with all course materials and lesson plans. If you are new to operating a trade school, either option can save you a lot of time and money.

3. Check out the curriculum offered by other trade schools in your state. If one curriculum or textbook publisher dominates, it is a safe bet that the curriculum is one that the state licensing board or regulatory agency approves.

Find a Location

1. Work with a reputable commercial real estate agency: They are aware of business-specific needs and can help you find a good location.

2. Ensure that the location is accessible by public transportation and offers ample parking.

3. Make sure that the building can accommodate any trade-specific equipment. For example, if you are opening a cosmetology school, make sure there is space (and appropriate plumbing) for sinks.

4. Check capacity limits: The fire marshal sets capacity limits for buildings. Make sure you can accommodate the number of students you need in order to make a profit.

Hire Staff and Instructors

1. Visit trade association and regulatory agency meetings and network to find faculty and staff.

2. Make sure that your faculty holds appropriate instructor licenses.

3. Hire someone with an educational administration background as support staff.

Apply for Permits and Approvals

1. You will need several approvals to open your school, and you will need to work with multiple state and city departments for these approvals. Keep track of what you need so that you can avoid a nasty surprise.

2. Schedule building and fire marshal inspections and be prepared for them to be rescheduled at the last minute.

3. If required by your state, submit your school approval paperwork to the appropriate agencies. Be prepared to make corrections and clarifications in your application.

4. When you have received your approvals, congratulations! You can now start advertising for students and begin holding your first classes.

Tips & Warnings

• If the trade you are teaching does not require a lot of special equipment, you can save money by renting classrooms from schools, churches or hotels. Start your school by offering continuing education classes only. The requirements for continuing education courses are often less stringent than for licensure courses.

• The fact that your school is approved to provide training in one trade does not mean you can offer training in other trades: Get approval for each training program or course from the appropriate state licensing board. Before making changes in your curriculum, contact the licensing board or regulatory agency to find out if you need to submit the change for approval.

References

• Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology
• FTC Guides for Private Vocational and Distance Education Schools
• State Education Contacts and Information

Resources

• US Department of Education Information on Accrediting Agencies for Specialized Schools