Choosing a Private Career School

Before enrolling in any postsecondary career institution, you should analyze your skills and talents, gather information about the job market, and thoroughly investigate the school you are thinking about attending.

Here are some questions to help you find a quality school:

What percentage of the school’s graduates find jobs? To find a particular school’s latest employment rates by program, Click here.

What percentage of students complete their program of study? If a high percentage of students drop out, is it because the program did not meet their expectations, or are they able to find jobs before they complete formal training? Click here to find a school’s latest completion rates by program.

Do you need a state license in order to practice your chosen occupation? Know what the state licensing requirements
for an occupation are before talking to school officials. Check with the Master License Service, Washington State Department of Licensing, P.O. Box 48001, Olympia, WA 98504-8001, 360.753.4401. If a certain level of education or training is required, ask if the school ’s program meets those requirements.

Is the school authorized to operate in Washington State? The Washington State Private Vocational School Act governs the operation of private career schools. Schools that grant degrees must be authorized to do so by the Higher Education Coordinating Board; non-degree granting educational institutions must be licensed by the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board; and cosmetology and barbering schools must be licensed by the Department of Licensing.

Is the school accredited? Accreditation helps to ensure a basic level of quality through peer evaluation of schools and programs. Private educational associations of regional or national scope have adopted criteria reflecting the qualities of a sound educational program. And they have developed procedures for evaluating institutions or programs to determine whether they meet those criteria.

Click here for more information on accreditation.

Are the school’s facilities and equipment up to date? Ask to sit in on a class and/or take a tour of the school.  Most schools will be happy to show off their facilities, equipment, and instructors.

Does the program you are interested in have an advisory committee made up of individuals representing that industry? Can you have a list of their names and addresses? Check with these individuals to determine how often the advisory committee meets and how much influence they have on the program. When talking to these people, remember they are prospective employers!

Have you considered all costs? There may be many costs, e.g. books, student or equipment fees, etc. in addition to tuition.

What is the school's refund policy? There can be significant differences between refund policies at public and private institutions.

Does the school provide academic counseling should you need it?

Does the school provide help to find a job once you complete the program?