Career Colleges and Vocational Schools in The United States

The United States has no single national system of vocational training like Spain's FP. Career and technical education is offered at several levels: in high schools, where 98 percent of public school districts offered career and technical education (CTE) programmes in 2016-17 according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES); at public community and technical colleges; and at private career schools that train for one field, such as film, beauty or health care. NCES counted 1,294 2-year colleges and 1,985 non-degree-granting postsecondary institutions in 2020-21.

This directory lists 85 vocational and technical schools in the United States. Most are public community and technical colleges spread across the country, from Johnson County Community College in Kansas to Greenville Technical College in South Carolina, alongside specialist schools such as the New York Film Academy.

How vocational education works in the United States

For international students, the main route is the community or technical college. EducationUSA, the U.S. Department of State's advising network, explains that these colleges award two-year associate degrees (Associate of Arts or Associate of Science) and also run technical and vocational programmes with close links to local employers. Programmes include:

• Associate degrees: two-year programmes, either career-focused or designed for transfer to a four-year university
• Certificates: shorter programmes for a specific occupation; Greenville Technical College offers Quick Jobs training for a new career "in 90 days or less"
• Technical fields: EducationUSA names biomedical technology, biotechnology, robotics, laser optics, computer technologies and geographic information systems among the fields community colleges teach
• Specialist career schools: the New York Film Academy offers one- and two-year programmes and workshops of 1 to 15 weeks in film, acting and media
• Apprenticeships: Registered Apprenticeship, promoted by the U.S. Department of Labor, combines work for an employer with training and counts more than 800,000 apprentices a year

Many colleges serve both goals. Bergen Community College in New Jersey lists more than 120 degree, certificate and continuing education programmes, and McLennan Community College in Texas states that students can earn a degree, transfer to a university or get a certificate for a new career.

Admission and visas

Community colleges usually have a more flexible admissions process than universities. A typical application includes the online form and the secondary school diploma and transcripts translated into English; standardised tests such as the TOEFL or SAT are not usually required, but students normally take English and subject placement tests on arrival. Many colleges have rolling admissions or several deadlines a year.

The visa depends on the programme. The F-1 visa covers study at an accredited college or university, including academic associate degrees. The M-1 visa is for non-academic or vocational study or training. In both cases the student must first be accepted by a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). SEVP certification does not guarantee accreditation, and the recognition of credits and certificates by other institutions and employers depends on accreditation.

Costs and funding

Public two-year colleges are the cheapest entry point to U.S. higher education. According to NCES, average tuition and fees at public 2-year institutions were $4,000 in 2022-23, compared with $16,300 at private for-profit 2-year institutions. The public figure is the in-state or in-district rate, so each college's rate for international students is the figure to check. EducationUSA notes that starting at a community college and then transferring to a four-year institution often saves thousands of dollars, but that financial aid for international students is less common at community colleges than at four-year colleges.

How to choose

• Goal: a certificate for a job, an applied associate degree, or a transfer route to a bachelor's degree
• Visa type: whether the programme is offered under the F-1 or the M-1 visa
• Accreditation and licensing: institutional accreditation, and whether the programme prepares for a state licence in regulated trades or health care
• Location: local employers, urban or rural campus and whether the college offers on-campus housing
• Cost: tuition at the rate for non-residents, plus living costs and equipment

Frequently asked questions

What is the U.S. equivalent of vocational training (FP)?

The closest equivalent is the certificate and applied associate degree programmes at community and technical colleges, plus private career schools and Registered Apprenticeships.

Which visa do I need for a vocational programme in the United States?

The M-1 visa covers non-academic or vocational study, while the F-1 visa covers academic study at an accredited college. You first need an offer from an SEVP-certified school.

How much does a community college cost?

According to NCES, average tuition and fees at public 2-year colleges were $4,000 in 2022-23 at the in-state rate. Check each college's tuition page for the rate that applies to international students.

Do I need the TOEFL to enrol at a community college?

Standardised tests are not usually required for admission, according to EducationUSA, but most students take English placement tests when they arrive.