Career, Technical, & Military Information
Though college gets a lot of attention, there are excellent future options that do not involve college. Here are a few of those options:
Apprenticeships: earn as you learn! See our Apprenticeships page and consider a free Pre-Apprenticeship training program.
Career Training Program: there are tons of these; some charge fees and others are free. See our Careers & Programs in WA State page.
Certificate Programs: these last anywhere from a few months to two years, and involve specialized training for a particular career. Find options with WA Career Bridge's Find Education tool and on local community college websites. Shoreline Community College has 64 Certificate Programs.
Military: there are several ways to enlist and several branches as well. See our Military page for an introduction and resources.
Job Projections
By 2031 in Washington State:
- 72% of jobs will require some postsecondary training beyond high school
- Job growth will happen in most industries, especially Healthcare, Community Services & the Arts, and STEM.
- Workers are especially needed in midlevel occupations requiring certificates or associate degrees.
Source of information and image: CEW Projections State Report 2021. Also see WA State Higher Education and the Labor Market Report 2023 and After Everything Jobs Projections 2021.
