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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. 

Volunteer with a program like AmeriCorps. You would earn a stipend for living expenses and work on a project to help a community. United Way of King County has a Seattle-area program that helps students gain skills & experience. Positions usually start in the summer and last for a few months or a year. 

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. 

map of United States with states colored by % of jobs that require a postsecondary credential