Any person who could choose university and college electrician education for a degree as an option understands the time and resources they need to sacrifice to achieve their goals. Unfortunately, not all South Africans could afford these sacrifices. However, the aspiring electrician has a choice between a diploma or vocational electrician course.
Depending on the school offering these courses, a both versions of electrician education could be more or less expensive than a college education. Each one also has its pros and cons discussed here.
Diploma Pro: Shorter Than Degree Courses, Effective Than Vocational Courses
Just like vocational courses, diploma courses allow a holder to apply for a job faster than their university-learned counterparts.
Diploma courses are shorter as students only study about 40% of a college degree syllabus. Within two years, a student could graduate learning all the necessary but few academic elements electricians need to know.
This mode of education is better for most electricians; after diploma school, graduates can continue their studies as they achieve valid school credits for some major electrician degree courses. Universities and colleges invalidate vocational credits because most of them are not government accredited.
Diploma Con: Less Study Time
Diploma courses are short, having only a span of two years. However, this does not mean the educational journey is without trouble.
Most individuals would fail mathematics or any other subject if it only focused on memory or practicing one’s skills in performing a task. If one only memorized and did not internalize facts about South African history, one does not learn much. A person who goes through one math drill against another is likely not to appreciate the power and essence of mathematics.
Diploma courses leave students to study specific aspects by themselves. If you are not dedicated to learning and earning your degree, failure could be fast in an electrician’s diploma course.
Vocational Pro: Applied And Focused Knowledge Learning Only Essential Skills
Similar to sub-degree crash courses, these certification courses focus only on the crucial trade knowledge and expertise needed for the target career. It does away with other non-essential subjects such as philosophy, physical fitness, and others.
Unlike diploma courses, vocational courses impart experience from mentors who had spent years of their lives in the industry. The classes may leave some aspects of the career unturned, but instructors focus more on things students might encounter when they are performing tasks that commonly come with the job.
A bit of self-study will still be required, but the hands-on, focused learning approach is better for any aspiring electrician.
Vocational Con: Limited Growth Opportunities
However, some studies show that due to rapidly changing technologies, some vocational course skills and lessons could become obsolete in less than a decade. For electricians to continue excelling in their career, they would need to better education.
Better educational attainments, such as university degrees in electrical and electronics engineering, are a few things vocational education limits its graduates. Unlike diploma courses where you could continue your education having credits for core courses, certification courses will have you begin from freshman year.