Students pick up the costs for materials, or sometimes there's a registration fee. How long it takes to complete a course depends on the class and the student. Some people opt for different alternatives, such as the private colleges and training institutes. Browse the Internet and you'll see what's available. It can be daunting.
Tuition can run thousands of dollars.
But John Swiger, campus director of San Joaquin Valley College in northeast Fresno, said financial aid is usually available. San Joaquin, for example, participates in federal and state loan and grant programs. Sall said vocational training programs will only continue to grow. At the Fresno City College Vocational Training Center, the average student age is about 30. The average course takes six to nine months to complete.