Vocational Courses/ Professional Courses Overview

What are Vocational Courses/ Professional Courses?

Vocational courses/ professional courses are the courses that are specific to a particular job or profession. These courses are basically designed to provide job-specific or skill-focused training and education to the students that makes them job ready. In a time when fierce competition goes hand-in-hand with success, more and more people are seen opting for skill-specific courses as it shortens the route to securing a job.

Contrary to the general courses that provide basic knowledge, vocational courses/ professional courses enable the students to develop professional skills, technical knowledge and attitude required in that profession. Today, these courses are available in various fields including medicine, computer and its applications, engineering, office management, commerce, etc.

Courses at the vocational or professional level are offered by various colleges and universities online over the internet or offline at the specific study centres. Aspirants can choose a course in the field of their interest in order to gain knowledge of the field and understand the nitty-gritty affair’s of the job. These courses are widely available as diplomas, certificates, at bachelor’s degree, and/ certificate or postgraduate level giving students more flexibility.

Should You Get a Vocational Course/ Professional Course?

There are no such fixed skills that will help a candidate get through a vocational course/ professional course. However, here is a list of few basic skills essential for anyone who wishes to pursue any of these courses - 

Good Communication Skills

Eagerness To Learn

Teamwork

Aesthetic Sense

Working Under Pressure

Eye For Detail

Good With Numbers

Eligibility Criteria

Broadly, all candidates should have passed 10+2 or equivalent with any stream from any board or university recognised by the government of India. Diploma courses may require students to have passed 10th class or intermediate, while postgraduate level courses may require graduation as a prerequisite. Few colleges/ universities may have specific marks or stream for certain courses.

Admission Process

Colleges and universities across India may follow different admission process as per their own policies and preferences.

Examination

While most of the colleges consider the eligibility criteria as the only criteria for admissions to vocational courses/ professional courses, a few courses may require candidates to take conduct entrance examinations before offering getting admission to the applicants.

For example, a few universities like Mahatma Gandhi University and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University conduct entrance examinations like IPU CET & MGU CAT respectively for admissions to education and teaching courses.

In such cases, candidates should prepare the syllabus thoroughly and solve sample test papers to clear the examinations with ease.

Group Discussion & Personal Interview

Colleges and Institutes that conduct entrance examination may also hold group discussion or personal interview or both before offering final admission to vocational courses/ professional courses. This stage assesses the student’s personal traits, attitude, confidence, pressure-handling skills and creativity. Candidates should try to maintain his calm and answer to the questions asked with confidence.

Counselling

There may be a few universities which may also conduct counselling for allotting seats to the applicants. Universities that conduct entrance examinations are more likely to hold counselling sessions for college and seat allotment.

For example, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi conducts counselling after the entrance examination in order to assign colleges to the students as per their merit or rank they obtained.

Candidates going for counselling sessions are advised to bring all the documents listed by the university in original and in photocopy. They should also ensure that they reach the venue on time.

Duration, Delivery Type and Fee Structure

Specializations, Syllabus and Job Prospects

Some of the extremely popular vocational courses/ professional courses that attract a lot of students every year are -

Education & Teaching

Candidates meaning to make a career in the field of education & teaching in schools, colleges, universities, etc in various academics and non-academic subjects can choose a vocational course under this field.

Syllabus

Courses in Education & Teaching covers the essentials of Educational Psychology, Curriculum & Evaluation Teacher Functions, Teacher in Emergency India, etc as part of core syllabus apart from in-depth knowledge of the subject specialisation.

Job Prospects

Candidates from Education & Teaching fields are suitable for various positions including Nursery School Teachers, School Teachers, Lecturers, Professors, etc.

Medicine

To acquire knowledge and skills of medical profession apart from being a doctor, aspiring students can opt for a professional course in the field of medicine and work in hospitals, clinics, medical institutes, etc.

Syllabus

Candidates may have to study the topics including Basic Laboratory Procedure, Clinical Haematology, Clinical Chemistry, etc as part of core syllabus under the courses in the medical department. 

Job Prospects

Candidates pursuing this course in the field of Medicine are suitable for several posts including Medical Laboratory Technician, Radiology Technician, Respiratory Therapist, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, etc.

Electrical

The growing demand for manpower in the electrical field has led to the rise of students opting for various vocational courses in this field which will offer them a variety of jobs.

Syllabus

Core syllabus of various electrical courses may consist of topics including History & Basics of Electricity, Electrical Instruments & Tools, Earthing, Wiring, Transformers, Motors, Troubleshooting & Repair, etc. 

Job Prospects

Candidates from the Electrical field are suitable for a variety of job posts including Electrician, Wireman, Industrial Electrician, etc.

Mechanical

Courses in the Mechanical field are a preferred area of knowledge for candidates wanting to make a career in the world of machines.

Syllabus

Courses in mechanical field cover topics which teach candidates the essentials of Cells & Batteries, Basics of AC & Electrical Cables, Transformers, Switches, Soldering & Desoldering, IC Regulators, Rectifiers, AC & DC Measurements, Use of Hand Tools, etc.

Job Prospects

Candidates pursuing this course in the mechanical field are suitable for various posts including Mechanic, Welder, Fitter, Auto Electrician, Mechanical Draughtsman, etc.

Writing/ Typing/ Keyboarding

Candidates seeking a career around typing or keyboarding on computers or shorthand in various public and private establishments can opt for a vocational course under this field.

Syllabus

Candidates may have to study topics including Basic Keyboarding, Speed Typing,  Digital Placement and Positioning, Typing Accuracy, Consonants & Vowels, Phraseography, Circles, Loops, Hooks, etc as part of core syllabus.  

Job Prospects

Candidates pursuing this course in the field of Medicine are suitable for several posts including Typewriter, Stenographer, etc

No data is available as of now. Keep watching this space for more information soon !