Opportunities for Vocational Study: A Directory of Learning Programs Sponsored by North American Non-Profit Associations

Alexander D. Gregor is associate dean of the Faculty of Education at the
University of Manitoba and co-editor of Postsecondary Education in
Canada: The Cultural Agenda.

This guide offers a useful overview of “career-oriented vocational
programs” sponsored by nonprofit organizations in Canada and the
United States. (The author notes that there are currently some 500,000
people in North America studying in almost 300 such programs—ranging
from apprentice embalmer to certified economic developer.) Emphasis is
given to programs in the areas of business, commerce, and industry, and
to a lesser extent in technical occupations. Medical and health-related
programs with a significant management component are included. The
programs themselves differ significantly in length (ranging from four
months to four years), as well as in levels of attainment.

The authors indicate that their target readership is high-school
graduates who do not intend to pursue further study, college and
university graduates who require specialized training, employers who are
looking to personnel development, employees who are looking at upgrading
or career change, and handicapped individuals who lack mobility. The
information is well organized alphabetically by association name, and
also by certificate category (accounting, human resource management,
insurance appraisal, real estate, and so on). For each association,
information is provided on the body itself, types of credentials
awarded, delivery method employed, qualifications for entry and for
various designations available, and, if applicable, recertification
requirements.

The book offers no judgments on the difficulty or value of the
programs, and admits that the information it contains is just a starting
point. Nevertheless, it provides a useful addition to the literature of
career counseling and deserves a place in every library and
counselor’s office.