Job Placement Guarantees: What’s Real and What’s Not

Schools should be transparent about outcomes. Unfortunately, “job placement” can be defined in slippery ways. Use this guide to read claims critically, ask the right questions, and get documentation before you enroll.

What to Ask For (In Writing)

• Placement rate, with definitions: Are they using employed in “field or related field,” any job, or continuing education? Over what timeframe (30/60/180 days)?
• Licensure/certification pass rates: First‑time or overall? For which exams? How many candidates?
• Cohort coverage: Which cohorts/years are included? Are withdrawals counted? What about students still seeking?
• Third‑party verification: Are outcomes audited by an accreditor or state agency, or self‑reported only?

Verify Independently

• Compare multiple schools using the School Comparison Checklist; log definitions next to numbers.
• Ask employers/unions you’d like to work for: “Do you hire from this program? What do graduates do well? Where do they struggle?”
• Look for state dashboards or accreditor outcome summaries when available. Use Outcomes & Job Placement as your reference.
• Search for exam pass rates on certification bodies (e.g., EPA Section 608, AWS testing partners, DANB for dental assisting where applicable).

Red Flags (Proceed With Caution)

• “Guaranteed jobs” without clear conditions or a written refund/retake policy.
• Placement reported as a single number with no definition or timeframe.
• Counting “any employment” (retail, gig work) as in‑field.
• Refusal to share written methodology or cohort sample sizes.

Remember: An offer to help with resumes and interviews is not the same as verifiable outcomes.

How to Use Placement Claims in Your Decision

• Treat placement/licensure as one weight in your rubric—alongside lab hours/equipment, instructor ratios, schedule fit, and total cost.
• Ask to speak with instructors and recent grads. What projects and sign‑offs prove skills? How many retakes are typical for key exams?
• Assess whether career services has strong employer relationships, employer days, and mock interviews (see Career Services & Placement).

Next Steps

• Tour labs: Campus Tour Questions
• Review policies before signing: Enrollment Agreement

Explore Related Topics:

• Accessibility and Accommodations in Trade School
• Accreditation and Approvals for Trade Schools
• Trade School Admissions Checklist
• Apprenticeship vs. Trade School
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