Are you interested in becoming a machinist or machine operator, and looking for a trade school to help kickstart your career? Learn the difference between a machinist trade school and a comprehensive, career-focused CNC machinist training program.

Machinists play a vital role in the manufacturing industry, helping to produce metal parts and goods for markets across the United States. But as the manufacturing industry advances and automates, there is one specialized machinist career that is growing alongside it –

Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machinists are in top demand. In Connecticut, employment of CNC machinists is expected to rise 23 percent by the year 2024, with about 141 CNC machinist careers becoming available each year. As state manufacturers move towards higher-technology, their need for skilled and trained CNC machinists grows.

If you are considering a machinist career, are dexterous and well-versed in computers, and looking to be on the cutting edge of the manufacturing industry, think CNC. CNC machining is a complex, computerized process that is used to cut, shape, and create a variety of metal and plastic parts. To put it into perspective, CNC machinists can take a sheet of metal and turn it into a fundamental airplane part.

To become a CNC machinist today, it is recommended that you complete some level of postsecondary training to gain experience in the space. There are several types of schools that offer machinist training, however, it is important to find a reputable CNC machining program that will give you the best jumpstart on your career.

Off the bat, you may think that trade school is the way to go. Many aspiring machinists do, believing that trade schools (also known as technical schools) offer the quickest, most streamlined route into a manufacturing career. While machinist trade schools are a viable option, they are not the only option for those looking to get into CNC. You may also choose a career-focused CNC machinist school.

Machinist Trade School vs. Career-Focused School: What’s the Difference?

Trade schools offer postsecondary training that is geared towards very specialized careers, like machining. They do not offer general education courses (like mathematics). Instead, a machinist trade school will provide you with a one-track curriculum, training you in the fundamentals of machine operation, mechanical design, fabrication, and other areas of this career path. A machinist trade school may touch on CNC machining skills, or may revolve completely around this specialization – this is a question you should ask any prospective machinist school.

For the most part, machinist trade schools will grant you a certificate upon completion of their program. They may also prepare you for certain credentials in the field, making you desirable to prospective employers. Keep in mind that trade schools prepare students for very specific, entry-level career outcomes. Upon graduation from a machinist trade school, you can generally expect to find work as a machine operator or a machine repair technician.

Like trade schools, career-focused colleges teach industry-specific skills that employers are looking for. However, in a career-focused college with CNC machinist training, the curriculum is magnified. Not only do students learn the fundamentals of CNC machining, they also benefit from a more comprehensive learning experience – making them especially valuable to employers.

CNC machinist students at Goodwin College, for example, receive hands-on training on real, state-of-the-art CNC milling and turning machines. And in addition to the specialized coursework, students take core classes in mathematics, science, and technology, as well as key manufacturing courses. “Materials and Manufacturing Processes” and “Technical Drawings and Specifications” are just some of the classes one can expect to take in part with our CNC machinist degree.

It’s important to call out that at a career-focused college like Goodwin, students are not limited in terms of their academic growth. CNC machining students may choose to take one of our fast-paced CNC certification programs, and later advance their learning with an associate degree in CNC machining. If students are seeking to climb the career ladder even further, they may also pursue a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing management – which would qualify them for leadership positions in machining.

Goodwin College’s manufacturing and machining school boasts connections with leading manufacturing companies throughout Connecticut. As a result, our students have access to in-field learning experiences in real manufacturing settings, including internship, scholarship, and job placement opportunities. Goodwin students also benefit from a lifetime of free career placement services. CNC students especially. Our certificate in CNC machining, metrology, and manufacturing technology is actually designed to meet the needs of today’s manufacturing workforce – it is less expensive, shorter in length than other machinist schools, and will get you out and working in the field in less than 23 weeks.

If you are considering a career in machining and researching trade schools in Connecticut, consider Goodwin College. We are a leading manufacturing and machining school in the state, with multiple CNC training programs taught by industry-leaders. Call us at 800-889-3282 to learn more!