To pursue any career path, you generally need a mix of formal education, practical training, and ongoing skill development.
Clarify your career goal
Before choosing education or training, first decide on a specific career (for example, nurse, electrician, software developer, teacher, or graphic designer). Different careers have very different minimum requirements, so the first step is to look up job profiles for that role and note the “education” and “training” sections.
Typical education levels
Many careers fall into a few broad education categories. Common patterns include:
- High school diploma plus short courses or on‑the‑job training (for many entry-level service, trades helper, or clerical roles).
- College diploma, apprenticeship, or technical certificate for trades and technical roles (e.g., electrician, medical assistant, network support, early childhood educator).
- Bachelor’s degree for professional roles such as engineers, teachers (plus certification), accountants, many business and IT jobs.
- Master’s, professional degree, or doctorate for fields like medicine, law, advanced research, or specialized management.
Practical training and experience
Beyond classroom learning, most careers expect practical training. This can include:
- Internships, co‑ops, or clinical/field placements built into college or university programs (common in health, engineering, business, and education).
- Apprenticeships for skilled trades, where you work under a licensed professional while completing structured training.
- On‑the‑job training provided by employers for specific tools, procedures, or company systems.
Skills, certificates, and lifelong learning
You will also need role‑specific technical skills (software, tools, methods) and general “soft” skills like communication, teamwork, and problem‑solving. Some careers require extra certifications or licenses (for example, teacher certification, nursing registration, or IT certifications), and nearly all careers expect ongoing upskilling or reskilling over time as technology and industry standards change.
How to find your exact requirements
To know precisely what you need for your chosen career:
- Look up that job on a national careers or labour site and read the “qualifications” or “requirements” section.
- Compare those requirements with your current education and skills to see whether you mainly need a degree, a shorter diploma/certificate, an apprenticeship, or targeted short courses.
- Use that gap analysis to build a simple learning plan: what program to take, where, how long it will last, and what experience (internship, volunteering, part‑time work) you should add along the way.