Deciding between one retraining course and another is to a large extent a personal decision based on individual tastes, but all courses are not created equal. Some are designed to give you a broad overview and equip you to start at the ground level and work up. Others take longer and result in a recognised professional qualification.
There is no right or wrong answer except to say that the right retraining course will meet your personal objectives as well as appealing to the market and fulfilling any professional accreditation requirements of your new role.
Professional certification
Some professions require a base credential and an accreditation / certification process, which include testing and interviews, in order to be allowed to work in the field. Examples of heavily regulated professions are the law, teaching and engineering. To work in any of these fields requires a formal training program and industry assessment.
Market credibility
Another important consideration is whether your retraining course is going to make any impression on the market. Will your customers or future employers care that you spent three years in college retraining under formal degree program conditions, or would they be just as happy simply to know you can do the job? Credentialism does exist and can create a false impression that degree qualified applicants are superior candidates.
Real-world practical value
The retraining course you choose must deliver on its promise to actually retrain you to do the job. If hired, you will be expected to demonstrate the skills you have claimed, so ensure that the training you receive (and pay for) is quality and it gets the job done.
How fast will it get you there?
Not everyone can afford to take three to four years out to go back to school. If your needs are more immediate, consider courses with accelerated learning and a fast pace. Those changing careers in the middle working years may feel additional financial pressure to get the retraining done and get on with the show.
Whichever option is chosen, retraining courses only deliver as much as the participants are willing to put into them. As a working adult, ensuring that you possess the skills you need to move into a new sphere is an individual responsibility. An incorrect choice, such as a less intensive retraining course where something more comprehensive is typically required by employers in that field, will set you back and force you to undertake yet more training. While speed is an important factor, getting it right the first time is a better option than retraining only to find oneself still underqualified.
In a tight market economy, it is also worth considering the value of over- training, that is: taking on additional complementary skills beyond those strictly necessary in order to give oneself the broadest platform from which to approach new customers or potential employers.
