Is on-the-job training considered vocational education?

I'm trying to understand if on-the-job training is a part of vocational education. I know they both involve learning skills directly related to a job. Could someone explain how they are similar or different?

Yes, on-the-job training can indeed be considered a part of vocational education. Vocational education, also referred to as technical education, primarily focuses on practical applications of skills learned, often leading to a specific job or career path. Many vocational programs involve learning opportunities through apprenticeships, internships, and cooperative education programs, which can offer on-the-job training.

However, not all on-the-job training necessarily comes under the umbrella of vocational education since it can take many forms. Here's an example: if you are an intern at a software company and you're being trained on the company-specific coding practices, that's on-the-job training, but it's not necessarily vocational education, because the specific coding practices you are learning might not transfer to other jobs. In contrast, if you are a apprentice mechanic and your manager teaches you how to replace a car's brake system, that's both on-the-job training and vocational education because the skills you're learning can be used in various mechanic jobs.

In summary, while vocational education often includes on-the-job training, not all on-the-job training qualifies as vocational education. It often depends on the nature of skills being learned and how broadly they can be applied to jobs in the same field. The key to vocational education is the applicability of the skills learned to a specific career or trade, whether they're learned in a traditional classroom setting, through a hands-on training program, or directly on the job.