Can credits from a college transfer to a trade school?

If I decide to switch from my college to a trade school, is it possible to transfer any credits? I'm trying to figure this out before I commit, as I don't want to start from scratch.

While some of your credits from a traditional college might transfer to a trade school, this is not always the case. It often depends on the type of courses you took at the college level, as well as the specifics of the trade program you're seeking to enroll in. The more relevant the college coursework to the trade program, the more likely the credits will transfer.

For example, if your college coursework is in business and you're switching to a trade school to study culinary arts, there may not be much overlap between the two, which would limit the applicability of your college credits. However, if you're switching from a computer science major to a computer technician program at a trade school, then there might be some overlap courses like certain IT or computer most basic classes.

Generally, general education credits (like math, English, etc.) are more likely to transfer, while specialized or major-specific credits might not. Think of it like the core curriculum at most colleges: the classes that make up the foundation of education are usually transferable, while the ones that pertain to a specific major might not be.

The best course of action would be to check directly with the trade school you're interested in. They can tell you what types of credits they accept, and might even be able to evaluate your transcripts to give you an idea of how many of your credits would transfer.

On the flip side, bear in mind that trade schools are typically more focused and take less time to complete than traditional college degrees. Even if you can't transfer a lot of credits, you might still be able to finish your trade program quickly.

So, in summary, it's not a hard no, but it's also not guaranteed and will depend on both the specifics of your previous coursework and the requirements of the trade school you're interested in transferring to. Good luck!