Vocational Instructor

Job Details

Sector(s)

Component Manufacturing & Research & Development; Construction; Operations & Maintenance; Education & Training

Median Pay

$61,160 per year

$29.40 per hour

Job Type

Advanced Level

Typical Entry-Level
Education and Work
Experience
Requirements

Three to five years of work experience in a field

Alternate Titles

Career and technical education teacher, educator, trade instructor, and trainer.

Brief Job Description

Vocational instructors instruct students in high schools as well as postsecondary schools and programs, such as community colleges, technical schools, maritime academies, and apprenticeships. They teach skills the students need to enter the workforce within a specialized career path. 

Education and Training Level Description

Many different vocational career paths will exist within the marine energy industry, and many different types of vocational instructors are needed to teach students the skills they need to begin these careers. Vocational instructors teach classes and provide hands-on learning and work experiences for people working to become engineering technicians, mates, commercial divers, mechanics, electricians, information technology (IT) professionals, and other craft and tradespeople.

The level of education and training required for a vocational instructor varies by the hiring institution and the subject or career skills. All technical educators need several years of work experience within the subject or career path they are teaching. For example, an instructor in an electrical apprenticeship program typically needs to be a licensed electrician with several years of experience working as a licensed electrician. Other fields may require an associate’s degree with several years of experience working in a career path, whereas others, such as computer science, physics, or biology teaching positions, typically require at least a bachelor’s degree.

Some states and educational institutions may require vocational instructors to complete a student teaching program and/or acquire a teaching license. 

Job Profile

Vocational instructors instruct students in high schools as well as postsecondary schools and programs, such as community colleges, technical schools, maritime academies, and apprenticeships. The marine energy industry needs vocational instructors to prepare workers to enter the industry. Vocational instructors teach classes and provide hands-on learning and work experiences for people working to become engineering technicians, commercial divers, mechanics, electricians, IT professionals, and other vocational careers. Some vocational instructors may teach students general concepts in a classroom and practical exercises in a workshop, laboratory, or work site. 

In postsecondary schools and apprenticeship programs, vocational instructors may teach skills that help students earn a certificate, diploma, associate’s degree, or professional license focused on a specific professional job. For example, welding instructors teach students welding techniques and safety practices. Vocational instructors teach students how to use tools and perform the procedures they would use as a professional in their field. They also teach students how to safely use equipment and follow safety procedures as required by their trade or field. 

No specific marine renewable energy vocational schools or programs exist currently, but the military, maritime academies, other offshore industry organizations, and postsecondary schools offer offshore vocational training for a variety of different trades. Many skills from offshore vocational training programs are transferable to offshore marine renewable energy jobs, so vocational instructors in other offshore industries may be able to apply their knowledge and skills to train the offshore marine renewable energy workforce in the future. 

Vocational instructors typically:

  • Create lesson plans and assignments
  • Demonstrate and instruct students on how to develop certain skills
  • Show students how to apply classroom knowledge through hands-on activities
  • Demonstrate and supervise safe and proper use of industry-standard tools and equipment
  • Monitor student progress, assign tasks, and grade assignments
  • Develop and enforce classroom rules and safety procedures
  • Prepare students for necessary certification tests or licensing exams
  • Train and prepare students to perform skills on real job sites with minimal supervision.

Job Skills

Vocational instructors typically need:

  • Communication skills. Vocational instructors need excellent communication skills to clearly explain concepts and tasks to students.
  • Organizational skills. Vocational instructors must coordinate their time, teaching materials, and student work.
  • Patience. Working with students of different abilities and backgrounds can be difficult. Instructors must be even-tempered with students to develop a positive learning environment.
  • Resourcefulness. Vocational instructors need to create different ways of presenting information and demonstrating tasks so that all students learn the material.

More Information, Job Opportunities, etc.

For more information on vocational instructor jobs, see: 

Resources