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鈥淢om, Dad, I think I鈥檒l skip college.鈥�

Before you panic, remember that college, especially right after high school, is not for everyone. Your teen may have reasons to delay it or forgo it altogether. But that doesn鈥檛 mean they should skip getting the training they need to succeed. So what鈥檚 next?

Good jobs and salaries are available in fields from biotech to 3-D animation. They don鈥檛 all require bachelor鈥檚 degrees, but they do require a solid academic foundation and technical skills.

Kids who decide not to go straight to a four-year college come in all shapes and sizes: They include the student who is clearly focused on a specific career (such as an auto mechanic or chef), the student who lacks the academic preparation or confidence to succeed in college, and the student who may simply need more time to figure out what they want to do before committing to a college education.

While the focus in most high schools is on moving kids from high school to a four-year college, vocational education — now called career and technical education (CTE) — is getting more attention and funding at the state and federal levels. In an economy that requires strong technical and computer skills, today鈥檚 career and technical education looks a lot different than the vocational training you may remember. It is more likely to include robotics than wood shop.

Here鈥檚 how you can help your child prepare to enter the workplace if they aren鈥檛 planning to go to a four-year college:

Make sure your teen gets a strong academic foundation in high school

Whether or not they plan to go to college, your student still needs a strong background in core academic subjects. In an economy that is changing as quickly as ours, all young adults will need to continue to learn as their jobs change. Foundational skills prepare them for this.

Foundational skills are broadly defined in a . These are necessary for success in community colleges, trade and technical schools, apprenticeship programs, and most job positions. To develop and demonstrate their proficiency at these foundational skills, high school students should strive for at least average grades in all their courses. Moreover, some post-high school options also ask students to take the SAT, ACT, or exams, or may require exams on industry-specific material.

Investigate community college for high school students

Dual-enrollment programs allow high school students to take college courses and simultaneously earn both high school and college credit. Courses may be taught by a high school teacher on the high school campus, at a local community college, or online. Because community colleges offer facilities and technical programs not typically available in high school, dual enrollment can be a great way to get a head start on a career and complete up to an Associate鈥檚 Degree while still in high school. Some schools have highly organized dual-enrollment programs. At other schools, students must take the initiative to work with a counselor to enroll. Talk to your child鈥檚 counselor to find out about whether dual enrollment is an option at a community college near you.

Consider community college after high school

Your child might want to attend community college or technical training program after high school to prepare for the job they want.

There are lots of reasons to consider community college. It鈥檚 a far less expensive way to pursue post-high school education than going directly to a technical program or a four-year college, a key consideration for the student who is unsure of their career direction. Community colleges offer technical training programs, and they also typically have smaller classes than four-year colleges. That means that in addition to getting job training, your child can sample college-level academic classes in a less stressful setting than the typical large state university.

Community colleges can provide your student with numerous employment opportunities after just two years, many with high-paying salaries in a variety of fields. Check out our list of 40 careers that don’t require a four-year degree.

Do your homework if you鈥檙e considering a technical school

Private technical schools and programs can be expensive, and they may not offer the training your student needs to get a job. Some questions to investigate before investing time and money:

• What exactly does the program consist of?
• How much does it cost, including books, equipment, uniforms, lab fees?
• Is there financial aid? Are private loans involved?
• Is it possible to get the same training for free at a local community college?
• Is the program accredited, and if so, by what licensing organizations? Which state agency handles professional licensing for graduates of the program? Your child鈥檚 counselor can help you research which accrediting organizations are reputable in this field.
• Check with the state attorney general鈥檚 office, the Better Business Bureau, and your county鈥檚 consumer protection agency to see if the school has a record of complaints that indicate questionable business practices.
• Is the equipment up to date?
• How do graduates of the program fare?
• What percentage of students complete the program?
• What percentage of students get jobs in their field?
• What is their starting wage and how long do they stay in their first jobs?
• Are credits from the program transferrable to a college program?
• Can you speak with recent graduates?

To learn more, read on the Federal Trade Commission鈥檚 website and our article Beware for-profit colleges.

Consider a formal gap year

It may be hard for parents who grew up in a less competitive era to understand, but an increasing number of students who have spent years building their academic credentials with AP classes are asking for a break before going to college. Your child may have the academic preparation for college but feel too burned out to take advantage of it right now. A formal gap year, where students apply to college but plan to wait a year before attending, can give them a chance to recharge and think about what they want out of an education.

More and more colleges are allowing accepted students to defer enrollment for a year while they gain life experience, or perhaps a more international perspective. Ask your child鈥檚 college counselor about organizations that place gap year students in overseas programs doing work such as helping villagers build homes in Latin America or working in health clinics in Africa. Programs like these can be a great way to help a student focus on their career goals, but be aware they generally cost money rather than provide a means to earn it.

Give space for them to change their minds

Try to encourage your teen to keep their options open. The global marketplace will continue to change, and your teen鈥檚 mind likely will too. In 2030 there will be jobs that most of us haven鈥檛 imagined, and careers that look like lifelong paths today may simply be first steps into an unknown future.

If your teen needs direction, the Occupational Outlook Handbook by the Bureau of Labor Statistics has a wealth of information about jobs, including the training and education needed, earnings, job prospects, and working conditions.

Encourage your teen to pursue their interests. The kid who loves playing games online may indeed grow up to design them. But they will also need to think analytically, solve problems, and embrace being a lifelong learner.