Education · 1 of 5

The path

Two routes, and both of them work: a short college program, or an apprenticeship that pays from day one.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   Take shop or manufacturing class if your school still has one. Geometry and trigonometry matter more here than most trades.

2. 2

   Pick your route

   Decision point

   A community college certificate of a year or less, a two-year associate degree, or a registered apprenticeship with a shop.

3. 3

   Learn the manual machines first

   First term

   Good programs still start you on a manual lathe and mill. You cannot program a cut you have never made by hand.

4. 4

   Learn CNC (computer numerical control) setup and programming

   6 to 18 months

   Machine code, work offsets, tool libraries, and computer-aided design and manufacturing software.

5. 5

   Earn credentials on the job

   Ongoing

   The National Institute for Metalworking Skills credentials are earned by passing a written test and machining a part to print. Employers use them to decide pay.