Best Vocational Courses after 10th

If we look back at the past 10 years, in India, vocational courses after 10th were not the preferred choice for most students. However, in these competitive times, such courses have become extremely popular and a very strong alternative for all 10th-grade students. Industries prefer skills over degrees these days. For learners who do not wish to pursue higher education and follow traditional academic paths immediately, vocational courses are the best choice.

Vocational courses provide young learners with job-oriented skills and training at an early stage, allowing them to secure job opportunities in life. Further on, they can also pursue higher studies in specialised fields like engineering, healthcare, IT, etc. Let’s have a look at the top vocational courses one can pursue after the 10th class through this blog. Let’s hop right into it.

Vocational Courses: Why Are They So Popular?

Vocational courses offer a strong alternative for learners who have passed 10th grade but do not wish to pursue higher studies. Usually of shorter duration, vocational courses provide learners with practical training and skills in the particular field they are pursuing. Let’s explore more benefits of vocational courses and how they are a great career choice for students.

1. Generally of shorter duration

2. Faster entry into the workforce

3. Increased employability

4. Cost-effective education focusing on skills

5. Affordable fee structure

6. Flexibility in learning modes

7. Courses aligned with industry demands

8. Promotes the spirit of entrepreneurship

Top Vocational Courses after 10th

Vocational courses after 10th offer numerous benefits to learners. There are numerous career opportunities that learners encounter after completing a vocational degree. Depending on your interest, you can pick up a field and pursue a course after 10th if not pursuing admission into higher studies directly. Let’s have a look at the top vocational courses in various fields that one can pursue.

1. ITI Courses

Industrial Training Institute or ITI courses are short-term vocational programmes that focus on skill-building and offer practical training to learners after 10th in various trades. They can be categorised either into engineering or non-engineering trades. For example, you can pursue your ITI course in engineering-related fields and go for jobs like electrician, welder, draughtsman, computer operator, fitter, etc. Apart from this, in the non-engineering sector, you can go for vocational courses in the fields of cosmetology, secretarial practice, administrative skills, garment and design making, food preservation techniques, etc.

Let’s have a look at various courses and the average pay scale of a few such job roles that you can secure after completing an ITI course. Please note that the pay scale may vary depending on factors such as the type of specialisation, institution, hiring company, sector, and location.

Engineering Discipline: The duration of these courses could be between 1-3 years.

Pay Scale:

• ✅
  Electrician – INR 15,000 – 35,000/-
• ✅
  Fitter – INR 15,000 – 25,000/-
• ✅
  Welder – INR 12,000 – 20,000/-
• ✅
  Draughtsman (Civil/Mechanical) – INR 20,000 – 35,000/-

Non-Engineering Courses: The duration of these courses can be 1-2 years.

Pay Scale:

• ✅
  Cosmetology – INR 8,000 – 20,000/-
• ✅
  Cutting & Sewing – INR 10,000 – 15,000/-
• ✅
  Floriculture & Landscaping – INR 10,000 – 20,000/-
• ✅
  Spa Therapy – INR 10,000 – 20,000/-

2. Management Courses

In the present era, the field of management has gained immense popularity, given the endless career opportunities and high-paying jobs it offers to learners. After the 10th, you may also pursue a diploma in the field of management field in various specialisations like business management, financial management, accounting, etc. This diploma is highly beneficial for students who wish to further move into the field of commerce, business, or finance and build a highly successful career.

3. Marketing Programmes

A diploma or degree in marketing is one of the most lucrative career options since it offers career opportunities based on skills and knowledge rather than a conventional degree. You can work as a content writer, brand promoter, brand manager, copywriter, public relations (PR) professional, etc. You can also pursue a course in digital marketing to secure entry-level positions in fields like social media management, digital marketing management, and SEO (search engine optimisation) specialist roles.

4. Graphic Design, Animation and Multimedia

We are part of a digital world where we are exposed to animation and multimedia to an extensive level. Therefore, pursuing a diploma course after 10th in animation and multimedia or graphic designing is perfect for creative students who wish to work in the fields of gaming, advertising, branding, film production, etc. Students will learn skills such as illustration, Photoshop, Canva, and other tools that help create the stunning visual content we consume daily.

5. AI (Artificial Intelligence)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has gradually seeped into various workforces, creating several job opportunities that leverage the use of technology. Pursuing a diploma in AI can be a highly beneficial choice for 10th-class students, as it enables them to acquire a wide range of skills across various fields and also have profound knowledge in dealing with ethical issues and threats it poses. Having a diploma in AI would open up a lot of high-paying career paths, such as data science, finance, healthcare, ML engineering, and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Apart from AI, you can also pursue courses in similar fields, like:

• ✅
  Machine learning (ML)
• ✅
  Data analysis
• ✅
  Programming languages like JAVA, Python, etc.
• ✅
  App Development

Let’s look at some examples of these types of courses offered to students after 10th on online learning platforms like Coursera, IBM and Udemy.

6. Medical Lab Technology

For young learners interested in healthcare and diagnostics, a diploma in medical lab technology (MLT) is a perfect vocational course to pursue after 10th grade. MLT courses train students in various procedures conducted in a medical lab, like clinical testing, pathology, handling laboratory instruments, etc. The course offers them jobs across various hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres, and research facilities.

7. Agriculture or Farming Courses

For students interested in pursuing a career in the farming or agricultural sector after 10th grade, a diploma program can provide them with a comprehensive understanding of modern-day agribusiness, sustainable farming practices, organic farming methods, and various modern farming tools and techniques used in agriculture. Students can also start their ventures or become entrepreneurs by opening their own business upon gaining the right skills and knowledge. Skill India Digital Hub, a government portal, provides several courses in these sectors in collaboration with other organisations. Here are two courses offered in collaboration with NSDC Academy.

• ✅
  Poultry Farming Business Course: INR 1600
• ✅
  10kFPO Mandatory Bird Module: Free of Cost

8. Polytechnic Courses/Diploma in Engineering Courses

For students interested in engineering but not ready to pursue a degree by following the science non-medical stream after 10th, you can go for polytechnic courses in various fields. These courses provide hands-on experience and practical technical knowledge to learners in broader engineering fields, making them job-ready at an early stage.

Polytechnic courses are 3-year diploma programmes that may offer direct entry into the second year of the Bachelor of Technology (BTech) course, making it easier for them to pursue higher education. However, it may vary from one institution to another. You can pursue polytechnic courses in various trades like Civil, Mechanical, Computer Science, Electrical, Electronics, etc.

9. General Purpose Rating Course

GP Rating Course is a great vocational training programme for individuals interested in entering the merchant navy field after the 10th class. It is a six-month programme that teaches skills like ship maintenance and handling equipment on board. It offers two major job roles for young learners in the maritime industry, either as engine crew or deck crew. Depending upon the institution, you may need to appear for an entrance exam and with years of experience, one can move on to executive positions like Engineer or Sail Officer. However, candidates need to be physically fit for sea service under the set medical norms. The average course fee is between INR 1.5 and 4.5 lakhs.

10. Food Safety Training & Certification (FoSTaC)

The course offers knowledge and practical training in essential good hygiene practices (GHP) and good manufacturing practices (GMP). The programme helps develop essential skills in food safety and hygienic practices. However, one needs to find an FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)-approved authorised training partner in your area. This is a great course to pursue after 10th if you wish to enter the hotel management industry or open your own food chain business. You can work as food handlers and hygiene supervisors. The duration of the courses may be between 4 and 12 hours over a period of 1-2 days.

Turning Skills Into Income: Starting Salaries After Vocational Courses

It is obvious that if you are pursuing a vocational course after 10th, you are most likely to secure entry-level jobs that have lower starting pay scales. However, with years of experience and developed skills and knowledge, you shall be able to earn more. Additionally, pursuing higher education can open up numerous career opportunities and upgrade your salary, depending on your degree, skills, and industry exposure.

Let’s take a general look at the average programme cost and average pay scale for the vocational courses we discussed above for students who pursue vocational courses after completing 10th grade. Please note that the salary figures are based on AmbitionBox and Glassdoor. Also, the programme cost can vary depending on which institution/platform you pursue the course from.

Also Read: List of Diploma Courses after 10th that can Land you Jobs

Learn, Skill, and Earn: Where to Find the Best Vocational Courses

If you are looking for platforms or institutions that offer affordable, upskilling and practical hands-on training, you can go for online platforms like Coursera, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, etc. They offer several short- or long-term courses that vary in cost and duration. Except for this, several universities in India also offer various vocational programmes. If you are looking to pursue a vocational course offered by a government portal or institution, let’s discuss two such vocational course providers offering high potential for 10th pass students.

Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) Courses

Skill India Digital Hub or SIDH is a government website offering hundreds of vocational courses, either free of cost or at an affordable fee. Skill India Digital Hub is an initiative run by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship that offers hundreds of vocational courses in various domains with varying durations. These courses are available for 10th-grade students, 12th-grade students or learners with ITI or diploma degrees.

Let’s take a look at a few courses that can be highly beneficial for 10th pass students, helping them easily earn an average of INR 1-5 LPA. However, how much one could earn would depend on the course of a particular domain, its credibility, skills learnt, current industry demands, etc. Furthermore, the potential for achieving a higher pay scale would be amplified with experience or by pursuing a higher degree in the related field.

1. The courses range in duration from 1 to more than 6 months.

2. While some programmes are free of cost, the fee for most of the courses is mostly affordable, around or less than INR 5000/-.

3. Though some courses can be in a higher cost range, depending on the different training providers.

Directorate of Training and Technical Education, Delhi

Similarly, the Directorate of Training and Technical Education, Delhi, also offers several diploma courses for 10th pass students. However, they have to appear for the CET (Common Entrance Test). They offer 15 courses in engineering or non-engineering fields. The fee range varies for the courses depending on the grade of the institution: the highest for A+-graded institutions and the lowest for C-graded institutions.

Summing Up

Vocational courses offer a non-traditional approach to gaining practical skills and hands-on training in various fields, thereby opening up entry-level positions for young learners after 10th grade. Vocational courses are highly popular since they bridge the gap between education and industry demands. These courses focus on developing the relevant skills and knowledge in the particular field that a student has chosen so that they can get an early kickstart to their career.

They are highly flexible in nature, enhance employability, and provide ample scope for personal and professional growth. Over time, students can earn well in their relevant fields or pursue higher education to expand their skills, knowledge, career opportunities, and earning potential. If you are a student interested in pursuing traditional courses immediately after 10th grade or for any other reason, vocational courses might be the best option for you.