Apex Technical School, founded in 1961, is a private school offering several certificate courses, some of which can be completed in less than a year. For students pursuing education their education at Apex, movement to and from school is greatly facilitated by the school’s close proximity to New York’s subway and bus lines.
| Overall Score (about) | Insufficient Data |
| Admission Success rate | N/A |
| Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty | N/A |
| Retention (full-time / part-time) | 58% / 70% |
| Enrollment Total (all students) | 1,288 |
New classes begin each month, with both day and evening classes available. The school’s programs have a blended workload, where students will need to complete coursework along with participating in hands-on learning using machinery used for that particular type of work. Classes are generally small, which allows for a great student to teacher ratio.
The school offers classes in the following programs:
The Automotive Technician Program provides training that lead to careers in the automotive industry. Students get to learn about automotive engines, automotive power trains, use of automotive fuels and automotive climate control and safety among other things.
The Combination Welding Technology Program offers training in all matters welding. Students learn the application of electric and gas welding processes such as oxyacetylene welding, gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten welding and the processes of cutting and brazing. Courses cover both basic and advanced welding processes.
The school’s Construction Skills Program covers plumbing, carpentry and electrical and is aimed at students who seek careers in the construction industry, either as constructors, renovators or remodelers. The program is divided into six segments – a basic course and a more advanced one for each of the three areas of plumbing, carpentry and electrical.
For students aiming for careers in the electrical field, the school offers the Electrical and Advanced Electrical Program. Students taking this course learn how to use power tools and obtain electrical skills such as lighting, wiring and the use of conductors. The course is divided into six segments and takes the learner through the skills needed by a starting electrician to more advanced electrical skills.
Under the school’s Refrigeration, Air-conditioning, Appliance and Controls Program, students learn the skills necessary for the maintenance of both commercial and domestic refrigeration and air control systems. The course’s introductory segment covers the maintenance of refrigeration and air conditioning home appliances and a more advanced training is offered in commercial refrigeration and the maintenance of bigger and more complicated air conditioning systems.
The Auto Body Repair was developed in response to the change in the materials used to make car bodies today. While in the past steel bodies were the norm, today’s car bodies are increasingly being made from lighter and highly delicate materials such as plastics, metal alloys and aluminum. While these materials have made car manufacture faster, they are also not only easily damaged but also present a real challenge for car body repair. The Auto Body Repair Program addresses these concerns by teaching the students how to deal with plastics and adhesives and the new technologies used to paint and refinish these new car bodies. The program is divided into seven segments and covers matters such as plastic welding and structural analysis.
Students interested in the Plumbing and Pipefitting program will learn core, plumbing, and pipefitting skills, which are covered in detail throughout the course. Basic safety and concepts; installing, fitting, and testing pipes and water supplies; the math necessary for plumbing; and installing water heaters, sprinklers, and other systems are all part of the curriculum.
To attend the school, applicants must be 17 years or older. However, applications from students who are at least 16 ½ and have obtained a release letter from their high school are considered for admission.
Applicants are also required to have a high school diploma or acceptable General Equivalency Diploma (GED) scores. Students lacking either of these diplomas could still be considered for admission if they sit and obtain a satisfactory score in a standardized examination administered independently. The school requires that applying students make arrangements to have an interview with an Admissions Representative at the school.
Students joining Apex from other technical schools are given credit for hours completed at the previous school so long as they can show evidence of having successfully completed such hours. To be considered successful, the student must have obtained a minimum of grade C. The school requires that such applicants present official academic transcripts from the schools previously attended. The school only accepts applicants from schools that are federally registered, licensed or accredited.
Transfer students are also required to pass the school’s final examination for all of the segments for which the students wants to be credited. Moreover, all applications need to be approved by the school’s director.
Students can obtain financial aid information from the school’s Financial Aid Advisors, who are available to explain the various sources of aid available and how to apply for it. This information is also available online, as most of the aid that a student can apply for is administered by federal agencies.
Financial aid comes with several conditions that an applicant needs to meet. To be eligible, the applicant must be a citizen of the U.S. or an eligible non-citizen. The applicant should also have a valid Social Security Number and a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate.
Applicants are also required to sit and pass an Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) test from the U.S. Department of Education. For certain forms of aid (such as grants and subsidized loans), the applicant must demonstrate financial need and, once admitted to school, continue to show satisfactory academic progress. Students who have defaulted on other federal student loans and those who do not certify that they intend to use the aid only for education purposes could be discontinued from receiving further aid. Aid can also be discontinued for conviction for drug and sex offenses.
Federal aid available for students includes the Federal Pell Grant, which is a need-based grant. Amounts disbursed vary but they are determined by the student’s need as assessed by FAFSA. From the application lodged with FAFSA, an amount known as Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is calculated and those with the least EFCs get higher Pell grants.
Students who qualify for Pell grants and who have exceptionally low EFCs also qualify for the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) which gives needy students additional funding. Through the Federal Work-Study Program, students with financial need are offered part-time employment. The program not only helps students earn but also contributes to their professional development as federal authorities require that work offered be related to the course of study being undertaken.
In addition to grants (which do not require repayment) Apex students can apply for several students loans which are available from federal authorities. Through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, students have access to low-interest loans. These loans could either be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans are available for students with financial need but those applying for the unsubsidized loans do not need to demonstrate financial need.
Other loans include the Direct Plus loans (which are applied for by parents of dependent children) and Direct Consolidation Loans (which enable the borrower to consolidate several loans into one).
After graduation, students can seek assistance from the Office of Job Placement, which tries to put those leaving school in touch with prospective employers. Some of the professional agencies which recognize the education offered by the school include the N.Y.S. Office of vocational rehabilitation, the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New York Fire Department.
For its many attractive features, this campus does not offer any student activities and this might not appeal to some would-be students. The school says it avoids developing student activities as it wishes to concentrate on the training of students.
This school is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
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