The Education Levels

The U.S. Department of Labor defines the training and education levels used in this set of lists as follows:

   Short-term on-the-job training: It is possible to work in these occupations and achieve an average level of performance within a few days or weeks through on-the-job training.

   Moderate-term on-the-job training: Occupations requiring this type of training can be performed adequately after a one- to 12-month period of combined on-the-job and informal training. Typically, untrained workers observe experienced workers performing tasks and are gradually moved into progressively more difficult assignments.

   Long-term on-the-job training: This training requires more than 12 months of on-the-job training or combined work experience and formal classroom instruction. This includes occupations that use formal apprenticeships for training workers that may take up to four years. It also includes intensive occupation-specific, employer-sponsored training, such as police academies. Furthermore, it includes occupations that require natural talent that must be developed over many years.