If you are interested in a career as a tool programmer, you can test your interest and aptitude by taking shop and other vocational classes. You can also visit firms that employ numerical control tool programmers and talk directly with them to gain practical information about their jobs. Summer or part-time work at manufacturing firms and machine shops is a great way to find out more about the job and gain hands-on experience.
Participate in competitions that are offered by SkillsUSA (https://www.skillsusa.org) and other organizations to build your skills, compete for scholarships and cash prizes, and have fun. Some of the SkillsUSA competitions that will be of interest to aspiring programmers include CNC Programmer, Robotics and Automation Technology, and Career Pathways: Industrial and Engineering Technology.
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