[redredspin17]

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. If I were you I would go for 18month program. You'll be able to figure out fast if for some reason there will no chance in this industry in your area -- in case you need to switch programs or something drastic.

In the meantime though, since you are okay with your savings, I would recommend finding part time work during your training, even taking community college classes in another field, like IT, because in this economy you want to not only be certified, but versatile, in case things change in the future.