Registered Trade Schools

Independent · public data

Find a real path into the trades.

Built for students starting out (and the parents and counselors helping them). Browse registered apprenticeship sponsors and trade school programs from public data — no fake ratings, no sales pitch.

Try a city, ZIP, or school name — or browse all trade schools.

Who are you?

Pick the lane that fits — then dig into the directory. Same honest data either way.

Students

I want a paid path into a trade

Start with registered apprenticeships (job + training) or compare trade school vs apprenticeship — then search your state above.

Students

I want a trade school program

Browse 2,826 schools with certificate or associate programs in trade-related fields from College Scorecard.

Parents

I’m helping my kid decide

A straight parent guide for adults whose child (often 18–25) is weighing trade school or an apprenticeship.

Counselors

I need handouts for students & parents

Free printables, a send-home sheet, and link assets. Share-ready — not a national CTE catalog.

Popular trades

Quick jumps — full directories live under apprenticeships and schools.

How this site works

  1. Public data, dated

    Apprenticeship sponsors from the DOL partner file; schools from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Each page shows when we retrieved the data.

  2. Check the official source

    Explore here, then confirm on apprenticeship.gov, the school, or CareerOneStop before you apply or enroll.

  3. No “best schools” list

    We do not invent ratings or outcome numbers. Schools and sponsors can’t pay for a better rating or placement, or to change directory data or listing order.

Guides that stay honest

Outlook, cost, timelines, and enrollment — no paid rankings. All guides.

How much does trade school cost?

Honest ranges, public vs private, and what to ask for in an all-in quote.

How long does trade school take?

Certificates, associates, and how they compare to apprenticeships.

How long do trade apprenticeships take?

Electrician, plumber, and HVAC timelines — years and hours.

How to pay for trade school

Pell, WIOA, Workforce Pell length rules, and Job Centers.

Questions before you enroll

Accreditation, tools, exam fees, and job-placement claims.

Trades that should stay busy through 2035

BLS outlook patterns — not a paid “best trades” list.

When AI takes desk work, trades keep hiring

Calm, evidence-based — why hands-on work still needs people.

Can you make $200k in the trades?

Possible on some paths — not typical starting pay. Real BLS ranges.

How to find a registered apprenticeship

Practical steps from search to verifying a sponsor.

Trade school vs apprenticeship

Cost, time, and pay — side by side, without the hype.

Trade school vs community college

When a private program, a public CC, or both make sense.

Helping your kid choose a trade

For parents whose adult child is weighing options.

Sister directories: Verified CDL Schools (FMCSA CDL) · Veteran Trade Schools (VA-approved trades).