Best Trade Schools in North Carolina for 2025

Are you seeking some of the best trade schools in North Carolina? There are plenty of amazing institutions in the state to choose from.

Whether you're interested in taking a few courses, pursuing a degree, or obtaining a trade apprenticeship, North Carolina trade schools have what you need.

Trade schools offer instruction for robotics, HVAC, plumbing, public safety, engineering, nails and esthetics, automotive, carpentry, welding, and more.

Explore some of the 10 best trade schools in North Carolina to find great programs in your area.

Featured Trade Schools in North Carolina

This list features various trade schools in North Carolina. Find courses and programs in trades of your choice.

1. Omitt Trade School

Omitt Trade School in Charlotte provides vocational training for students interested in repair, maintenance, and installation careers.

Enrollees learn via nationally certified training and courses and are prepared to excel in their careers with job skill development.

Training programs at Omitt Trade School include HVAC, welding, and facilities maintenance. Students can also earn electrical, carpentry, and forklift operation certifications.

The school provides trade apprenticeships through its Partner Social Responsibility Program, which connects students with companies and organizations for hands-on experience.

2. School of Skilled Trades

Durham is home to the School of Skilled Trades, an institution founded by two plumbers and licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges.

Enrollees gain vocational training while acquiring soft skills like timeliness and integrity.

The school provides a six-month plumbing program, which teaches basic, intermediate, and advanced plumbing and leads to a certificate.

Continuing education options include backflow certification, basic plumbing installation, communication/project management, and more.

3. NASCAR Technical Institute

In Mooresville, students can enroll at the NASCAR Technical Institute, which offers three specialties and five core programs.

Training areas include HVACR, robotics and automation, CNC machining, automotive, and welding.

Specialty training programs are also available for specific manufacturers like Fiat, Ford, Jeep, Dodge, and Alfa Romeo.

Collegiate House Services (CHS) teams up with the school to help students attending the Mooresville campus secure housing and relocation assistance if needed.

4. Millennium Trade Academy

Students attending Millennium Trade Academy in Greensboro learn aesthetics, manicuring, instruction, and natural hair care.

The academy aims to provide training for various disciplines and teach the skills needed to pass the NC State Board of Cosmetic Arts exam.

Enrollees get hands-on training by providing services to the public like manicures and pedicures, facials, makeup application, and waxing.

Mentorship programs teach goal setting, market research, cost management, legal compliance, and more.

5. Wake Technical Community College

Wake Tech delivers 13 career fields in areas like transportation, biotechnology, business, engineering, hospitality, and public safety.

Students can choose from more than 250 degree and transfer programs and over 850 non-degree programs. More than 100 programs are delivered completely online.

Free career services via workshops and courses help students find jobs or advance in their roles.

Wake Tech offers nine campuses across North Carolina in cities like Raleigh, Morrisville, Cary, Zebulon, Wake Forest, and Wendell.

6. Miller-Motte College

Miller-Motte College offers training and degrees in five states. Four campuses are found in North Carolina: Fayetteville, Jacksonville, Raleigh, and Wilmington.

North Carolina campus training programs include CDL, HVAC and basic refrigeration, medical clinical assistant, electrical, medical billing and coding, and dental assisting.

A 12-month, 60-credit business studies program is available in Raleigh and Fayetteville for students interested in sales, marketing, and accounting.

Miller-Motte also offers online associate and bachelor's degrees in cyber security, marketing, accounting, and more.

7. Guilford Technical Community College

Guilford Technical Community College provides career-focused educational opportunities to more than 35,000 students at six campuses and a Small Business Center.

The college delivers diplomas, certificates, and associate degrees along with noncredit courses in career development, job training, and professional development.

Programs explore accounting, biotechnology, information technology, plumbing, welding technology, truck driver training, medical assistance, and many other fields.

Online courses are offered in areas of study like data analysis, fire protection technology, office administration, and simulation and game development.

8. Durham Technical Community College

Durham Tech serves more than 18,000 students across seven campuses in Durham and Orange counties.

More than 90 associate degrees and certificates are offered to students who want to gain immediate employment or transfer to a university.

Students can enroll in programs in engineering, information technology, health technologies, business administration, public safety, and education.

Non-credit courses for continuing education are available in hospitality, culinary arts, automotive, and biotechnology.

9. McDowell Technical Community College

At McDowell Technical Community College in Marion, students can choose from more than 100 degree, diploma, and certificate programs.

Degree options include photographic technology, accounting and finance, engineering, information technology, emergency management, welding technology, and cosmetology.

Continuing education and workforce development courses are offered in CPR, frontline supervision, healthcare billing and coding, and tactical leadership.

Students can take online courses in cybercrime technology, business administration, basic law enforcement, early childhood education, and more.

10. Forsythe Technical Community College

Forsythe Tech Community College in Winston-Salem delivers 175+ programs at nine campuses. More than 20 programs are offered online.

Students can enroll in two-year degree programs that prepare them to take on careers or pursue a bachelor's degree.

Short-term programs are also available for students who want to immediately begin or advance in their careers.

Areas of study include carpentry, accounting, automotive systems technology, medical assisting, motorcycle mechanics technology, plumbing, and welding technology.

Common Trade Jobs in North Carolina

Before choosing a training or degree program for your trade of choice, it's important to determine the types of trade jobs you'll find in North Carolina.

Here is a short list of common trades in the state:

• plumbing
• civil engineering
• welding
• industrial mechanics
• heating and cooling
• dental hygiene
• home inspection
• HVAC
• aircraft mechanics
• respiratory therapy

There are plenty of additional trades to consider. A great way to find the right career is to work with your trade school's job development or career services office.

How Much Does Trade School Cost in North Carolina?

Depending on which of the trade schools in North Carolina you choose, rates can differ dramatically.

You might pay per course or program between $2,500 and $10,000. If you attend a school that charges per credit or semester, you could pay less than $100 per credit or less than $1,300 per semester.

It's important to note that not all trade schools offer federal financial aid. While some schools offer scholarships or other forms of aid, others require out-of-pocket payments.

If your school does qualify for federal financial aid, consider taking advantage of grants, the Federal Work-Study Program, or loans.

Also, think about asking your employer about tuition reimbursement. And if you're associated with the military, look into military educational aid like scholarships, grants, Tuition Assistance (TA), and the GI Bill.

Are There Online Trade Schools in North Carolina?

Yes, some North Carolina schools deliver courses or trade school programs online.

For example, Wake Tech is home to more than 100 online programs. Some programs offer one or two online courses while others are completely online.

Miller-Motte College offers associate and bachelor's online programs in areas of study like allied health management, human resource management, and healthcare information technology.

Other trade schools delivering online programs and courses in North Carolina include McDowell Tech Community College and Guilford Technical Community College.

Explore Trade Schools Today

Finding the right trade school can help you begin or advance a career in your field of choice. Begin your academic or job training journey by reviewing some of the best trade schools in North Carolina today.