Best Trade Schools in Wyoming for 2025

Do you want to go directly from high school into the workforce, bypassing spending another four years earning a college degree?

Despite the common advice to go to college and earn a bachelor's degree, many people choose to find entry-level jobs as young adults that allow them to learn a trade or skill on the job or through an apprenticeship.

A recent movement spearheaded by 'Dirty Jobs' television personality Mike Rowe actively advocates for the importance and value of skilled tradespeople like plumbers, electricians, steamfitters, pipefitters, farmers, and other workers who help keep our nation's infrastructure intact.

'The skilled trades comprise some of the fastest-growing and high-wage career opportunities available without a four-year degree,' according to Robin Sessions Cooley, director of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services.

'We have employers across our state telling us they can't fill their positions due to a lack of skilled applicants.'

Most of these vocations require only a short-term training program.

Trade schools, vocational schools, technical colleges, or community colleges are all names for places where you can study to learn a trade.

Keep reading to find out about trade schools in Wyoming.

Featured Trade Schools in Wyoming

Although not the only places to gain job skills, the following schools are among the best trade schools for Wyoming residents.

1. Casper College

Casper College is a public two-year school that offers certificates and associate degrees. You can find a variety of short-term certificate programs in fields such as:

• Accounting and bookkeeping
• Architectural graphics and design
• Assistive technology
• Auto body repair technology
• Automotive technology
• Community emergency medical services
• Construction technology
• Cyber security
• Diesel power technology
• Electrical apprenticeship
• Electronics technology
• Engineering technology and design
• Equine-assisted therapy
• Fire science technology
• Geographic information systems
• Industrial electronics
• Machine tool technology
• Manufacturing and automation technology
• Mechanical graphics and design
• Medical laboratory technician and phlebotomy technician
• Nursing
• Office management
• Paralegal studies
• Pharmacy technology
• Ranch and agrotourism management
• Web design and development
• Welding

From agriculture to automotive technology to emergency medical technology, Casper College's industry programs take pride in preparing students for careers with hands-on, on-the-job training through cooperative work arrangements with local shops.

Many scholarships are available for industry students from sources such as the Mike Rowe Works Foundation, The Casper College Foundation and Alumni Association, and many others.

2. Central Wyoming College

Central Wyoming College has four campuses in Riverton, Lander, Jackson, and Dubois.

In addition to its associate degree programs in a wide range of academic and professional fields, CWC also offers career and technical degree and certificate programs in

• Automotive technology, covering all ASE automotive certification areas.
• Welding
• Cosmetology, which incorporates a wide range of specializations, including barbering crossover, barbering no chemicals, barbering stylist, esthetician, hair technician, cosmetology instructor, nail technician
• Culinary
• Electrical apprenticeship
• Hotel restaurant management

Other fields awarding undergraduate certificates in 2022-2023 included:

• Agricultural and domestic animal services
• Agricultural business and management
• Equine studies
• Accounting technology and bookkeeping
• Computer systems technician
• Medical office assistant

3. Laramie County Community College, Cheyenne

A public institution, Laramie County Community College's Trades & Technical Studies Program provides a basic academic foundation plus specific technical knowledge in a particular industry to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree or Trades and Technical Studies Credit Diplomas.

You can learn equipment repair and maintenance skills in the automotive, diesel, electrical, plumbing, and welding industries. Students can also build upon prior learning to earn credit towards the AAS degree.

Examples of prior learning might include United States military training and degrees, a Department of Labor-recognized apprenticeship training program, or industry-specific qualification training.

Recent (2022-2023) undergraduate certificates were awarded in

• Agricultural production operations
• Nrewing science
• Equine studies
• Entrepreneurship
• Computer and information systems security/auditing/information assurance
• Computer systems analyst
• Data modeling/warehousing and database administration
• Network and system administration
• Electrician
• Emergency medical technician (paramedic)
• Licensed practical nurse
• Medical insurance coding specialist
• Medical office assistant
• Criminal justice/police science
• Automobile mechanics technician
• Computer installation and repair technician
• Diesel mechanics technician
• Industrial mechanics and maintenance technician
• Welding technology

4. Northern Wyoming Community College District

Beyond its academic community college programs, this public community college, also called Sheridan College, has a career and technical education training division that offers certifications in:

• Carpentry apprenticeship
• Commercial motor vehicle (forthcoming)
• Construction technology
• Culinary arts & hospitality
• Diesel technology
• Electrical apprenticeship (forthcoming)
• Event planning
• Hospitality & tourism leadership
• Hospitality & tourism management
• Industrial technology
• Machine tool technology
• Welding technology

Other notable certificate areas include the food service inspector certificate, arts administration certificate, certificate of completion in athletic coaching, accounting enrolled agent certificate program, hospitality and tourism leadership certificate, manufacturing composites technology program, entrepreneurship certificate, medical assistant certificate, massage therapy certification, and others.

5. Northwest College

With its base in Powell, career and technical programs at Northwest College include the following for-credit programs:

• Aerial adventure operations
• Aeronautics (aviation)
• Agriculture (farm and ranch management, production)
• Archaeological technician
• Audio technician (sound or music technician)
• Business
• Coach (assistant or head)
• Criminal justice
• Digital and social media
• Drafting technology
• Early childhood education
• Equine (business management, equine care & basic riding, riding, or training)
• Graphic design
• Music technology
• Photographic communications
• Robotics technology (welding robotics technology)
• Technical studies
• Veterinary Assistant
• Welding (advanced welding, gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, welding technology)

Northwest also offers noncredit certifications in areas such as building trades, electrical apprenticeship, heavy equipment, forklift, hydraulic excavator, construction equipment operator, cybersecurity, farrier, HVAC apprenticeship, meat cutting & butchery, plumbing apprenticeship, and surgical technician.

You can also earn your certification in:

• Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Commercial Drivers License (CDL)
• Emergency Medical Services, Paramedicine (EMT, Paramedic)
• Practical Nurse (LPN)
• Phlebotomy AMT Certification
• WITS Personal Training

6. Western Wyoming Community College

A public college in Rock Springs, Western Wyoming Community College offers 39 certificate programs that provide occupational skills for trades and professions.

These cluster into several areas--manufacturing and industry, healthcare, STEM, arts & social sciences, and business & technology.

The most popular of these programs in terms of degrees awarded in 2022-2023 include:

• Accounting
• Administrative assistant and secretarial science
• Office management and supervision
• Information technology services administration and management
• Information science
• Web page, digital/multimedia, and information resources design
• Licensed practical/vocational nurse training
• Automobile/automotive mechanics technology
• Diesel mechanics technology
• Electrical/electronics equipment installation and repair technology
• Industrial mechanics and maintenance technology
• Mechanic and repair technologies
• Medium/heavy vehicle and truck technology
• Welding technology

7. Wind River Job Corps

The Wind River Job Corps program, which provides education and vocational training to students aged 16 to 24, is run by the U.S. Department of Labor in partnership with Central Wyoming College in Riverton. On-campus housing is available.

Pre-apprenticeship programs provide hands-on training and skills education you would need to qualify for apprenticeships.

Training programs include:

• Advanced manufacturing, including welding
• Automotive and machine repair, including heavy construction mechanic (pre-apprentice)
• Hospitality
• Renewable resources and energy, including petroleum service technician
• Construction, including building construction technology (pre-apprentice), carpentry (pre-apprentice), and electrical (pre-apprentice)
• Transportation, which includes heavy truck driving: tractor-trailer and heavy construction equipment operations (pre-apprentice)
• Healthcare

8. WyoTech

Based in Laramie, the public and for-profit WyoTech is an auto trade school offering full-time core training in automotive, diesel, collision & refinishing technology, or welding in programs lasting six to nine months.

In addition, you can couple your core training with one of six specialty programs:

• Street rod
• High-performance power trains
• Applied service management
• Chassis fabrication
• Advanced diesel
• Trim & upholstery

Common Trade Jobs in Wyoming

Like much of North America, Wyoming is facing a serious labor shortage in the skilled trades � especially in construction and home service industries like builders, electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, pipefitters, welders, and carpenters.

Other essential trades found in almost every community are those involving industrial, automotive, and diesel mechanical skills.

As primarily an agricultural state, Wyoming also needs workers in a variety of skill-based areas in the agricultural industry, such as farm and ranch management, equine and livestock management, vet technicians, and many more.

How Much Does Trade School Cost in Wyoming?

To attend a public trade school program in Wyoming; you can expect to spend between $5,000 and $10,000.

Private programs will cost more. However, the quality and length of training programs vary substantially from school to school, so this is just an estimate.

Are There Online Trade Schools in Wyoming?

Yes, you can find many online trade skills certificate programs at Wyoming colleges, depending on the nature of the field.

For example, Laramie County Community College has six- to 18-month online career training courses in skilled and industrial trades.

Explore Trade Schools Today

If you feel that learning a trade is the best option for you, explore trade schools in Wyoming today.