Best Vocational Trade Schools in California

Vocational trade schools offer a formal setting where students learn marketable job skills. For example, trade schools in California can prepare you for careers in fast-growing industries like healthcare, construction, engineering, and technology.

Community colleges that offer education in the trades are also called trade schools. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, enrollment grew 17.6% at these institutions from 2023 to 2024.

Use our guide below to learn more about the top California trade schools, how to choose the right school for you, and what you can expect to earn after graduation.

Accreditation offers multiple benefits. Credits you earn at an accredited school are more likely to transfer, and accredited degrees meet more professional licensure and certification requirements. Students enrolled in accredited schools also qualify for federal financial aid.

Like community colleges and four-year institutions, California’s trade schools may hold institutional accreditation, the highest standard in postsecondary education.

In California, the regional institutional accreditor, WASC Senior College and University Commission, grants accreditation to four-year schools, while the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges grants accreditation to two-year colleges.

Vocational and trade schools can also hold accreditation from national organizations, such as the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges or the Distance Education Accrediting Commission.

Private trade schools should also hold state approval and licensure. California’s Bureau for Private and Postsecondary Education regulates private vocational and trade schools.

Trade school graduates work in healthcare, technology, hospitality, and many other industries. As a result, their career and salary outlook varies by field.

For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that installation, maintenance, and repair occupations earned a median wage of $61,650 in California in 2023, and protective service professionals made a median $49,370. That same year, dental hygienists in California earned a median salary of $120,640, and respiratory therapists made a median $101,200.

Vocational programs also prepare graduates for in-demand careers in STEM. According to the National Science Foundation, as of 2021, only 48% of STEM professionals hold a bachelor’s degree or higher — workers with associate degrees, technical education, or no college comprise the rest of the STEM roles. Jobs in these fields that require a technical education but not a bachelor’s degree include healthcare technician, engineering technician, and electrician.

Vocational and trade schools in California often charge lower tuition rates than four-year colleges and universities. According to NCES data from the 2022-23 academic year, California public schools averaged $8,637 per year in tuition and fees for in-state learners, while private colleges and universities averaged $42,017 yearly.

In contrast, public two-year schools in the state averaged $1,286 annually for California residents. By choosing an affordable vocational program, you can save thousands on your certificate or degree.

Students enrolled at an accredited trade school can apply for federal financial aid — including loans, grants, and work-study opportunities — by completing the FAFSA. However, not all California technical colleges meet the requirements for federal financial aid, so investigate each prospective school’s eligibility before applying.

To help pay for your trade school education, explore all available funding resources, including private scholarships, California student grants, employer tuition assistance, and schools’ own institutional aid.

Yes, students attending accredited vocational schools in California can qualify for federal financial aid and other forms of financial aid, such as scholarships. The California Student Aid Commission is a helpful resource for state residents and offers extensive information on state-funded scholarships, grants, and awards.

You can pursue one of many trade-related vocations at a California-based trade school, including HVAC technician, electrician, mechanic, dental hygienist, or nuclear technologist. Some programs conclude with a certificate, while others confer an associate degree.

California’s Department of Industrial Relations has approved 79 trade schools in the state that actively accept new students and offer training. NCES data reveals there are 243 California schools that are authorized to offer certificates and associate degrees that take two or more years, and 191 institutions that offer programs that take fewer than two years.

To qualify for admission to a trade school in California, you must generally be 17-18 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED certificate. Some trade schools have an inclusive admission policy, so they do not require a high school diploma or its equivalent for admission.

To take the general electrician exam in California, you need 720 hours of instruction from an approved training program, such as a trade school, followed by 8,000 hours of work experience. The trade school component can take under a year, but the work experience usually takes 4-5 years.