Vocational Trade Schools in West Virginia 2021

A two-year college in Martinsburg near the Virginia border, BRCTC ranks among the top vocational schools in West Virginia. Emphasizing affordability and career training, BRCTC offers trade and professional programs in several fields, including business, culinary, engineering, health sciences, and technology. Students can choose from programs such as plastics engineering technology, applied laboratory technician, catering and hospitality management, and physical therapy assisting.

BRCTC also offers an electrical distribution engineering technology apprenticeship, which trains students for careers in electrical line work. The program enables apprentices to earn an associate of applied science degree while working with Allegheny Energy. It combines classroom instruction, hands-on labs, and on-the-job training. Apprentices gain technical skills and learn professional safety techniques of electric line working, such as overhead line maintenance, solar thermal energy, and renewable energy technology.

Operating a main campus in Wheeling along with branch campuses in Weirton and New Martinsville, WVNCC serves six counties in the Northern Panhandle region of West Virginia. Students can pursue associate and certificate programs in fields such as business, healthcare professions, manufacturing and applied technology, public service, and tourism and hospitality. The school also offers apprenticeships in professions including plumbing and pipefitting, ironworking, and roofing.

WVNCC ranks among the most affordable vocational schools in West Virginia, with 83% of applicants receiving financial aid. Students save an average of 36% on tuition at WVNCC compared to four-year schools, and the college provides more than $280,000 in annual scholarship funding. The WV Invests Grant program funds education for eligible students, enabling grant recipients to graduate debt-free. WVNCC also offers several student resources, including academic support, career counseling, and tutoring.

Based in Williamson, Southern also maintains campuses in Foster, Hamlin, Mount Gay, and Saulsville. As one of the top trade schools in West Virginia, Southern hosts many technical and vocational programs in fields including agriculture, business, electrical engineering, and healthcare.

Southern also hosts the Academy for Mine Training and Energy Technologies, which trains students for mining industry careers. The academy's programs combine classroom learning, equipment labs and simulations, and on-the-job apprenticeship training. Southern offers apprenticeships in both surface and underground mining, with certification available both for West Virginia and Kentucky. The surface mining certification requires 40 hours of training, while the underground certification requires 80 hours.

Southern also offers an electrician apprenticeship certification, which includes eight hours of training on electrical hazards for miners. Applicants must be at least age 18 and already hold coal miner certification. Miners can also recertify through the school's continuing education programs.

Serving six counties in Potomac Highlands regions, Eastern operates a main campus in Moorefield. Ranked as one of the top vocational schools in West Virginia, this two-year college hosts a varied selection of technical degree and certificate programs, with options including accounting, biological and environmental technology, early childhood development, nursing, and wind energy technology.

Eastern offers comprehensive career services, which can help students determine career paths and identify job opportunities. The school partners with many employment organizations, such as WorkForce West Virginia and the American Job Center.

Eastern also offers several customized programs that combine cooperative learning, apprenticeships, and other hands-on training opportunities. Offered in conjunction between the college, local businesses, and other organizations, these programs typically award college credit for vocational training. Eastern offers approved technical studies partnerships in several professions, including certified nursing assistant, child development associate, cosmetology and hair stylist, medical assistant, and residential care specialist for the deaf and blind.

Located in Charleston, Carver offers career and technical education in several professional fields, including cosmetology, culinary arts, HVAC technician, respiratory therapy, and veterinary technology. The school's programs result in professional certificates, rather than associate degrees.

Carver offers concurrent enrollment for high school students, enabling eligible candidates to begin their professional education. Some of the college's high school concurrent programs include allied health sciences, collision repair technology, emergency and firefighting management, and integrated production technology.

Carver hosts a barbering apprenticeship designed by the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists. Requiring 1,200 hours of training, the program explores the history and general concepts of barbering, along with sanitation practices, clipper-cutting techniques, facial shaving, beard trimming, and West Virginia state law related to barbering. Carver also offers a crossover program for licensed cosmetologists, which may enable candidates to complete the barbering apprenticeship with fewer required hours.

A two-year college based in Huntington, MCTC ranks among the top vocational schools in West Virginia. The school offers a sizable selection of technical and vocational programs in major fields, including allied health, applied technology, business, culinary and hospitality, and information technology. Students can choose from dozens of professional degree and certificate programs, including railway transit, multimedia design, event management, network systems administration, and pharmacy technician.

MCTC provides a strong selection of resources for students, including advising and counseling services, career services, disabled student services, and veterans and military services. Academic advisors and counselors help students identify academic and career goals, adjust to the college experience, and connect to other campus resources.

The school's Career Services office provides career coaching, resume assistance, and skills development. Students can also take advantage of mock interview sessions, career fairs, job search assistance, and transfer assistance.

Serving a 13-county region, Pierpont operates a main campus in Fairmont along with several satellite campuses. The main campus shares space with Fairmont State University, enabling Pierpont to offer a wider selection of campus resources than most other vocational schools in West Virginia. Students can pursue several technical and vocational programs at the associate and certificate level.

Pierpont also offers an associate of applied science in technical studies that emphasizes cooperative education by combining vocational courses with hands-on learning. This program primarily serves students who work in skilled trades such as automotive, building construction, carpentry, electrical, and masonry. Students can develop their professional skills while simultaneously earning an associate degree, enabling them to widen their career options.

Candidates can complete general education courses, technical classroom courses, and additional on-the-job training for a total of 60 credits. The program enables students to earn up to 39 credits for technical or occupational specialty training and up to 12 credits for on-the-job training or supervised work-based learning.

New River CTC serves a nine-county area in southern West Virginia, with campus locations in Greenbrier Valley, Mercer County, Nicholas County, and Raleigh County. The school offers technical and vocational programs in four major areas: business and computers, nursing and health professions, social and behavioral sciences, and technology and trade. Students choose from dozens of associate degrees and certificates, such as diesel service technology, general welding, legal office assistant, nail care technician, and retail department manager.

Students receive personalized support from an assigned academic advisor who assists with course selection, degree planning, and transfer counseling. Advisors can also help students identify and connect to other college resources, including career counseling.

New River CTC offers comprehensive career preparation through its Career Services office, including advising and counseling, occupation information, employment services, job referrals, and career workshops. Students can also access resources for resume review and interview training.

Affiliated with West Virginia University, the two-year Potomac State is one of the only residential vocational schools in West Virginia. The college offers dozens of associate degrees in a variety of professional fields, including business, information technology, health sciences, manufacturing and construction, and education. Students can choose from programs such as aerospace engineering, exercise physiology, wildlife and fisheries resources, wood science and technology, and agribusiness management.

Potomac State's connection to the West Virginia University System makes it easy for students to transfer into bachelor's programs at other member institutions, such as WVU Morgantown or WVU Beckley. The school offers several pre-professional degrees that prepare students to transfer directly into four-year programs, including pre-dentistry, pre-occupational therapy, pre-veterinary medicine, pre-nursing, and pre-pharmacy.

Potomac State students benefit from the resources of the West Virginia University System, with extensive academic advising and career services available. Students can also access free tutoring through the school's Academic Success Center.

A technical college that functions as part of the Mercer County School District, MCTEC primarily serves high school students, but the school also hosts some adult education programs. Based in Princeton, MCTEC offers four vocational education programs for adults: cosmetology, dental assisting, electrical technician, and practical nursing. The college also hosts a variety of pre-professional dual-enrollment programs for high school students, including automotive technology, collision repair, machine tool technology, and masonry.

MCTEC maintains articulation agreements with several four-year colleges, enabling high school students to complete coursework through MCTEC and earn up to six credits to apply toward other West Virginia public colleges. MCTEC offers designated transfer pathways to three schools: Concord University, Bluefield State University, and the University of Northwestern Ohio. Transfer program options include automotive technology, pre-engineering, architecture and construction/drafting, therapeutic services, and education.