Trade school programs in Alaska

120 trade school programs in 18 fields of skilled trades, with costs, results and funding that can make them free

17 schools offer these programs, and Alaska has approved every one for workforce funding. Compare the 18 fields below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.

Trade school programs teach hands-on work with tools, machines and building systems. That runs from building work like carpentry, plumbing and electrical, through repairing cars, diesel trucks, heating and cooling systems and factory machinery, to welding, sheet metal, masonry, auto body repair, CNC machining, manufacturing and electronics work, solar and wind installation, water treatment, workplace safety, running heavy equipment and cranes, and inspecting homes. Most are certificates; some are two-year degrees or apprenticeships.

All job training programs in Alaska, every line of work

Accredited trade schools in Alaska, each school with its accreditor

Trade school programs by state, to compare Alaska with other states

Compare trade school programs in Alaska: cost, pay and results

Welding classes
19 programs at 6 schools
Most cost
$7,600 to $10,000
Earned a year, estimated
about $34,000
Working 6 months later
66%
Finished
91%
Construction training programs
19 programs at 10 schools
Most cost
$4,316 to $8,540
Earned a year, estimated
about $30,900
Working 6 months later
72%
Finished
81%
OSHA safety training (workplace safety)
17 programs at 5 schools
Most cost
$198 to $619
Earned a year, estimated
about $58,500
Working 6 months later
82%
Finished
100%
Carpentry classes
15 programs at 9 schools
Most cost
$2,718 to $6,684
Earned a year, estimated
about $24,900
Working 6 months later
61%
Finished
94%
Heavy equipment operator training
9 programs at 7 schools
Most cost
$8,500 to $9,000
Earned a year, estimated
about $27,300
Working 6 months later
77%
Finished
95%
Industrial maintenance technician training
6 programs at 4 schools
Most cost
$3,365 to $14,750
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
HVAC training (heating and cooling)
5 programs at 4 schools
Most cost
$3,632 to $7,200
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Auto mechanic classes
5 programs at 2 schools
Most cost
$4,800 to $18,000
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
AutoCAD and drafting courses (computer-aided design)
5 programs at 3 schools
Most cost
$5,400 to $9,000
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Electrician training
3 programs at 2 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Plumbing school
3 programs at 3 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Diesel mechanic training
3 programs at 2 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Manufacturing technician training
3 programs at 3 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Electronics technician training
3 programs at 2 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Water treatment operator training (water and wastewater)
2 programs at 2 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported
Crane operator training
1 program at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Home inspector training
1 program at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported
Sheet metal training
1 program at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data

Each figure is the middle program of that field. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools in Alaska may offer more. How these figures are made

Is there free trade school in Alaska?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program counted on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.¹²³
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁴ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.³
Or pay yourself. Without funding, prices differ by field: most OSHA and safety programs in Alaska cost $198 to $619, and most welding programs $7,600 to $10,000. Each field's page lists every program with its price.

Other job training in Alaska, by line of work

Programs approved in Alaska in each line of work.

Where the Alaska trade school numbers come from

Which Alaska programs are counted?

Programs Alaska approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) in the fields listed above. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁵ They come from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Alaska offers.

What the figures for each field mean

Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, the table says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means).

Sources for the funding facts about trade school programs in Alaska

Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources

Nursing and patient care

Medical office and lab

General healthcare

Skilled trades

Transportation and logistics

Computers and IT

Business and office

Beauty and personal care

Public safety

Food and hospitality

Education and social services