Trade school programs in Virginia

481 trade school programs in 22 fields of skilled trades, with costs, results and funding that can make them free

61 schools offer these programs, and Virginia has approved every one for workforce funding. Compare the 22 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 Virginia, every line of work

Accredited trade schools in Virginia, each school with its accreditor

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

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

Welding classes
90 programs at 34 schools
Most cost
$1,848 to $3,997
Earned a year, estimated
about $35,600
Working 6 months later
67%
Finished
100%
HVAC training (heating and cooling)
78 programs at 37 schools
Most cost
$1,646 to $5,878
Earned a year, estimated
about $38,700
Working 6 months later
59%
Finished
100%
Electrician training
58 programs at 29 schools
Most cost
$1,500 to $3,433
Earned a year, estimated
about $36,400
Working 6 months later
67%
Finished
100%
CNC machinist training
44 programs at 13 schools
Most cost
$450 to $3,840
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
100%
Industrial maintenance technician training
32 programs at 14 schools
Most cost
$1,770 to $7,758
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Construction training programs
26 programs at 20 schools
Most cost
$1,111 to $4,853
Earned a year, estimated
about $38,200
Working 6 months later
60%
Finished
95%
Manufacturing technician training
25 programs at 11 schools
Most cost
$1,260 to $2,818
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Auto mechanic classes
21 programs at 16 schools
Most cost
$730 to $5,710
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
100%
Carpentry classes
16 programs at 9 schools
Most cost
$1,609 to $2,388
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Electronics technician training
14 programs at 13 schools
Most cost
$6,379 to $9,842
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
100%
Heavy equipment operator training
13 programs at 9 schools
Most cost
$3,300 to $4,500
Earned a year, estimated
about $42,400
Working 6 months later
60%
Finished
99%
OSHA safety training (workplace safety)
11 programs at 8 schools
Most cost
$153 to $392
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Plumbing school
10 programs at 6 schools
Most cost
$1,148 to $3,529
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Diesel mechanic training
10 programs at 8 schools
Most cost
$1,790 to $11,231
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
94%
Auto body repair classes
7 programs at 5 schools
Most cost
$565 to $1,018
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)
6 programs at 5 schools
Most cost
$3,278 to $3,594
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported
Solar and wind technician training
6 programs at 6 schools
Most cost
$4,542 to $7,985
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Lineman school (power line work)
4 programs at 4 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Crane operator training
4 programs at 3 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not enough data
Masonry training
3 programs at 2 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported
Water treatment operator training (water and wastewater)
2 programs 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 Virginia may offer more. How these figures are made

Is there free trade school in Virginia?

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 Virginia cost $153 to $392, and most electronics programs $6,379 to $9,842. Each field's page lists every program with its price.

Other job training in Virginia, by line of work

Programs approved in Virginia in each line of work.

Where the Virginia trade school numbers come from

Which Virginia programs are counted?

Programs Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia

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