Best Trade Schools in Berkeley, California (2025 Guide)

Updated October 9, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Table of Contents
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Here are the best schools in Berkeley and the inner East Bay. This guide lists accredited programs, California licensing, and in-demand trades across Alameda/Contra Costa1.

Top Trade Schools in Berkeley

Verify current offerings and accreditation23.

School Program Length Highlights
Laney College (Oakland) Certificates 6–12 months; A.S. ~2 years ACCJC accredited. Welding, Electrical/Electronics, Machine Tech, and Construction; strong labs2.
Berkeley Adult School / Peralta Adult Ed (regional) 6–12+ months Adult career education with pathways to CTE and apprenticeships; confirm program availability.
IBEW Local 595 – Electrical JATC (Castro Valley) 3–5 years Registered electrical apprenticeship; paid OJT + classroom instruction.
UA Local 342 – Training Center (Concord) ~5 years Registered apprenticeship in plumbing/pipefitting/HVACR; paid training.

Licensing in California

  • Electrician: Electrician Trainee → OJT hours → DAS exam; C-10 to contract45.
  • HVAC: EPA 608; C-20 to contract65.
  • Plumbing: C-36 to contract5.
  • Welding: No state license; employer/jurisdiction code quals.

Next Steps

  • Compare CA programs: /trade-school/california/
  • Explore trades and credentials: /trades/
  • National resources: /trade-school/

Tour labs, confirm accreditation, and map training to California licensing and apprenticeships.

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, San Francisco–Oakland–Hayward Metro. bls.gov/oes ↩

  2. U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator. nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator ↩ ↩

  3. ACCSC/ACCET Directories. accsc.org, accet.org ↩

  4. CA DIR Electrician Certification. dir.ca.gov/das/ElectricalTrade.html ↩

  5. California CSLB. cslb.ca.gov ↩ ↩ ↩

  6. U.S. EPA, Section 608. epa.gov/section608 ↩

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Brad Fishbein Licensed Mold Assessor

Meet the author: Brad Fishbein is a Florida Licensed Mold Assessor and council-certified Microbial Investigator. He’s the founder of TradeCareerPath.com and has completed over 5,000 mold inspections since 2009. Brad now helps homeowners and tradespeople make smart decisions about mold, licensing, and skilled career paths.