Best Trade Schools in Lancaster, California (2025 Guide)

Updated October 9, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Table of Contents
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Here are the best schools in Lancaster and the Antelope Valley. This guide lists accredited programs, California licensing steps, and in-demand trades1.

Top Trade Schools in Lancaster

Verify current offerings and accreditation23.

School Program Length Highlights
Antelope Valley College (Lancaster) Certificates 6–12 months; A.S. ~2 years ACCJC accredited. Welding, Aircraft Fabrication & Assembly, Automotive, Construction-related programs2.
Los Angeles Trade–Technical College (regional) Certificates 6–24 months; A.S. ~2 years Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, Welding. Large labs and employer links2.
IBEW Local 11/40 – Electrical JATC (regional) 3–5 years Registered apprenticeships; paid OJT + classroom instruction.
UA Local 250 – Training (Gardena, regional) ~5 years Registered apprenticeship in plumbing/pipefitting/HVACR; paid training and certifications.

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/

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

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Los Angeles 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.