"Which skilled trades have the most jobs near Ridgecrest, California?"

"By local employment, Kern County's largest skilled-trade fields include medical assistants, culinary workers, and phlebotomy technicians (BLS QCEW, 2024). The school comparison table on this page lists trade-relevant schools serving the area so you can match a program to these fields."

"How much do medical assistants earn near Ridgecrest, California?"

"In the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area, medical assistants earn a median of $46,560 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Reported pay ranged from about $36,440 at the 10th percentile to $60,370 at the 90th percentile, varying with experience, certification, and employer (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

"What trade schools are near Ridgecrest, California?"

"Trade-relevant schools serving Ridgecrest include College of Alameda (median graduate earnings about $43,771, College Scorecard), Allan Hancock College (median graduate earnings about $55,202, College Scorecard), and American Beauty College (median graduate earnings about $21,157, College Scorecard). Compare them by tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings in the table above (IPEDS and College Scorecard)."

"How long does medical assistant training take?"

"Typical medical assistant training runs 9-12 months (certificate or diploma) (TradeCareerPath program data). Certificate programs sit at the shorter end and associate degrees at the longer end; actual completion time depends on full-time versus part-time scheduling and any prerequisite coursework."

"Is Ridgecrest a good place to train for a skilled trade?"

"That depends on your goals, but local labor data offers a starting point: medical assistants are among the area's higher-employment trades (BLS QCEW, 2024) with a median wage of $46,560 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Review the school comparison table and nearby-cities links above to weigh tuition, program length, and commute."

Best Trade Schools in Ridgecrest, California

Updated June 20, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Start here to compare accredited trade schools near Ridgecrest. This guide links to programs, state licensing steps, and related career paths so you can get job-ready quickly in California.

How to Get Started in Ridgecrest

Compare schools and program lengths above
Check your state licensing steps: California
Explore careers: Skilled trades hub
Ask each school about tuition, schedules, and embedded certifications (EPA 608, NCCER, ASE)

Compare Trade Schools Near Ridgecrest, California

How We Rank Schools

We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.

Location / proximity to this page: Defines the local group
Graduation rate: 30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry: 25%
Average net price (lower is better): 20%
Retention rate: 15%
Fully online availability: 10%

Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.