Best Trade Schools in Santa Rosa, California (2025 Guide)

Updated October 9, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Table of Contents
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Here are the best schools in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County. This guide compares accredited options, California licensing, and in-demand trades in the North Bay1.

Top Trade Schools in Santa Rosa

Confirm current offerings, accreditation, and schedules with each provider23.

School Program Length Highlights
Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) Certificates 6–12 months; A.S. ~2 years ACCJC accredited. Welding, Automotive, Construction, and manufacturing-related programs with strong labs2.
College of Marin (regional) Certificates 6–12 months; A.S. ~2 years ACCJC accredited. Construction trades, HVAC-related continuing education, and technical programs; hybrid formats2.
North Bay Regional Construction Corps (regional) ~6 months Entry-level construction training with hands-on experience. Pathway to apprenticeships and employment.
IBEW/UA Apprenticeships (regional) 3–5 years Registered apprenticeships in Electrical and Plumbing/Pipefitting. Paid OJT + classroom training; strong job placement.

Skilled Trades in Demand

  • Electrician: Residential/commercial retrofits and renewable energy projects. DIR certification required for most roles4.
  • HVAC/R: Service and energy upgrades across North Bay facilities. EPA 608 required; C-20 license to contract56.
  • Welding: Fabrication and light manufacturing. Employers value AWS/code qualifications7.
  • Plumbing: Service and tenant improvements. C-36 license to contract6.

Licensing in California

  • Electrician: Electrician Trainee → OJT hours → DAS exam; C-10 license to contract46.
  • HVAC: EPA 608; C-20 license to contract56.
  • Plumbing: C-36 license to contract; experience + exams6.
  • Welding: No state license; employer/jurisdiction code quals as needed.

Online & Flexible Options

  • Hybrid lecture + in-person labs at community colleges.
  • Evening/weekend cohorts for working adults.
  • Short stackable credentials (OSHA-10/30, EPA 608) to speed hiring.

Next Steps

  • Compare statewide programs: /trade-school/california/
  • Explore careers and credentials: /trades/
  • National school hub: /trade-school/

Visit labs, confirm accreditation, and ask how training aligns to California licensing and apprenticeships.

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook (Electricians, HVAC, Plumbing, Welding). bls.gov/ooh ↩

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

  6. California CSLB Contractor Licensing. cslb.ca.gov ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  7. American Welding Society (AWS). aws.org ↩

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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.