Best Trade Schools in Fort Collins, Colorado (2025 Guide)

Updated October 9, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Table of Contents
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Here are the best schools in Fort Collins. This guide lists accredited programs, apprenticeships, and Colorado licensing basics1.

Top Trade Schools in Fort Collins

Verify current offerings and accreditation23.

School Program Length Highlights
Front Range Community College (Fort Collins/Loveland) Certificates 6–12 months; AAS ~2 years HLC accredited. HVAC, Welding, Advanced Manufacturing, and Automotive programs; hybrid options2.
Aims Community College (Greeley, regional) Certificates 6–12 months; AAS ~2 years HLC accredited. Welding, Automotive, Industrial Technology; short commute2.
IBEW Local 405/113 (regional) 3–5 years Registered electrical apprenticeships; paid OJT + classroom instruction.
UA Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 145/58 (regional) ~5 years Registered apprenticeship in plumbing/pipefitting/HVACR; paid training.

Licensing in Colorado

  • Electrical: State licensing for Residential/Journeyman/Master via exams and documented hours; contractors must be licensed.
  • Plumbing: State licensing for Residential/Journeyman/Master; contractors licensed by state; verify local registrations.
  • HVAC: No single statewide HVAC tech license; EPA 608 required for refrigerants4; local registrations may apply.
  • Welding: No state license; employer/jurisdiction performance tests.

Next Steps

  • Compare CO programs: /trade-school/colorado/
  • Explore trades and credentials: /trades/
  • National resources: /trade-school/

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

  1. BLS, Fort Collins Metro. bls.gov/oes ↩

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

  3. ACCSC Directory. accsc.org ↩

  4. U.S. EPA, Section 608 Technician Certification. 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.