Here are the best schools in Blackfoot. This guide compares accredited trade schools near Blackfoot, plus licensing steps in Idaho and which trades are hiring. Use it to choose a program with the right schedule and credentials.
Compare Trade Schools Near Blackfoot, Idaho
All schools below are accredited and within reasonable driving distance of Blackfoot. Program lengths are typical full‑time durations. Check each program for exact start dates and formats through College Navigator or the school site1.
We could not confirm enough colleges teaching this subject within range of this
location, so the list below shows nearby institutions instead. Confirm with each
school that it offers the program before you apply.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 6 schools, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
6 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from
federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings
are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single
trade. Distance is measured from the main population center in Idaho.
Schools closest to the main population center in Idaho are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the main population center in Idaho is shown for reference.
The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation,
earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within
each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it.
*Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is
completed in person. Read the full methodology.
Median Annual Wage by Trade - Blackfoot, ID's most-employed tradesTrades ranked by local employment (BLS QCEW); wages are median annual pay (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; metro area where reported, otherwise statewide).
Median annual wage by trade in Blackfoot, ID
Trade
Median annual wage
Electricians
$63,000
HVAC technicians
$56,240
Plumbers
$52,380
Culinary workers
$52,000
Medical assistants
$44,700
Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Trade Schools in Blackfoot, Idaho (2026 Guide)Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard - median earnings of all graduates at each school (not a single program).
Median graduate earnings by school for schools serving Best Trade Schools in Blackfoot, Idaho (2026 Guide)
School
Median graduate earnings
College of Eastern Idaho
$55,123
College of Western Idaho
$47,903
College of Southern Idaho
$46,129
Paul Mitchell the School-Rexburg
$25,338
Austin Kade Academy
$24,845
Cost, Earnings, and Program Length in Blackfoot
Among the Blackfoot, ID area’s most-employed trades (BLS QCEW 2024), median annual pay ranges from $44,700 to $63,000 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025); the chart above compares the five with the largest local workforces. Typical HVAC technician training runs 6 months - 2 years (certificate or associate) (TradeCareerPath program data).
Electrician
Electricians keep Idaho’s homes, farms, and industry running. New construction and maintenance create steady work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects continued openings from growth and retirements2. Apprentices earn while they learn and move up to journeyman pay with experience.
HVAC Technician
HVAC techs service heating and cooling systems across eastern Idaho’s seasonal climate. Employers value EPA 608 certification for refrigerants and hands‑on troubleshooting skills. BLS reports consistent demand for installation and service technicians nationwide2.
Welder
Manufacturing, food processing, energy, and construction all hire welders in eastern Idaho. Training that covers SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and FCAW processes will open more doors. BLS notes that certified welders with up‑to‑date skills are competitive across multiple industries2.
Plumber
Plumbers and pipefitters work in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. Idaho apprenticeships combine paid job hours with classroom instruction and lead to journeyman licensing. BLS expects ongoing replacement needs and project work to support job openings2.
Explore careers and training paths:
Electrician overview and training steps: /trades/electrician
HVAC career and licensing guide: /trades/hvac
Welding certifications and schools: /trades/welding
Job growth uses state projections when available and national projections (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034) when state data is unavailable. Median pay for each trade is shown in the comparison table above.
Idaho licenses most construction trades through the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL). Always confirm current rules before you apply3.
Electrician
Register as an apprentice and work under a licensed contractor.
Complete 8,000 hours of on‑the‑job training and related classroom instruction.
Pass the Idaho journeyman exam to earn your license.
Master electrician requires additional experience and an exam.
Electrical contractors must employ a master, show insurance, and meet state requirements3.
HVAC
Register as an apprentice with a licensed HVAC contractor.
Complete required OJT hours and related instruction for HVAC journeyman.
Pass the journeyman exam. Specialty journeyman licenses are also available.
HVAC contractors must meet experience, insurance, and state licensing rules3.
Federal requirement: EPA Section 608 certification to work with refrigerants4.
Plumbing
Register as an apprentice under a licensed plumbing contractor.
Complete 8,000 hours OJT plus related instruction.
Pass the Idaho journeyman exam.
Plumbing contractor licensing requires journeyman status and business qualifications3.
Cosmetology and Barber
Complete an approved program, meet Idaho hour requirements, and pass the NIC written and practical exams to be licensed3.
CDL (Commercial Driver’s License)
Get a Commercial Learner’s Permit, complete FMCSA Entry‑Level Driver Training, then pass the skills test. Idaho licenses CDLs through the Idaho Transportation Department5.
Online & Flexible Options
Hybrid apprenticeships
CEI and ISU often deliver the classroom portion of electrical, HVAC, and plumbing apprenticeships in the evening or online, paired with daytime paid work. This lets you earn while you learn1.
Short‑term certifications
Many workforce training divisions offer accelerated options like CDL, CNA, phlebotomy, and OSHA safety that can be finished in weeks. These can be stackable toward longer certificates or degrees1.
General education online
institutionally accredited colleges such as ISU, CEI, CWI, and CSI offer online general education courses that count toward AAS degrees. You can start online, then move into hands‑on labs on campus1.
Employer‑sponsored training
Local contractors in the Snake River Plain often sponsor apprentices. Ask about tuition assistance, tool allowances, and paid study time. Combining a paid apprenticeship with evening classes is one of the fastest routes to journeyman status.
Next Steps
Compare more Idaho options: /trade-school/idaho/
Browse all trades and career guides: /trades/
Start at the main Trade School hub: /trade-school/
If you know your trade, go straight to the relevant guide:
Electrician: /trades/electrician
HVAC: /trades/hvac
Welding: /trades/welding
Plumbing: /trades/plumbing
Talk with admissions for start dates, schedules, and placement data. Then apply early to secure a seat, especially for high‑demand programs.
Outcome figures such as graduation, completion, and job placement rates are reported by schools and by federal data sources, reflect prior student cohorts, and are not a prediction or promise of future results. Individual outcomes may vary.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
References
U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator. Accreditation and program details for Idaho State University, College of Eastern Idaho, Austin Kade Academy, Paul Mitchell The School Rexburg, College of Southern Idaho, and College of Western Idaho. https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook data for Electricians, HVAC Technicians, Plumbers, and Welders. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, and Cosmetology licensing. https://dopl.idaho.gov↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
