Here are the best schools in Burley. Use this guide to compare accredited programs, see which trades are hiring, and understand Idaho licensing. All schools listed are institutionally accredited or state approved. Verify details through U.S. Department of Education’s College Navigator and recognized accreditors12. Electricians, HVAC techs, plumbers, and welders continue to see steady demand and solid pay3.
Compare Trade Schools Near Burley, Idaho
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.
LOCAL RANK
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.
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 - Burley, 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 Burley, ID
Trade
Median annual wage
Electricians
$63,000
Truck drivers
$58,770
Culinary workers
$52,000
Construction trades workers
$46,940
Dental assistants
$45,880
Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Trade Schools in Burley, 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 Burley, Idaho (2026 Guide)
School
Median graduate earnings
College of Eastern Idaho
$55,123
College of Southern Idaho
$46,129
Aveda Institute-Twin Falls
$28,256
Integrated Massage Therapy Services
$25,102
Austin Kade Academy
$24,845
Nathan Layne Institute of Cosmetology
$14,899
Cost, Earnings, and Program Length in Burley
Among the Burley, ID area’s most-employed trades (BLS QCEW 2024), median annual pay ranges from $45,880 to $63,000 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025); the chart above compares the five with the largest local workforces. Typical culinary worker training runs 1-2 years (culinary school or apprenticeship) (TradeCareerPath program data).
New housing, food processing, and distribution facilities in Southern Idaho keep demand steady for electrical work3. Electricians install wiring and controls, maintain systems, and read blueprints. Median U.S. pay was about 1,000 in 2023, with strong overtime potential3.
HVAC
HVAC technicians service heating and cooling systems in homes, schools, and farm-related facilities. EPA 608 certification is required to handle refrigerants. National median pay was about 7,000 in 2023, with peak demand in extreme seasons3.
Welding
Welders support manufacturing, ag equipment repair, fabrication, and construction. Entry roles focus on MIG and flux core. Advanced roles need pipe or structural certifications. U.S. median pay was about 9,000 in 20233.
Plumbing
Plumbers install and repair water, gas, and waste systems. Idaho journeyman status opens doors to higher wages and contracting work. National median pay was about 1,000 in 20233.
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.
Most building trades are licensed by the Idaho Division of Building Safety (DBS). Always confirm current rules before you enroll or test4.
Electrician (DBS)
Register as an electrical apprentice with DBS.
Complete 4 years of supervised experience with related classroom instruction through an approved program.
Apply for and pass the Idaho Journeyman Electrician exam.
Maintain CEUs for renewal. After verified journeyman experience, apply for Master Electrician and, if you plan to run a business, electrical contractor registration.
HVAC (DBS)
Register as an HVAC apprentice.
Accumulate supervised experience and approved instruction. Many aim for HVAC Journeyman status through about 4 years of OJT plus schooling.
Pass the Idaho HVAC Journeyman exam.
If you will handle refrigerants, earn EPA Section 608 certification5.
For business ownership, obtain HVAC contractor licensing and required insurance.
Plumbing (DBS)
Register as a plumbing apprentice.
Complete roughly 4 years of supervised experience with approved classroom training.
Pass the Idaho Journeyman Plumber exam.
Advance to Master Plumber with additional verified experience. Contractor licensing is required to operate your own business.
Welding
No state license for general welding. Employers often require AWS D1.1 structural, ASME pipe, or process-specific certifications. Community college programs help you test for relevant certs.
Cosmetology and Esthetics
Licensed by the Idaho Board of Cosmetology. Complete an approved program and pass state exams.
Truck Driving (CDL)
Train with a provider that meets federal Entry-Level Driver Training standards. CDL testing and endorsements are issued through the Idaho Transportation Department.
Online & Flexible Options
Hybrid hands-on training: CSI, ISU, CWI, and CEI blend online theory with on-campus labs for welding, HVAC, automotive, machining, and healthcare. This can reduce commute time from Burley while keeping required shop practice on campus1.
Evening and accelerated cohorts: Many career schools in Twin Falls offer day and evening schedules. Ask about weekend labs and condensed terms.
Fully online programs: Some support courses, IT, and healthcare admin classes can be completed online. Trades that require shop hours still need in-person labs.
Credit for experience: Public colleges may grant prior learning credit for industry certifications such as NCCER modules or AWS weld tests. This can shorten your path to a certificate.
Verify accreditation: Confirm that any online or hybrid provider is institutionally accredited or recognized by agencies such as ACCSC for private career schools12.
How to Choose a Program
Match the program to your license goal. If you want to be a journeyman electrician or plumber, choose a program that aligns with DBS requirements and helps you register as an apprentice4.
Check lab time and equipment. Ask how many hours you get on weld booths, HVAC trainers, electrical panels, or diagnostic tools.
Ask about employer ties. Look for advisory boards, internships, and placement support in the Mini-Cassia and Magic Valley area.
Plan for certifications. For HVAC, confirm EPA 608 testing on campus5. For welding, ask which AWS or ASME tests are available.
Compare schedules. Burley learners often split online theory with lab nights in Twin Falls or Pocatello.
Read how-to guides for training, exams, and funding: /guides/
Ready to move forward? Contact two to three schools above, confirm start dates, and ask about apprenticeships and exam pass rates.
Footnotes
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, institutional profiles and accreditation. ↩︎↩︎↩︎
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), recognized institutional accreditor for career schools. ↩︎↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational Outlook and May 2023 wage data. ↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
Idaho Division of Building Safety (DBS), Electrical, HVAC, and Plumbing licensing requirements. ↩︎↩︎
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Section 608 Technician Certification for refrigerants. ↩︎↩︎
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
Data
Provider
Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
