Here are the best schools in Emmett. This guide lists accredited options nearby, the trades hiring now, and the exact steps to get licensed in Idaho. If you’re a high school grad or a career changer in Gem County, use this to compare programs and plan your next move. Demand for skilled trades remains steady nationwide1.
Compare Trade Schools Near Emmett, Idaho
These accredited schools are in Emmett or within an easy commute to Boise, Nampa, or Meridian. Program lengths are typical ranges by credential. Always confirm current offerings and schedules.
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 - Boise City, 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 Boise City, ID
Trade
Median annual wage
HVAC technicians
$57,270
Paralegals
$53,470
Auto mechanics
$48,630
Dental assistants
$47,250
Medical assistants
$46,310
Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Trade Schools in Emmett, 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 Emmett, Idaho (2026 Guide)
School
Median graduate earnings
Carrington College-Boise
$57,082
College of Western Idaho
$47,903
Boise Barber College
$30,941
Aveda Institute-Boise
$26,105
Paul Mitchell the School-Nampa
$24,959
Paul Mitchell the School-Boise
$24,959
Cost, Earnings, and Program Length in Emmett
Among the Boise City, ID area’s most-employed trades (BLS QCEW 2024), median annual pay ranges from $46,310 to $57,270 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025); the chart above compares the five with the largest local workforces. Typical dental assistant training runs 9-18 months (diploma or associate program) (TradeCareerPath program data).
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 regulates several building trades. Most licenses are issued through the Idaho Division of Building Safety (DBS). Personal services (like cosmetology) are overseen by the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL).
Electrician (DBS)
Register as an electrical apprentice.
Complete a 4-year apprenticeship with required on-the-job training and related classroom instruction.
Pass the Journeyman Electrician exam to be licensed.
With additional experience and exams, you can qualify as a Master and/or Electrical Contractor (required to run a contracting business)2.
Plumber (DBS)
Register as a plumbing apprentice.
Complete a multi-year apprenticeship with required hours and schooling.
Pass the Journeyman Plumber exam.
Contractor licensing is available for those who will bid/operate a business and supervise work2.
HVAC (DBS)
Register as an HVAC apprentice.
Complete the required apprenticeship hours and related instruction.
Pass the HVAC Journeyman exam.
HVAC Contractor licensing is required to operate your own firm and pull permits2.
Cosmetology/Barbering (DOPL)
Complete an approved training program (cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, etc.).
Idaho does not require a state welder license. Employers and public projects often require AWS or similar procedure qualifications. Training programs help prep for these tests1.
Contractors
Most construction businesses must register with the Idaho Contractors Board (DOPL) before bidding or working. Separate trade licenses (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) are still required for regulated work3.
Always verify current requirements and forms directly with DBS or DOPL before you apply or test.
Online & Flexible Options
Hybrid schedules: Many nearby schools offer evening or hybrid lecture for apprentices and working adults. CWI and ISU commonly blend online theory with in-person labs4.
Short, stackable credentials: Welding, HVAC, and medical support programs often offer short certificates that stack into an AAS.
Apprenticeship classroom online: Some related instruction for apprentices can be delivered online, backed by in-person labs or proctored testing.
Certification prep: EPA 608 for HVAC, OSHA-10/30, and basic safety can often be completed online through school partners. Hands-on skills still require lab time.
If you need maximum flexibility, ask each school about evening cohorts, hybrid sections, and accelerated blocks.
Pick two or three programs that match your goal. Tour the labs, ask about employer partners, and confirm your licensing path with DBS or DOPL. Then apply early to lock in your start date.
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
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational Outlook Handbook and Occupational Employment data. ↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
Idaho Division of Building Safety (DBS), licensing and examinations for Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC. ↩︎↩︎↩︎
Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), Boards for Cosmetology/Barbering and Contractor Registration. ↩︎↩︎
U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator school profiles for listed institutions. ↩︎
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)
