Here are the best schools in Garden City. This page lists accredited options close to Garden City, with program lengths, specialties, and Idaho licensing steps. It’s built for career changers and new grads looking for fast, job-ready training. Skilled trades like electrical, HVAC, welding, and plumbing remain in steady demand and offer solid wages and advancement1.
Compare Trade Schools Near Garden City, Idaho
These campuses sit in Garden City or the Boise-Meridian area a short drive away. Accreditation is verified through U.S. Department of Education listings2 and programmatic accreditors where noted.
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
Radiologic technologists
$81,640
Medical assistants
$46,310
Phlebotomy technicians
$45,610
Nursing assistants
$39,220
Patient care technicians
$39,220
Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Trade Schools in Garden City, 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 Garden City, Idaho (2026 Guide)
School
Median graduate earnings
Carrington College-Boise
$57,082
College of Western Idaho
$47,903
Boise Barber College
$30,941
Oliver Finley Academy of Cosmetology
$30,231
Aveda Institute-Boise
$26,105
Paul Mitchell the School-Boise
$24,959
Cost, Earnings, and Program Length in Garden City
Among the Boise City, ID area’s most-employed trades (BLS QCEW 2024), median annual pay ranges from $39,220 to $81,640 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025); the chart above compares the five with the largest local workforces. Typical medical assistant training runs 9-12 months (certificate or diploma) (TradeCareerPath program data).
Electricians install, maintain, and troubleshoot electrical systems in homes, businesses, and industrial sites. The BLS projects steady national growth and strong replacement needs as experienced electricians retire1.
Many new electricians start with a 4-year registered apprenticeship that blends paid work and classroom hours. After licensing, you can advance to foreman, estimator, or electrical contractor.
HVAC
HVAC technicians service heating, cooling, and refrigeration. Technicians trained in heat pumps, smart thermostats, and low-GWP refrigerants are in demand as buildings update systems1.
EPA Section 608 certification is required to handle refrigerants3. Idaho also licenses HVAC journeymen and contractors.
Welding
Welders work in fabrication, construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure. Employers value students who graduate with OSHA-10 safety and common AWS process certifications (e.g., SMAW, GMAW)1.
Welding does not require a state license in Idaho, but your test plates and employer-required codes matter.
Plumbing
Plumbers install and repair water, gas, and waste systems. Aging infrastructure and new construction keep demand steady1.
Like electricians, plumbers typically complete a 4-year apprenticeship and then test for journeyman licensing in Idaho.
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 licensing is administered through the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) with technical code oversight through the state boards. Always check current rules before you enroll or test4.
Electricians (Idaho)
Apprentice: Register with DOPL. Complete 4 years (8,000 hours) of supervised on-the-job training plus related classroom instruction (commonly 576 hours over 4 years) through an approved provider4.
Journeyman: Pass the Idaho journeyman exam; document hours and schooling4.
Master/Contractor: Additional experience and an exam are required for master; contractors must employ a master and meet bonding/insurance requirements4.
Plumbers (Idaho)
Apprentice: Register and complete 4 years (8,000 hours) OJT plus related instruction through an approved program4.
Journeyman: Pass the Idaho journeyman plumber exam; provide proof of hours/classroom4.
Master/Contractor: Additional experience and exam for master; contractor license requires qualifying master and compliance with state requirements4.
HVAC (Idaho)
Apprentice: Register with DOPL. Complete a multi-year apprenticeship with documented OJT and related instruction4.
Journeyman: Pass the Idaho HVAC journeyman exam; show qualifying experience4.
Contractor: Requires qualifying master/Journeyman, business credentials, and insurance as set by the HVAC Board4.
EPA 608: Required for anyone servicing systems with regulated refrigerants3.
Welders (Idaho)
No state license. Employers and projects may require AWS or ASME code certifications and weld tests. Training programs help you prepare for common certs.
Contractors
Idaho requires contractor registration at the state level for most construction businesses. Public works projects require a Public Works Contractor license. Check DOPL for details4.
Online & Flexible Options
Blended learning: Many Boise-area programs mix online theory with in-person labs. Expect hands-on shop time for welding, HVAC, automotive, and linework.
Evening and accelerated tracks: CWI offers evening labs for apprenticeships and some certificate courses. Accelerated cohorts are common in allied health and cosmetology.
Test prep: Schools often include code, safety, and certification prep (e.g., NEC for electrical, EPA 608 for HVAC, OSHA-10). Ask how many attempts or vouchers are included.
Credit and stackability: Community college certificates may stack into an AAS. Apprenticeship classroom hours at CWI typically align with Idaho journeyman exam requirements.
How to Choose a Program
Verify accreditation and state approval. Use College Navigator to confirm institutional accreditation and program listings2.
Match training to Idaho licensing. If your goal is journeyman status, choose programs tied to registered apprenticeships and exam prep4.
Tour the labs. Look for current equipment: inverter welders, heat pump trainers, modern scan tools, and safe energized training stations.
Ask about placement. Employers often recruit directly from NLC for linework and from CWI for welding, machining, and diesel. Request recent placement and apprenticeship sponsorship data.
Consider schedule and support. Evening labs, tutoring, and career services can make the difference while you work.
Next Steps
Compare more schools across the state: visit the Idaho hub at /trade-school/idaho/.
Explore trades, salaries, and licensing paths: see the trade hub at /trades/.
New to trade schools? Start at our main hub: /trade-school/
Plan your campus visits, ask about start dates and waitlists, and make sure your program aligns with Idaho licensing. You can launch a stable, well-paid career from Garden City with the right training and a clear plan.
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, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Electricians; HVAC/R Mechanics and Installers; Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters; Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
