Here are the best schools in Middleton. This guide lists accredited options near Middleton with program length, specialties, and licensing steps in Idaho. You will also find which trades are in demand and flexible training paths for working adults. Data sources include the U.S. Department of Education, ACCSC, and Idaho licensing boards123.
Compare Trade Schools Near Middleton, Idaho
These campuses serve Middleton and the Boise-Nampa-Meridian area. All are institutionally accredited or state-recognized, with hands-on programs suited to quick entry into the workforce.
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 Middleton, 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 Middleton, 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 Middleton
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).
Steady demand in the Boise metro as housing and light industrial work expand. Electricians benefit from apprenticeship wages while training. Nationally, employment is projected to grow, with solid pay for licensed journeymen4.
HVAC/R Technician
HVAC techs are needed for residential growth, commercial service, and retrofits. Skills in heat pumps and controls are a plus. Many roles require EPA Section 608 certification for refrigerants45.
Welder
Fabrication, construction, and maintenance employers in the Treasure Valley hire welders with proven plate and pipe skills. Extra credentials in FCAW/GMAW and blueprint reading help you stand out4.
Plumber
Plumbing is resilient to economic swings. Apprentices earn while they learn and move into journeyman roles after licensing. Backflow and gas piping add value4.
Local employers often look for grads from CWI for core trades and from NLC for utility linework. Healthcare assistants from Carrington and Milan place well in clinics and dental practices12.
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.
Plan your training around Idaho’s licensing rules. Here are the basics for common trades.
Electrician (Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses)
Register as an apprentice with DOPL.
Complete 4 years (about 8,000 hours) of supervised work plus classroom instruction.
Apply and pass the Idaho Journeyman Electrician exam.
Upgrade to Master after required journeyman experience.
Electrical Contractor licensing requires a qualified master and business compliance3.
HVAC
Register as an HVAC apprentice with DOPL.
Complete a 4‑year apprenticeship (on‑the‑job + related instruction).
Pass the Idaho HVAC Journeyman exam.
EPA Section 608 certification is required for refrigerant work.
HVAC Contractor license available after journeyman experience and business requirements35.
Plumbing
Register as a Plumbing apprentice with DOPL.
Complete 4 years (about 8,000 hours) plus classroom instruction.
Pass the Idaho Journeyman Plumber exam.
Plumbing Contractor license requires experience and business compliance3.
Barbering and Cosmetology
Complete required clock hours in an approved program (cosmetology ~1,600 hours; esthetics ~600; barbering ~900).
Pass the required written and practical exams.
Apply for Idaho licensure through DOPL’s Barber and Cosmetology Services Board3.
General Construction
Most construction businesses must register with the Idaho Contractors Board if performing work over state thresholds. This is separate from trade licensing3.
Note: Idaho accepts registered apprenticeship hours and approved school hours toward exam eligibility. Always verify current rules and applications on DOPL before you enroll or test3.
Online & Flexible Options
Hybrid trade programs
CWI blends online theory with on‑campus labs for several workforce certificates. Apprenticeships often hold evening classes to fit work schedules1.
Healthcare certificates
Carrington and Milan offer some online coursework for theory. Labs and clinicals are in person for skills sign‑off1.
Prep and add‑ons
EPA 608 exam prep, OSHA 10/30, and basic electrical theory can be completed online. Use reputable providers and take proctored exams when required5.
Fully online cautions
Hands‑on trades like welding, HVAC, and electrical require live labs and supervised hours. Treat any “100% online” promise with skepticism for these fields.
If you need maximum flexibility, talk to admissions about evening sections, accelerated cohorts, and credit for prior learning.
Learn how to pay for school and plan your training: Career Guides
Have questions about licensing or picking a program near Middleton? Start with two or three schools from the list above. Tour the labs, ask about schedules, and confirm how they help you log the hours you need for Idaho licensure.
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 profiles for Boise-area campuses: College of Western Idaho; Carrington College-Boise; Milan Institute-Nampa; Paul Mitchell The School Boise; Aveda Institute Boise; Boise Barber College a d’Mart https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), Directory listing for Northwest Lineman College https://www.accsc.org↩︎↩︎
Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL): Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, Barber & Cosmetology, and Contractors Board licensing rules and applications https://dopl.idaho.gov/↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational Outlook and employment data for Electricians, HVAC/R Technicians, Welders, and Plumbers (national and state) https://www.bls.gov/ooh/↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
