Here are the best schools in Pocatello. This guide shows accredited programs, how Idaho licensing works, and which skilled trades are hiring. Use it to pick a program and plan your next step. Idaho employers continue to add jobs in the skilled trades, and pay is competitive for workers with credentials and experience1.
Compare Trade Schools Near Pocatello, Idaho
These accredited options serve Pocatello and nearby cities. Program lists are examples. Always confirm current offerings with the school2.
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 2 schools, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
2 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.
#1
Austin Kade Academy
📍
Idaho Falls, ID
•In-state option•BOC Score
57.5
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
1646 South Woodruff Avenue Idaho Falls, ID 83404-5540
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 - Pocatello, 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 Pocatello, ID
Trade
Median annual wage
Culinary workers
$52,000
HVAC technicians
$50,940
Plumbers
$50,020
Dental assistants
$44,620
Medical assistants
$37,610
Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Trade Schools in Pocatello, 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 Pocatello, Idaho (2026 Guide)
School
Median graduate earnings
College of Western Idaho
$47,903
Austin Kade Academy
$24,845
Cost, Earnings, and Program Length in Pocatello
Among the Pocatello, ID area’s most-employed trades (BLS QCEW 2024), median annual pay ranges from $37,610 to $52,000 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 construction, infrastructure, and industrial projects keep demand steady in Idaho. A state journeyman license is required for most jobs. BLS data shows solid employment and pay growth for electricians statewide1. Learn training paths and salaries here: Electrician.
HVAC/R Technician
HVAC pros handle heating, cooling, and refrigeration in homes, hospitals, schools, and plants. EPA Section 608 certification is required to work with refrigerants. Idaho demand is strong and year-round due to service and retrofit work1. Explore training and licensing: HVAC.
Welder
Welders support manufacturing, fabrication, and energy. Employers look for process proficiency (GMAW, GTAW, SMAW) and test-based certifications. Pay rises with code certifications and specialty materials. See career paths and certs: Welding.
Plumber
Plumbing systems, gas piping, and hydronics require licensed tradespeople. Idaho’s apprenticeship-to-journeyman path is clear and in demand across residential and commercial work1. Compare training routes: Plumbing.
Many Idaho trades offer median pay from the mid-0,000s to the low-0,000s, with higher earnings for licensed journeymen, overtime, and remote or industrial projects1.
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 by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL). Below are common pathways and steps. Always verify current rules before you enroll or test3.
Electrician
Register as an apprentice with DOPL and an approved training provider.
Complete 4 years/8,000 hours of on-the-job training plus classroom instruction.
Pass the Idaho Journeyman Electrician exam.
Upgrade to Master after additional experience and exam3.
HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning)
Register as an HVAC apprentice.
Complete required on-the-job experience and related instruction. Most candidates log about 4 years before testing.
Pass the Idaho HVAC Journeyman exam.
Contractor licensing requires additional experience, business insurance, and a separate license.
EPA Section 608 certification is required to handle refrigerants34.
Plumbing
Register as a plumbing apprentice.
Complete 4 years/8,000 hours OJT and classroom hours with an approved provider.
Pass the Idaho Journeyman Plumber exam.
Master and contractor levels require additional experience and testing3.
Cosmetology/Barbering
Graduate from an approved program and meet Idaho’s training-hour or competency requirements.
Pass the state practical and written exams for licensure through Barber and Cosmetology Services5.
Welding
Idaho does not issue a general welding license. Employers and job sites require process-specific certifications (for example, AWS code tests) and procedure qualifications. Additional credentials may be required for structural or pressure work.
Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
Get your Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP), complete FMCSA Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT), then pass the skills test and endorsements with the Idaho Transportation Department6.
Online & Flexible Options
Hybrid learning: Many trade programs in Idaho deliver theory online and hands-on labs on campus. This is common for HVAC, electrical apprenticeship classroom, and healthcare basics.
Short-term certificates: ISU CEWT offers accelerated options like CDL, OSHA, EPA 608 exam prep, and EMT that fit around work schedules.
Apprenticeships: Earn while you learn. Classroom may be one or two evenings per week during the school year. Related training often stacks into college credit at ISU or CEI.
Exam prep: Online prep for EPA 608, NCCER modules, and code-based tests can help you test sooner and increase your hiring chances4.
If you need maximum flexibility, ask each school about night sections, weekend labs, and hybrid delivery. Seats can fill fast in high-demand labs.
Talk to admissions, tour the labs, and confirm program start dates. Ask about employer partners and career placement. Then apply early for the next cohort and get on the list for apprenticeships.
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/.
