Here are the best schools in Star. This page compares accredited trade programs near Star, Idaho, and explains local licensing. Use it to choose a program that leads to a job in 6-24 months. Electricians, HVAC techs, welders, and plumbers remain in steady demand in Idaho and nationwide1.
Compare Trade Schools Near Star, Idaho
Below are accredited options within a short drive of Star. Program lengths are typical ranges; your timeline depends on schedule and specialization.
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 Star, 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 Star, 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 Star
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).
Reliable work across residential, commercial, solar, and industrial projects. National employment is projected to grow, and median wages remain strong1. Apprenticeships in the Boise metro help you earn while you train.
HVAC Technician
Growth is driven by new construction and energy-efficient retrofits. EPA Section 608 certification is required to handle refrigerants, and many Idaho programs include exam prep12.
Welder
Employers in fabrication, construction, and manufacturing hire welders with process skills (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW). Certifications through AWS or ASME help you stand out. Steady national demand with opportunities to upskill into pipe or structural specialties1.
Plumber
New building and maintenance work keep plumbing steady. Apprenticeship leads to journeyman licensing in Idaho. Backflow, medical gas, and hydronic specialties can increase pay1.
Note: National median pay (BLS, May 2023) is solid across these trades, and many roles allow overtime or project-based premiums1.
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 construction trades through the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL). Below are common pathways. Always verify current rules before you apply3.
Electrician (Idaho Electrical Board)
Register as an apprentice with DOPL.
Complete about 8,000 hours of documented on‑the‑job training plus related classroom instruction (typically 4 years).
Apply for and pass the Idaho journeyman electrician exam.
Maintain license and continuing education as required3.
HVAC (Idaho HVAC Board)
Register as an HVAC apprentice.
Accumulate required on‑the‑job hours and related training (commonly 4 years for full HVAC journeyman; specialty categories have different hour requirements).
Pass the appropriate journeyman or specialty exam.
EPA Section 608 certification is required for refrigerant handling (federal)32.
Plumbing (Idaho Plumbing Board)
Register as a plumbing apprentice.
Complete roughly 8,000 hours of supervised work and related instruction (about 4 years).
Apply for the journeyman plumber exam and pass.
Keep license current per state CE and renewal rules3.
Welding
Idaho does not issue a general “welder” license. Employers and specific work scopes may require industry credentials such as AWS D1.1 (structural) or ASME Section IX (pipe/pressure). Boiler/pressure vessel work may require approvals through the state boilers program. Confirm requirements with your employer or the authority having jurisdiction3.
Helpful tip: Many schools listed above embed apprenticeship or certification prep so you can meet Idaho’s requirements on the first try.
Online & Flexible Options
If you need to balance work and training, consider these flexible pathways near Star:
Hybrid programs at community colleges and career schools. Many lecture components (safety, codes, theory) run online, with labs scheduled on campus in the evenings or weekends.
Registered apprenticeships. You earn a paycheck while completing required classroom hours, often one to two evenings per week during the school year.
Short courses and credentials online. OSHA-10/30, construction math, blueprint reading, and EPA 608 exam prep can be completed online; hands-on or proctored exams may be in person2.
Healthcare support roles. Medical assisting, dental assisting, and EMT programs often offer blended schedules and multiple start dates throughout the year4.
Ready to start local? Contact two or three schools above, ask about upcoming start dates, and schedule a campus visit. If you plan to license, review the DOPL application and exam windows so your training aligns with the testing calendar3.
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
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational Outlook and wage data for Electricians, HVAC/R Technicians, Plumbers, and Welders. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
