Here are the best schools in Rexburg-Sugar City. Use this guide to compare accredited programs, understand Idaho licensing, and see which trades are hiring now. Electricians, HVAC techs, welders, and plumbers are in steady demand across Idaho, with solid wages and growth through 20331.
Compare Trade Schools Near Sugar City, Idaho
All schools below are accredited or state-recognized and serve students in the Rexburg-Sugar City area. Program lengths are typical ranges; check each school for start dates and schedules2.
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 - Rexburg, 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 Rexburg, ID
Trade
Median annual wage
Truck drivers
$58,770
Culinary workers
$52,000
Paralegals
$49,690
Dental assistants
$45,880
Cosmetologists
$35,480
Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Trade Schools in Rexburg–Sugar 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 Rexburg–Sugar City, Idaho (2026 Guide)
School
Median graduate earnings
Brigham Young University-Idaho
$56,787
College of Eastern Idaho
$55,123
Paul Mitchell the School-Rexburg
$25,338
Integrated Massage Therapy Services
$25,102
Austin Kade Academy
$24,845
Evans Hairstyling College-Rexburg
$22,935
Cost, Earnings, and Program Length in Sugar City
Among the Rexburg, ID area’s most-employed trades (BLS QCEW 2024), median annual pay ranges from $35,480 to $58,770 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).
Why it’s strong: New housing, data centers, solar, and industrial maintenance keep demand steady. Electricians have one of the highest skilled-trade wage ceilings with overtime potential1.
Typical training: 4-year apprenticeship or a pre-apprenticeship certificate that helps you place with a contractor. Idaho licenses at Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master levels.
HVAC Technician
Why it’s strong: Year-round service demand in Eastern Idaho’s cold winters and warm summers. Heat pump retrofits and refrigerant changes add work1.
Typical training: 9-12 month diploma or 2-year associate, plus EPA Section 608 certification for refrigerants3.
Welder
Why it’s strong: Manufacturing, agricultural equipment, and construction fabrication in the region. Multi-process skills (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW) improve job options1.
Typical training: 6-12 month certificate, then AWS certifications by process and material.
Plumber
Why it’s strong: Residential growth around Rexburg-Sugar City, service/repair demand, and commercial projects. Apprentices earn while learning1.
Typical training: 4-year apprenticeship leading to journeyman licensure.
Median annual wages (national, May 2023): Electricians ~1,590; HVAC ~7,300; Plumbers ~1,550; Welders ~8,9401. Local wages vary with experience, certifications, and overtime.
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 Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) and its building boards. Always confirm current rules before you apply4.
Electricians (Idaho Electrical Board)
Register as an apprentice and work under a licensed electrical contractor.
Complete 4 years (typically 8,000 hours) of supervised experience plus related classroom training.
Pass the Idaho journeyman exam; apply for journeyman license.
Master electrician requires qualifying journeyman experience and passing the master exam.
Electrical contractor licensing requires experience, business registration, insurance, and exam.
HVAC (Idaho HVAC Board)
Apprentice registration under a licensed HVAC contractor.
Complete 4 years of supervised experience and related training.
Pass the journeyman exam; apply for journeyman license.
Contractor license requires qualifying experience, insurance, and exam.
EPA Section 608 certification is required if you handle refrigerants3.
Plumbing (Idaho Plumbing Board)
Apprentice registration with a licensed plumbing contractor.
Complete 4 years (approx. 8,000 hours) of supervised experience and classroom training.
Pass the journeyman exam; master license requires additional journeyman experience and exam.
Cosmetology/Barbering (Barber and Cosmetology Services, Idaho)
Complete state-approved training (typical: 1,600 hours cosmetology; barbering and esthetics hour requirements vary).
Pass required NIC exams; apply for state license through DOPL.
Massage Therapy (Idaho Board of Massage Therapy)
Complete at least 500 hours from an approved school.
Pass MBLEx and apply for licensure with DOPL.
Welding
No state license. Employers often require AWS certifications (e.g., D1.1 structural) aligned to job duties. Training offered at CEI and ISU helps you prepare.
Commercial Driving (CDL)
Complete FMCSA-compliant ELDT theory and behind-the-wheel training with a registered provider.
Pass Idaho CDL knowledge and skills tests. Endorsements require extra training and exams.
Online & Flexible Options
Hybrid programs: CEI and ISU use a mix of classroom, lab, and online coursework for general education and theory classes. Hands-on labs still occur in person.
Accelerated schedules: Cosmetology and esthetics schools in Rexburg and Idaho Falls often offer day, evening, or part-time cohorts to fit work schedules.
Pre-apprenticeship and exam prep: Short online modules can help you prepare for apprenticeship placement tests, the Idaho journeyman exam, or EPA 608.
Employer-sponsored learning: Many contractors in Eastern Idaho hire entry-level helpers and sponsor apprenticeship classroom hours while you earn.
If you plan to study online, confirm that any required labs, clinicals, or ride-alongs can be completed locally, and that the program meets Idaho licensing standards.
Get practical tips on paying for school, apprenticeships, and certifications: Guides
Start broad, then shortlist local programs near Rexburg-Sugar City here: Trade School Finder
Have questions about Idaho licensing or which program fits your goals? Start with the state hub above, then contact your top 2-3 schools to compare program length, schedule, accreditation, and placement support.
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 May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics. ↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator institutional profiles for listed schools (accreditation and programs). ↩︎
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Section 608 Technician Certification. ↩︎↩︎
Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL). Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, Barber & Cosmetology, Massage Therapy licensing. ↩︎
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)
