Best Trade Schools in South Bend, Indiana (2025 Guide)

Updated October 9, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Table of Contents
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Here are the best schools in South Bend–Mishawaka. This guide lists accredited programs, apprenticeships, and Indiana licensing basics1.

Top Trade Schools in South Bend

Verify current offerings and accreditation23.

School Program Length Highlights
Ivy Tech Community College – South Bend Certificates 6–12 months; AAS ~2 years HLC accredited. HVAC, Welding, Industrial Technology with hands-on labs and flexible schedules2.
IBEW Local 153 – Electrical JATC (South Bend) 3–5 years Registered electrical apprenticeship; paid OJT + classroom instruction.
UA Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 172 – Training (South Bend) ~5 years Registered apprenticeship in plumbing/pipefitting/HVACR; paid training and certifications.

Licensing in Indiana

  • Electrical/HVAC/Plumbing Contractors: Local licensing/registration common; verify city/county rules.
  • HVAC: EPA 608 required for refrigerants4.
  • Welding: No state license; employers/jurisdictions require performance quals.

Next Steps

  • Compare IN programs: /trade-school/indiana/
  • Explore trades and credentials: /trades/
  • National resources: /trade-school/

Tour labs, confirm accreditation, and map training to licensing and apprenticeships.

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, South Bend–Mishawaka Metro. bls.gov/oes ↩

  2. U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator. nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator ↩ ↩

  3. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), Directory. accsc.org ↩

  4. U.S. EPA, Section 608 Technician Certification. epa.gov/section608 ↩

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Brad Fishbein Licensed Mold Assessor

Meet the author: Brad Fishbein is a Florida Licensed Mold Assessor and council-certified Microbial Investigator. He’s the founder of TradeCareerPath.com and has completed over 5,000 mold inspections since 2009. Brad now helps homeowners and tradespeople make smart decisions about mold, licensing, and skilled career paths.