Best Trade Schools in Overland Park, Kansas (2025 Guide)

Updated September 14, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Table of Contents
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Here are the best schools in Overland Park. We ranked programs by accreditation, program options, hands-on training, and job placement support. You will also find Kansas licensing steps and local demand. Skilled trades offer steady pay and strong job security in the Kansas City area1.

Top Trade Schools in Overland Park

Name Program Length Highlights
Johnson County Community College (Overland Park) Certificates: 1–2 semesters; AAS: ~2 years HLC-accredited programs in HVAC, Electrical Technology, Welding, Automotive, and Construction Management2. Modern labs and strong employer ties. Day and evening options.
KCKCC – Technical Education Center (Kansas City, KS) Certificates: ~1 year; AAS: ~2 years Electrical Technology, HVAC, Welding, Plumbing, Carpentry. NCCER-aligned training and industry credentials. Dual credit options for high school students2.
Metropolitan Community College – Kansas City Certificates: ~1 year; AAS: ~2 years Welding, HVAC, Electrical, Industrial Tech, Automation. Multiple campus labs and apprenticeship pathways with regional employers2.
Pinnacle Career Institute (Kansas City, MO) Diplomas: ~40–60 weeks HVAC Technician and Wind Turbine Technician programs. Hybrid with hands-on bootcamps. ACCSC-accredited with employer partnerships3.
Aviation Institute of Maintenance – Kansas City (MO) ~21–24 months FAA-focused Airframe and Powerplant training with extensive labs. Strong placement support in aviation maintenance. ACCSC-accredited3.
IBEW Local 124 / NECA Electrical JATC (Kansas City) 4–5 years Registered inside wireman apprenticeship. Earn while you learn with classroom plus on-the-job training. Prepares for journeyman licensing in the metro.
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 533 JATC (Kansas City Metro) 5 years UA apprenticeship in pipefitting, plumbing, and HVACR service. Paid OJT, classroom training, and welding certifications. Serves Kansas and Missouri counties.

Note: The Kansas City metro spans Kansas and Missouri. Many high-quality programs sit within a short drive of Overland Park. Always confirm campus location, admission dates, and accreditation before you enroll23.

Skilled Trades in Demand

  • Electrician Electricians install and maintain electrical systems in homes, businesses, and industry. National median pay was about 1,590 in May 2023, with steady demand tied to construction and maintenance work1. In Johnson County, many employers hire apprentices and helpers year-round.

  • HVAC Technician HVAC techs install and service heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. The work is stable, especially in extreme hot and cold seasons. The national median pay was about 7,300 in May 20231. EPA 608 certification is required to handle refrigerants in Kansas and nationwide4.

  • Welder Welders support manufacturing, construction, and field service projects. Median pay was about 8,940 in May 20231. Earning AWS certifications helps you qualify for higher-paying structural and pipe welding jobs.

  • Plumber Plumbers install and repair piping, fixtures, and gas lines. Many are employed by contractors serving Johnson County and the wider metro. The national median pay was about 1,550 in May 20231. Apprenticeship is a proven path to long-term careers in plumbing.

Licensing Requirements in Kansas

Kansas does not issue a single statewide license for electricians, plumbers, or HVAC mechanics. Most trade licenses are handled by local jurisdictions. In Johnson County, contractor and journeyman credentials are issued through Johnson County Contractor Licensing (JCCL)5. Always check the city or county where you will work.

  • Electrician

    • Complete a formal program or apprenticeship.
    • Accumulate documented on-the-job experience under a licensed contractor.
    • Pass an accepted journeyman exam (often an ICC-based exam used by local jurisdictions).
    • Apply for a Johnson County journeyman card if you will work there; upgrade to master/contractor after additional experience and testing5.
    • Maintain continuing education as required.

  • HVAC/Mechanical

    • Finish HVAC training or an apprenticeship.
    • Earn EPA Section 608 certification for refrigerants (required nationwide)4.
    • Pass the local mechanical journeyman exam where you plan to work and register with JCCL if working in Johnson County5.
    • Progress to master/contractor with added experience and exam.

  • Plumbing

    • Train in plumbing through a school or apprenticeship.
    • Log supervised hours.
    • Pass the local plumbing journeyman exam and register with the applicable jurisdiction. JCCL manages licensing for Johnson County jobs5.
    • Advance to master/contractor after meeting experience and exam requirements.

  • Welding

    • No Kansas state license. Most employers require AWS structural or pipe certifications.
    • Apprenticeships and JATC programs can include advanced welding cert prep.

Tip: If you will work across the state line in Missouri, confirm local licensing there as well. The Kansas City metro includes many overlapping jurisdictions.

Online & Flexible Options

  • Hybrid trade programs
    • Pinnacle Career Institute offers HVAC and Wind Technician training with online theory and in-person labs or bootcamps3.
    • Many community colleges in the metro offer blended formats for technical lecture courses and reserve lab time for hands-on skills2.
  • Evening and weekend schedules
    • JCCC, KCKCC, and MCC often run evening sections for working adults2.
  • Apprenticeships
    • IBEW Local 124 and UA Local 533 provide paid on-the-job training plus weekly classes, which is ideal if you need to earn while learning.
  • What to know
    • Purely online trade programs are rare because you need lab and field practice. Choose programs that include hands-on training and industry credentials like EPA 608, AWS welding certs, NCCER modules, or journeyman exam prep4.

Next Steps

Footnotes

  1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2023 (Electricians, HVAC Mechanics, Plumbers, Welders). ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  2. U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator, institutional and program listings for community and technical colleges. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  3. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), Directory of Accredited Institutions. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Section 608 Refrigerant Management Program requirements. ↩ ↩ ↩

  5. Johnson County Contractor Licensing (JCCL), licensing for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing contractors and journeymen in Johnson County, KS. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

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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.