Best Trade Schools in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2025 Guide)

Updated September 14, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Table of Contents
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Here are the best schools in Baton Rouge. This guide lists accredited programs, flexible options, and Louisiana licensing steps. It is built for high school grads and career changers. We also include demand trends and trusted sources.

Top Trade Schools in Baton Rouge

Below are accredited options in and around Baton Rouge. Program lengths are typical averages. Always confirm current details with the school.

School Program Length Highlights
ITI Technical College (Baton Rouge) 12–24 months ACCSC accredited. Hands-on labs for HVAC/R, electrical technology, instrumentation, drafting, and process operations. Career services and day/evening schedules.12
Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC) 1–2 semesters for Certificates; 2 years for AAS Regionally accredited (SACSCOC). Welding, HVAC, industrial maintenance, non-destructive testing, automotive, EMT, and process technology. Strong industry links.1
River Parishes Community College (Gonzales) 1–2 semesters for Certificates; 2 years for AAS Regionally accredited (SACSCOC). PTEC, instrumentation, welding, HVAC, electrical, and safety programs. Short-term workforce credentials available.1
ABC Pelican Chapter Training Center (Baton Rouge) 2–4 years (apprenticeship, evenings) NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor. Electrical, pipefitting, welding, millwright, and carpentry. Earn NCCER credentials while working. Employer-backed training.3
Diesel Driving Academy (Baton Rouge) 3–20 weeks ACCSC accredited. Class A CDL training with ELDT-aligned curriculum. Skills range, road time, and job placement support.12
Delta College of Arts & Technology (Baton Rouge) 9–18 months COE-accredited institution listed in College Navigator. Practical nursing, medical assistant, dental assistant, and allied health. Day and evening options.1
Unitech Training Academy (Baton Rouge) 9–12 months COE-accredited institution listed in College Navigator. Medical assisting and allied health. Hybrid options for certain courses. Career services included.1
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Baton Rouge 6–12 months (program dependent) NACCAS-accredited school listed in College Navigator. Cosmetology and esthetics with strong salon training and licensure prep.1

Tip: Community colleges offer stackable credentials. Start with a short certificate, then apply credits to an AAS.

Skilled Trades in Demand

Electrician

  • Electricians support industrial plants, construction, and facility maintenance across the Capital Region. National outlook is steady with continued project demand and replacements.4
  • Baton Rouge refineries and chemical plants need industrial electricians comfortable with PLCs and motor controls.

HVAC/R

  • HVAC techs service homes, hospitals, and industrial chillers. Growth is supported by new construction, energy efficiency upgrades, and system retrofits.4
  • EPA Section 608 certification is required to work with refrigerants. Many local employers prefer it for entry roles.

Welding

  • Fabrication shops, shipyards along the river, and industrial contractors hire welders for pipe, structural, and TIG work. Certifications drive pay and mobility.4
  • NCCER and AWS certifications are common employer requirements.

Plumbing

  • Licensed plumbers remain in demand for residential, commercial, and industrial work, including shutdowns and turnarounds.4
  • Louisiana has a statewide journeyman and master plumber license. Apprentices can earn while they learn.

CDL/Truck Driving

  • Baton Rouge logistics and industrial supply chains rely on CDL drivers for regional and local routes. Short training time helps career changers move fast.4

Cosmetology and Esthetics

  • Baton Rouge salons and spas hire licensed stylists and estheticians. Cosmetology hours can be completed in under a year with full-time study.

Explore more careers: Trades Hub

  • Electrician careers and training: Electrician
  • HVAC tech training and licensing: HVAC
  • Welding schools and certifications: Welding
  • Plumbing apprenticeships and licenses: Plumbing
  • CDL training and endorsements: CDL
  • Cosmetology programs and licensing: Cosmetology

Licensing Requirements in Louisiana

Below are high-level steps. Always verify with the state board.

Electrical

  • Worker card: Louisiana does not issue a single statewide journeyman electrician license. Many parishes, including East Baton Rouge, issue journeyman and master cards via local exam and experience verification. Typical path is 4 years (8,000 hours) of experience plus exam.
  • Contractor: Electrical contractors must hold a license from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) for projects at or above state thresholds. Requires trade exam, business exam, and insurance.5

HVAC/R (Mechanical)

  • Technician: EPA Section 608 certification is required to handle refrigerants.6
  • Contractor: Mechanical/HVAC contractors need an LSLBC license to bid or contract above thresholds. Experience, trade and business exams, and insurance are required.5
  • Some local jurisdictions issue journeyman mechanical cards. Check with the city/parish.

Plumbing

  • Apprentice: Register and work under a licensed plumber.
  • Journeyman: Complete an approved apprenticeship or equivalent experience and pass the State Plumbing Board of Louisiana exam.7
  • Master: Hold a journeyman license and meet experience requirements, then pass the master exam. Separate contractor licensing may apply for larger projects.

Welding

  • No statewide welder license. Employers commonly require certifications such as AWS D1.1 or NCCER performance verifications.3
  • Industrial sites may require site-specific qualifications and safety cards.

Cosmetology and Esthetics

  • Cosmetologist: Complete 1,500 hours at an approved school and pass state exams.8
  • Esthetician: Complete 750 hours and pass exams.8
  • Licenses are issued by the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology.

CDL (Commercial Driver’s License)

  • Meet age and DOT medical requirements, get a Commercial Learner’s Permit, complete Entry-Level Driver Training, then pass the skills test at the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles.9

Online & Flexible Options

  • Hybrid trade programs: BRCC and RPCC offer some theory online with in-person labs and internships. This works well for PTEC, industrial safety, and some HVAC coursework.1
  • Fast certificates: Many schools run short modules in welding, electrical helper, CDL, phlebotomy, and medical assisting. These help you enter the field quickly, then ladder up.
  • Night classes: ABC Pelican and several colleges offer evening labs for apprentices and working adults.3
  • Fully online: Purely online works best for non-lab fields like project management, construction safety, or certain medical office tracks. Most skilled trades still require hands-on training and in-person assessments.

Next Steps

  • Compare programs statewide: Louisiana Trade School Hub
  • Browse all trades and career guides: Trades Hub
  • Learn how to choose a program and find aid: Guides
  • Start your shortlist with two community colleges and one private career school. Visit labs, ask about externships, and confirm accreditation and exam pass rates.12

Looking beyond Baton Rouge? See more options here: Trade School Hub

Sources

  1. U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator. https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  2. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), Directory of Accredited Institutions. https://www.accsc.org ↩ ↩ ↩

  3. NCCER, Find an NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor or Center. https://www.nccer.org ↩ ↩ ↩

  4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  5. Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC), Licensing and Classification. https://lslbc.louisiana.gov ↩ ↩

  6. U.S. EPA, Section 608 Technician Certification. https://www.epa.gov/section608 ↩

  7. State Plumbing Board of Louisiana, Licensure and Examinations. https://spbla.com ↩

  8. Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, Licensing Requirements. https://www.lsbc.louisiana.gov ↩ ↩

  9. Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, Commercial Driver’s License. https://www.expresslane.org ↩

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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.