Here are the best schools in Baton Rouge. This guide compares accredited programs, program length, specialties, and Louisiana licensing steps. The Baton Rouge industrial corridor needs skilled workers in electrical, HVAC, welding, and plumbing1. Use this list to pick a practical program and get licensed the right way.
Compare Trade Schools Near Baton Rouge Metro, Louisiana
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.
#1
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
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 Louisiana.
Schools closest to the main population center in Louisiana are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the main population center in Louisiana 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 - Baton Rouge, LA'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 Baton Rouge, LA
Trade
Median annual wage
Radiologic technologists
$63,450
Medical assistants
$36,900
Phlebotomy technicians
$36,120
Nursing assistants
$31,220
Patient care technicians
$31,220
Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Trade Schools in Baton Rouge Metro, Louisiana (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 Baton Rouge Metro, Louisiana (2026 Guide)
School
Median graduate earnings
Baton Rouge General Medical Center School of Nursing & School of Radiologic Technology
$70,852
ITI Technical College
$67,004
Diesel Driving Academy-Baton Rouge
$48,134
Baton Rouge Community College
$45,313
Fortis College-Baton Rouge
$39,556
Louisiana Culinary Institute
$36,043
Cost, Earnings, and Program Length in Baton Rouge Metro
Among the Baton Rouge, LA area’s most-employed trades (BLS QCEW 2024), median annual pay ranges from $31,220 to $63,450 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025); the chart above compares the five with the largest local workforces. Published tuition across the trade-relevant schools serving Baton Rouge Metro ranges from $15,837 to $29,692 per year (IPEDS and College Scorecard); schools that do not publish a rate are marked “Contact school for pricing” in the table below. Typical medical assistant training runs 9-12 months (certificate or diploma) (TradeCareerPath program data).
Industrial sites, refineries, and commercial construction keep demand steady around Baton Rouge. Apprenticeship plus classroom training leads to journeyman, then contractor work. Electricians have solid wages and steady job growth nationally and in Louisiana1.
Start with an electrical apprenticeship or an electrical technology program, then work under a licensed contractor while you log hours. See our electrician overview for training paths and certifications: Electrician.
HVAC/R Technician
Hot, humid summers and large healthcare and campus facilities create year-round HVAC work. Technicians who hold EPA 608 and can service heat pumps, chillers, and controls are especially valuable12.
Look for programs with strong lab time and prep for EPA 608. Learn more about the trade and certifications: HVAC.
Welder
Petrochemical, shipbuilding, fabrication shops, and maintenance turnarounds drive demand. Structural and pipe welding with SMAW, GTAW, and FCAW are common in the corridor. Many employers seek NCCER or AWS certifications3.
Schools with pipe stands, plate booths, and bend testing will help you advance. Explore welding training and credentials: Welding.
Plumber
New construction, industrial facilities, and medical gas systems need licensed plumbers. Louisiana licenses plumbers at the state level; journeyman and master status raise pay and independence4.
Training typically follows an apprenticeship or a community college plumbing program. See career paths: Plumbing.
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.
Who licenses: Electrical contractor licenses are issued by the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC). Journeyman and master electrician licenses are typically issued by local/parish authorities5.
Steps:
Complete an apprenticeship or verified work experience plus classroom hours.
Pass the local journeyman or master exam if required.
For contracting, meet LSLBC requirements (trade exam, business/finance exam, insurance) for Electrical Work or Residential Electrical Contractor, especially for projects at or above state thresholds5.
Maintain any required continuing education locally.
HVAC/R
Who licenses: Louisiana licenses Mechanical Work at the contractor level through LSLBC for jobs at or above state thresholds. Technicians must hold EPA 608 to handle refrigerants; some parishes have journeyman/master mechanical licensing52.
Steps:
Complete an HVAC/R program or apprenticeship and earn EPA 608 certification2.
Work under a licensed mechanical/electrical contractor as required.
For contracting, meet LSLBC requirements for Mechanical Work (trade/business exams, insurance)5.
Plumbers
Who licenses: Louisiana State Plumbing Board (LSPB) licenses Journeyman and Master Plumbers statewide and administers Medical Gas endorsements4.
Steps:
Complete a registered apprenticeship or equivalent training.
Pass the Journeyman Plumber exam; apply to LSPB.
Accrue experience and pass the Master Plumber exam to upgrade.
Add Medical Gas endorsement if your work requires it4.
CDL (Commercial Driving)
Who licenses: Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV)6.
Steps:
Obtain a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP).
Complete Entry-Level Driver Training with an approved provider.
Pass skills testing at OMV and meet medical and background checks6.
Welders
No state welders’ license. Employers commonly require AWS or NCCER performance qualifications and site-specific tests. TWIC cards may be required for some plant or port jobs3.
Always confirm local permit and licensing rules with East Baton Rouge Parish or the relevant parish/city office before you start work.
Online & Flexible Options
Community colleges: BRCC and RPCC offer hybrid options for general education and some theory courses. Lab, shop, and clinical hours remain in person7.
Career colleges: Many Baton Rouge career schools run day and evening cohorts so you can work while training8.
Short credentials: EPA 608 exam prep and NCCER Core modules can be studied online, with in-person proctored exams or performance verifications23.
Apprenticeship: ABC Pelican and the Baton Rouge Electrical JATC schedule evening classroom hours alongside paid daytime work. This is the most flexible path if you need income while training.
Shortlist 2-3 schools above that match your trade. 2) Visit their program pages, confirm accreditation, and ask about lab hours, certifications, and placement. 3) For licensed trades, review the board steps linked here and plan your timeline. If you are still deciding, start with trade overviews: Electrician, HVAC, Welding, Plumbing.
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 Employment and Wage Statistics and Occupational Outlook for construction and maintenance trades, May 2023. ↩︎↩︎↩︎
National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), Accredited Training Sponsor/Center Directory and portable credentials. ↩︎↩︎↩︎
Louisiana State Plumbing Board (LSPB), Journeyman/Master licensing and Medical Gas endorsements. ↩︎↩︎↩︎
Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC), contractor licensing classifications and requirements for Electrical and Mechanical Work. ↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) requirements and testing. ↩︎↩︎
U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator profiles for Baton Rouge Community College and River Parishes Community College. ↩︎
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), Accredited Institutions Directory (e.g., ITI Technical College, Diesel Driving Academy, Blue Cliff College, Medical Training College). ↩︎
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)
