Here are the best schools in Baton Rouge North. Use this guide to compare accredited programs, see which trades are hiring, and learn Louisiana licensing steps. It is built for career changers and high school grads who want fast, job-ready training.
Compare Trade Schools Near Baton Rouge North, Louisiana
These Baton Rouge-area schools offer accredited certificates, diplomas, and associate programs close to North Baton Rouge neighborhoods.
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 North, 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 North, 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 North
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 North 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).
Contractors, plants, and commercial projects across the Mississippi River industrial corridor keep demand strong. Electricians earn steady wages and a path to owning a business after licensing1. Many start through an apprenticeship and move into industrial or instrumentation roles.
HVAC/R Technician
Louisiana’s climate creates year-round service work. Technicians with EPA Section 608 and solid troubleshooting skills can move quickly into lead tech or estimator roles. Employers value grads who can handle residential change-outs and light commercial service1.
Welder
Fabrication shops, shipyards, and petrochemical maintenance crews hire welders with certs in SMAW, GMAW, and GTAW. NCCER or performance-based AWS codes help you qualify for shutdowns and long-term plant work12.
Plumber
Licensed plumbers are needed for commercial buildouts, hospital retrofits, and residential service. Apprenticeships in the Baton Rouge area feed directly into Journeyman testing through the State Plumbing Board of Louisiana13.
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.
Journeyman and Master: Issued by local jurisdictions in Louisiana. Common path is 4 years of documented experience or an apprenticeship, then a local exam. Check parish or city requirements where you plan to work. Many employers accept NCCER Electrical Level credentials as proof of training2.
Electrical Contractor (statewide): Required to bid or pull permits for electrical work at or above state thresholds. Apply with the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC). Steps include application, experience verification, trade exam, and Business & Law exam4.
HVAC/R
EPA Section 608: Required for anyone who services or disposes of refrigerant systems. Take and pass the EPA-approved exam (Type I, II, III, or Universal)5.
Mechanical Contractor: For HVAC projects at or above state thresholds, you need a Mechanical Work (Statewide) license from LSLBC. Pass trade and Business & Law exams and meet insurance requirements4.
Plumbing
Apprentice: Register with the State Plumbing Board of Louisiana (SPBLA) while you train on the job and in class3.
Journeyman: Complete 4 years (usually 8,000 hours) of documented experience and approved classroom training, then pass the SPBLA Journeyman exam3.
Master Plumber: After earning Journeyman, meet experience requirements and pass the Master exam. For contracting, also follow LSLBC rules for business licensing34.
Welding
No state license. Employers require performance qualifications to a code or standard. NCCER welding credentials are widely accepted across Louisiana contractors and industrial sites2. Schools often host employer-witnessed bend tests.
Commercial Driving (CDL)
Louisiana follows FMCSA Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rules. Complete theory and behind-the-wheel training with a registered provider, then pass the state skills test with the OMV6.
Helpful notes
Contractor license thresholds and classifications are set by LSLBC. Always verify the scope and dollar thresholds before bidding work4.
Apprenticeships registered with the Louisiana Workforce Commission and NCCER credentials help document experience for local and state licensing2.
Online & Flexible Options
Hybrid technical training: Schools like ITI, Blue Cliff, Unitech, and MTC blend online theory with scheduled labs, so you can work while training.
Evening and weekend labs: Many programs offer alternate schedules for working adults. Ask admissions about day vs night cohorts.
Short credentials first: Earn stackable certificates such as OSHA 10, CPR, EPA 608, or NCCER Core to qualify for entry-level work while finishing a longer diploma52.
Apprenticeship: ABC Pelican’s earn-while-you-learn model reduces out-of-pocket costs and gives you paid experience tied to NCCER levels and state licensing paths2.
CDL: Diesel Driving Academy provides ELDT-compliant theory online and road training on campus to prepare for the Louisiana skills test6.
Next Steps
Compare schools and request info: Start at our state hub for more options across Louisiana: Louisiana Trade Schools.
Explore trades, pay, and certifications: Visit the Trades Hub to see day-to-day work and credential paths.
Read step-by-step guides: See our Guides for admissions checklists, financial aid, and exam prep.
Baton Rouge North has strong employers, from contractors to refineries. Pick a program that matches your goals, get the right credentials, and step into steady, well-paid work.
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, Occupational Outlook Handbook, job outlook and wages for Electricians, HVAC/R Technicians, Plumbers, and Welders. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
