Best Trade Schools in Lake Charles, Louisiana (2025 Guide)

Updated September 14, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

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Here are the best schools in Lake Charles. Use this guide to compare accredited programs, see which trades are hiring, and understand Louisiana licensing steps. Lake Charles serves Gulf Coast industry, so skilled workers are needed in electrical, HVAC, welding, and plumbing¹.

Top Trade Schools in Lake Charles

The schools below are accredited or state approved. Program lengths are typical ranges. Always confirm current details with the school and College Navigator².

School	Program Length	Highlights
SOWELA Technical Community College (Lake Charles)	6 weeks to 24 months	SACSCOC accredited. FAA Part 147 Aviation Maintenance. Process Technology, Welding, Practical Nursing, HVAC-R, Instrumentation. Strong refinery and LNG employer ties. Day and evening options.
SOWELA – Morgan Smith Site (Jennings, near Lake Charles)	9 to 24 months	Part of SOWELA. Welding, Practical Nursing, Industrial Instrumentation, Machine Tool. Small campus with hands-on labs. SACSCOC accreditation via SOWELA.
Unitech Training Academy – Lake Charles	9 to 12 months	COE accredited. Medical Assistant, Dental Assisting, EKG/Phlebotomy, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Billing. Day and evening schedules. Certification-focused labs.
Stage One – The Hair School (Lake Charles)	12 to 18 months	NACCAS accredited. 1,500-hour cosmetology program. Salon floor experience and state board prep.
National EMS Academy – Lake Charles	2 to 4 months (EMT); ~12 months (Paramedic)	State-approved EMS training. Paramedic program holds CAAHEP accreditation via CoAEMSP. Clinicals with Acadian Ambulance. NREMT exam prep.
UA Local 106 Plumbers & Steamfitters JATC (Lake Charles)	4 to 5 years	Registered apprenticeship. Earn while you learn. Heavy industrial piping, welding, and instrumentation. NCCER modules and OSHA credentials.
IBEW Local 861 NECA JATC (Lake Charles)	4 to 5 years	Registered inside wireman apprenticeship. Paid on-the-job training plus classroom. Journeyman card on completion.

Tip: Compare graduation rates, retention, and program outcomes on College Navigator before you enroll².

Skilled Trades in Demand

Electrician Industrial projects, LNG terminals, and refineries drive steady demand for electricians across Louisiana. Retirements also create openings. Electricians handle installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting in plants and commercial buildings¹. Apprenticeships in Lake Charles help you earn while you learn and prepare for journeyman-level work.

HVAC Southwest Louisiana’s hot, humid climate and frequent rebuild cycles after storms keep HVAC-R technicians busy. Employers value EPA 608 certification for refrigerant handling and hands-on training in diagnostics and controls. Service techs can move into lead installer or contractor roles with experience¹.

Welding Refinery turnarounds, fabrication shops, shipyards, and pipeline work keep welders in demand around the Calcasieu Ship Channel. Training that includes SMAW, FCAW, GMAW, and GTAW with AWS or NCCER credentials will set you up for structural and pipe welding jobs¹³.

Plumbing Commercial projects, healthcare facilities, and ongoing residential growth support demand for licensed plumbers in the region. Louisiana licenses plumbers at the state level. Apprentices complete classroom and paid on-the-job training, then test for journeyman and master status⁴.

Licensing Requirements in Louisiana

Electrical

Louisiana does not issue a statewide journeyman or master electrician license. Local jurisdictions set requirements. Check with the City of Lake Charles and Calcasieu Parish permit offices for journeyman or master rules and exams.
To operate as an electrical contractor on projects at or above state thresholds, you need a license from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC). Choose the Electrical Work classification, meet experience requirements, and pass the trade and Business and Law exams⁵.
Pull local permits where required and maintain liability insurance per LSLBC rules⁵.

HVAC/Mechanical

Technicians are not licensed at the state level, but any contractor performing mechanical, air conditioning, or refrigeration work at or above LSLBC thresholds must hold the proper Mechanical Work classification. Exam and financial requirements apply⁵.
EPA Section 608 certification is required for anyone who services or handles refrigerants⁶.
Local permits and inspections apply on each job.

Plumbing

The State Plumbing Board of Louisiana licenses apprentices, journeymen, and masters.
Steps: register as an apprentice, complete required on-the-job training and related instruction, pass the journeyman exam, gain required experience, then pass the master exam if you plan to supervise work or run a business⁴.
Plumbing contractors also need an LSLBC license for projects at or above thresholds⁵.

Cosmetology

Complete 1,500 hours in a state-approved cosmetology program, pass the NIC theory and practical exams, and apply to the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology for licensure⁷.

EMS (EMT and Paramedic)

Complete a Louisiana Bureau of EMS-approved course, pass the NREMT exam, complete background checks, and apply for state licensure. Paramedic programs must be CAAHEP accredited to sit for the NREMT Paramedic exam⁸.

Welding

No state license for welders. Employers and owners typically require AWS or NCCER performance qualifications to specific codes. Many industrial sites also require a TWIC card³.

General Notes

For any contracting business, verify whether your scope and project size require an LSLBC Residential or Commercial license and register with the Secretary of State if forming an entity⁵.
Always verify current requirements on the official board websites before you test or apply.

Online & Flexible Options

Hybrid programs: SOWELA offers short workforce certificates and some hybrid coursework with hands-on labs on campus. This can shorten your time to a credential while you work.
Day and evening schedules: Schools like Unitech Training Academy provide day and evening tracks so you can train around a job or family schedule.
Apprenticeships: IBEW Local 861 and UA Local 106 pair paid on-the-job training with weekly classroom instruction. You earn wages and benefits while completing a multi-year program.
Online theory, in-person labs: EMT and some HVAC programs use online theory combined with in-person skills labs and clinicals. This format helps career changers transition faster without sacrificing hands-on practice.

If you want a big-picture view of careers before choosing a program, explore our trades hub and compare roles, training time, and certifications:

Trades overview: Explore all trades
HVAC careers and EPA 608: Learn about HVAC
Electrician paths: Become an electrician
Welding credentials: Training for welding
Plumbing apprenticeships: Start in plumbing

Next Steps

Compare schools statewide: Louisiana Trade Schools
Browse all locations: Trade School Directory
Read guides before you enroll:

Lake Charles has strong demand for skilled workers and multiple accredited training options. Pick a program that fits your schedule, confirms employer-required credentials, and aligns with Louisiana licensing rules.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational Outlook and Employment data for construction and extraction, installation and repair occupations. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator. School and program data for accredited institutions. ↩ ↩
NCCER and AWS. National craft training and welding performance qualification standards. ↩ ↩
State Plumbing Board of Louisiana. Apprentice, journeyman, and master licensing requirements. ↩ ↩
Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC). Contractor classifications, exams, and licensing thresholds. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
U.S. EPA, Section 608 Technician Certification for refrigerant handling. ↩
Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology. Licensure requirements and approved schools. ↩
Louisiana Bureau of EMS; National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) and CAAHEP/CoAEMSP accreditation for paramedic programs. ↩

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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.