Best Trade Schools in St. Paul, Minnesota (2025 Guide)

Updated October 9, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Table of Contents
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Here are the best schools in St. Paul. This guide covers accredited programs, apprenticeships, and Minnesota licensing basics. The Twin Cities metro supports strong demand for electricians, HVAC techs, welders, and plumbers1.

Top Trade Schools in St. Paul

Programs listed serve St. Paul and the broader Twin Cities. Verify current offerings, accreditation, and schedules23.

School Program Length Highlights
Saint Paul College Certificates 6–12 months; AAS ~2 years HLC accredited. HVAC/R, Welding, Electrical Construction, Manufacturing, Automotive. Hands-on labs and evening options2.
Dakota County Technical College (Rosemount, regional) Certificates/Diplomas 6–18 months; AAS ~2 years HLC accredited. HVAC, Electrical Construction, Welding; strong employer ties2.
IBEW Local 110 – Electrical JATC (St. Paul) 3–5 years Registered apprenticeship for Inside Wireman/Residential. Paid OJT + classroom instruction; excellent wage progression.
UA Plumbers Local 34 – Training (St. Paul) ~5 years Registered apprenticeship in plumbing/pipefitting/HVACR. Earn while you learn with comprehensive shop training.

Skilled Trades in Demand

  • Electrician: New construction and building retrofits drive hiring. Apprenticeships lead to journeyperson status and contractor paths1.
  • HVAC/R: Four-season service demand. EPA 608 is required for refrigerants4. Controls and building automation skills are a plus.
  • Welding: Fabrication and structural roles in construction and manufacturing. Multi-process quals (SMAW/GMAW/GTAW) improve mobility1.
  • Plumbing: Residential/commercial service and TI work. Apprenticeship is the standard path to licensing.

Licensing in Minnesota

Minnesota regulates Electrical and Plumbing through state boards. Mechanical/HVAC contracting may be locally regulated.

  • Electrical: Apprentice → Journeyman/Master via documented hours and exams. Contractors require business registration and insurance.
  • Plumbing: Apprentice → Journeyman/Master with verified hours and state exams. Local permits may require additional registrations.
  • HVAC/R: EPA 608 is required for refrigerants4. Local jurisdictions often register mechanical contractors.
  • Welding: No state license; employers require performance qualifications.

Online & Flexible Options

  • Hybrid community college programs for theory + on-campus labs.
  • Evening/weekend cohorts at colleges and apprenticeship centers.
  • Short credentials (OSHA-10/30, EPA 608) that stack with longer programs.

Next Steps

  • Compare statewide options: /trade-school/minnesota/
  • Explore careers and credentials: /trades/
  • National guides and hub: /trade-school/

Tour labs, confirm accreditation, and ask how training maps to state and local licensing.

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook (Electricians, HVAC/R, Plumbers, Welders). bls.gov/ooh ↩ ↩ ↩

  2. U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator. nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator ↩ ↩ ↩

  3. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), Directory. accsc.org ↩

  4. U.S. EPA, Section 608 Technician Certification. epa.gov/section608 ↩ ↩

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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.