Best Trade Schools in Jackson, Mississippi (2025 Guide)

Updated September 14, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Disclaimer: This article is for education only, not professional advice. Always verify details with official sources. Some links, forms, or listings are sponsored or paid, which may affect their placement. We may earn from them. Read our full Disclaimer.

Here are the best schools in Jackson. This page compares accredited programs, shows Mississippi licensing steps, and points you to growing trades in the Jackson metro. Use it to shortlist programs and plan your path into a skilled career in 2025.

Top Trade Schools in Jackson

All schools below are accredited or state-recognized. Always confirm start dates and admission requirements with the campus.

School	Program Length	Highlights
Hinds Community College – Jackson Campus (Nursing/Allied Health Center)	9–24 months (certificate); 2 years (AAS)	Practical Nursing, Associate Degree Nursing, Respiratory Care (CoARC), Surgical Technology (CAAHEP). Clinicals with Jackson-area hospitals. Institutionally accredited by SACSCOC¹.
Hinds Community College – Jackson Campus (Academic/Technical Center)	9–24 months (CTE certificates); 2 years (AAS)	HVAC/R, Welding Technology, Electrical Technology, Automotive, Industrial Maintenance. Hands-on labs, stackable credentials. SACSCOC accredited¹.
Holmes Community College – Ridgeland Campus	9–24 months; 2 years	HVAC/R, Practical Nursing, EMT/Paramedic, Information Systems, Automotive-related programs. Flexible schedules, strong transfer and workforce options. SACSCOC accredited¹.
Delta Technical College – Ridgeland	9–18 months (diplomas); 4–6 weeks (CDL)	HVAC/R, Welding, Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, Professional Truck Driving. ACCSC accredited. Day and evening cohorts with job placement support².
Central Mississippi Electrical JATC (IBEW Local 480) – Jackson	4–5 years	Paid Inside Wireman apprenticeship combining classroom and on‑the‑job training. DOL-registered. Prepares for contractor licensing exams and industry certifications.
Mississippi Construction Education Foundation (MCEF) – Pearl	8–12 months (part-time)	NCCER-accredited craft training in Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, Carpentry, and Welding. Evening classes for working adults. Employer network and exam prep.
Paul Mitchell The School Jackson – Ridgeland	About 1 year (Cosmetology)	Cosmetology and instructor training. NACCAS accredited. State Board exam preparation with salon-floor experience.
Hinds Community College – Commercial Truck Driving	6–8 weeks	Class A CDL training aligned to FMCSA ELDT rules, with third-party testing on campus. SACSCOC accredited institution¹.

Not sure how to evaluate programs? Start with our hub: Trade Schools and the Mississippi state page: Trade Schools in Mississippi.

Skilled Trades in Demand

Electrician

New construction, facility upgrades, and data infrastructure keep electricians busy across the Jackson metro. The field offers steady, well-paid work with strong career ladders into foreman, estimator, and contractor roles³. Apprenticeships like IBEW Local 480 provide paid training while you earn credentials.

HVAC/R Technician

Jackson’s heat and humidity mean year-round service calls. HVAC techs with EPA 608 and solid troubleshooting skills can move quickly from entry-level to lead roles or start a small service business. National outlook is solid, with consistent replacement needs each year³. Explore the field: HVAC.

Welder

Fabrication, construction, and industrial maintenance employers in central Mississippi value welders who hold current AWS or NCCER credentials and can read blueprints. Multi-process proficiency (SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW) opens the most doors³. Learn more: Welding.

Plumber

Service, remodel, and light commercial projects require skilled plumbers. Many techs move into contracting after building experience and passing state exams. Strong problem-solving and customer skills help you advance³. Explore the path: Plumbing.

Looking at other paths? See Electrician, CDL/Truck Driving, and Cosmetology.

Licensing Requirements in Mississippi

Mississippi licenses contractors at the state level. Some cities also issue journeyman or master cards. Always verify with the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) and your local building department.

Electrical

Training: Complete a 4–5 year apprenticeship (IBEW JATC or NCCER/MCEF) or equivalent field experience.
Contractor license: Required by MSBOC to contract electrical work at residential projects of 0,000+ or commercial projects of 0,000+ (labor and materials)⁴.
Exams: Trade exam and Law & Business exam (PSI). Provide experience verification, financials, and insurance per MSBOC rules⁴.
Local cards: Some jurisdictions require journeyman/master tests. Check the City of Jackson permitting office.

HVAC/Mechanical

Certification: EPA Section 608 required to handle refrigerants (Type I/II/Universal)⁵.
Contractor license: MSBOC Mechanical/HVAC classification needed for projects at or above the same thresholds (0,000 residential / 0,000 commercial)⁴.
Exams: Mechanical trade plus Law & Business (PSI). Document experience and insurance.

Plumbing

Training: Apprenticeship or verified field experience.
Contractor license: MSBOC Plumbing classification for projects meeting state thresholds⁴.
Local cards: Some cities issue journeyman/master plumber credentials. Confirm local requirements before you pull permits.

Welding

No state license. Employers and owners typically require AWS (e.g., D1.1 structural) or ASME process tests. NCCER credentials are widely recognized by industrial contractors⁶.

Cosmetology

Board: Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology.
Requirements: Complete an approved program (typically 1,500 hours), pass written and practical exams, and apply for your license. Instructor licenses require additional hours and experience.

CDL (Truck Driving)

Steps: Get a Commercial Learner’s Permit, complete FMCSA Entry-Level Driver Training with an approved provider, pass skills tests, and obtain a DOT medical card.

Note: License scopes, fees, and thresholds can change. Review the latest rules with MSBOC and your local jurisdiction before applying⁴.

Online & Flexible Options

Community colleges: Hinds and Holmes offer hybrid formats for some general education and theory courses, with required in-person labs for hands-on skills¹.
Accelerated evening tracks: MCEF’s NCCER craft classes in Pearl run after work, a good fit for career changers.
Industry credentials: Study resources for EPA 608, OSHA 10/30, and code updates are often available online. Practical assessments still happen in person⁵⁶.
Healthcare programs: Expect limited online options due to clinical requirements; most allied health training requires on-site labs and clinical rotations.

If you need scheduling flexibility, ask each school about evening/weekend cohorts, hybrid delivery, and multiple start dates.

Next Steps

Compare programs and plan your budget at the Trade Schools hub and the Mississippi state page.
Read our quick guides: How to Choose a Trade School and Financial Aid for Trade School.
Explore careers: Electrician, HVAC, Welding, Plumbing, CDL, Cosmetology, and more on the Trades hub.

Have your shortlist? Visit campuses, meet instructors, and ask about placement partnerships. Then apply and get started.

U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator institutional profiles (Hinds CC, Holmes CC). https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) directory; Delta Technical College accreditation. https://www.accsc.org/ ↩
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook and employment projections. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) – license classifications, thresholds, and exams. https://www.msboc.us/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
U.S. EPA Section 608 Technician Certification. https://www.epa.gov/section608 ↩ ↩
NCCER – craft training and credentials recognized by contractors. https://www.nccer.org/ ↩ ↩

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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.