Best Trade Schools in Las Vegas, Nevada (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 Las Vegas. This list focuses on accredited programs that prepare you for high-demand jobs in the valley. You’ll also find Nevada licensing steps for core trades and flexible training options. Electricians, HVAC techs, welders, and plumbers remain solid career choices in the Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise area, with steady job growth projected through 2032¹.

Top Trade Schools in Las Vegas

Below are accredited schools with hands-on training. Program lengths are typical ranges; check each campus for current schedules. Program offerings and accreditation verified via U.S. Department of Education and national accreditors²³.

School	Program Length	Highlights
College of Southern Nevada (CSN) – Charleston, North Las Vegas, Henderson	Certificates: 6–12 months; AAS: ~2 years	Public college; welding, air conditioning technology, automotive, electrical systems, building trades; union-friendly pathways; evening options
Advanced Training Institute (ATI) – Las Vegas	9–12 months	ACCSC accredited; HVAC/R, electrical, automotive; hands-on labs; certification prep (EPA 608, NCCER)
Northwest Career College – Las Vegas	9–15 months	ABHES accredited; medical assistant, dental assistant, pharmacy tech, phlebotomy, massage therapy; career services; day/evening classes
Pima Medical Institute – Las Vegas	9–20 months	ABHES accredited; medical assistant, dental assistant, sterile processing, veterinary assistant; externships with local employers
Las Vegas College – Henderson	9–15 months	ACCSC accredited; medical assisting, dental assisting, medical billing and coding; small class sizes; hybrid options
Asher College – Las Vegas	6–12 months	ACCET accredited; IT support, network, security; pharmacy tech; flexible scheduling; certification-focused
UEI College – Henderson	~10 months	ACCSC accredited; HVAC, automotive technician, medical assistant; accelerated schedules; job placement support
Paul Mitchell The School – Las Vegas	10–14 months (program-dependent)	NACCAS accredited; cosmetology, barbering; state board prep; salon-floor training

Tip: Compare program start dates, externship partners, and credential prep (EPA 608 for HVAC, OSHA-10, NCCER, AWS) when choosing a school.

See all Nevada trade schools

Skilled Trades in Demand

Electrician
- Commercial and residential projects continue across the Strip and suburbs. The BLS projects stable growth for electricians nationwide through 2032¹. Local apprenticeships and journeyman cards are the standard path to high wages. Learn more: Electrician career guide.
HVAC/R Technician
- Extreme heat and rapid construction keep HVAC techs busy in Clark County. Employers value EPA Section 608, clean driving records, and strong troubleshooting skills. Steady job growth expected¹. Explore training: HVAC careers.
Welding and Fabrication
- Structural steel, casinos, entertainment venues, and infrastructure require certified welders. Employers look for AWS D1.1 structural certifications and multi-process ability. Get started: Welding careers.
Plumbing
- Ongoing residential builds, hospitality retrofits, and water-efficiency upgrades support demand. Progress from apprentice to journeyman then contractor for the best pay and independence. Learn the path: Plumbing careers.

Salaries in Las Vegas are competitive with or above national averages in many of these trades, with overtime and union rates lifting total pay on large projects¹.

Licensing Requirements in Nevada

Licensing depends on the trade and whether you work as a journeyman/tech or run your own contracting business. Below are common pathways for Clark County and statewide.

Electrician (Clark County/City of Las Vegas)
- Entry: Enroll in a state-registered apprenticeship or school-based trainee program.
- Experience: Typically 8,000 documented hours (4 years) under a licensed contractor.
- Exam: Pass the local journeyman electrician exam recognized by Clark County/City of Las Vegas (often ICC-based).
- Card: Obtain a Journeyman Electrician Card from the local building department.
- Contractor: To bid jobs as a business, obtain an NSCB C-2 Electrical Contractor license (experience, financials, trade and management exams)⁴⁵.
HVAC/Refrigeration
- Certification: EPA Section 608 required to handle refrigerants⁶.
- Technician: Employer or apprenticeship training; some jurisdictions may require journeyman cards for specific scopes.
- Contractor: NSCB C-21 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning license for business ownership (documented experience and exams)⁴.
Plumbing
- Apprentice: Register and log hours under a licensed contractor.
- Exam: Pass local journeyman plumber exam (ICC-based where applicable).
- Card: Obtain Journeyman Plumber credential from the local building department.
- Contractor: NSCB C-1 (Plumbing and Heating) license for contracting⁴⁵.
Welding
- No state journeyman license. Most employers require performance qualification tests to AWS standards (such as D1.1 for structural) and periodic requalification⁷.
- For pipeline and pressure work, additional ASME/API or UA certifications may apply based on employer/site requirements.
Cosmetology/Barbering
- Complete a state-approved program, pass Nevada written and practical exams, and apply to the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology for licensure.

Always confirm the latest rules with the Nevada State Contractors Board and your local building department, as municipalities administer many journeyman cards in Nevada⁴⁵.

Online & Flexible Options

If you need to work while you train, Las Vegas offers flexible choices:

Hybrid medical, IT, and business programs at ABHES/ACCET-accredited schools (Northwest Career College, Pima Medical Institute, Asher College) blend online theory with on-campus labs.
CSN offers evening and weekend welding, HVAC, and automotive sections, plus general education online.
Many trades include industry certifications you can prep for online: EPA 608, OSHA-10/30, CompTIA (IT), and some ICC trade exams. Skills still require in-person labs or apprenticeships.

Ask schools about:

Evening or weekend cohorts
Externships and paid apprenticeships
Credit for prior learning or employer-sponsored upskilling
Certification exam fees included

Next Steps

Compare programs and request campus tours on the Nevada state hub.
Explore careers and licensing paths on the Trades hub, including Electrician, HVAC, Welding, and Plumbing.
New to vocational training? Start with our Trade School hub and browse how-tos in our Guides.

Footnotes

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational Outlook and wage data, 2023–2032 projections. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator. https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ ↩
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), School Directory. https://www.accsc.org/ ↩
Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB), License Classifications and Requirements. https://www.nscb.nv.gov/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
Clark County Department of Building & Fire Prevention, Trade Cards and Exams. https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/government/departments/building___fire_prevention/ ↩ ↩ ↩
U.S. EPA, Section 608 Technician Certification. https://www.epa.gov/section608 ↩
American Welding Society (AWS), Certifications and Standards. https://www.aws.org/ ↩

Explore Related Topics:

Notice an update we should make?
We strive for accuracy. Contact us here if you see incorrect or outdated info on this page.

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.