Best Trade Schools in Elizabeth, New Jersey (2025 Guide)

Updated October 9, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Table of Contents
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Here are the best schools in Elizabeth. This guide lists accredited programs, apprenticeships, and New Jersey licensing steps across the NY–NJ metro1.

Top Trade Schools in Elizabeth

Verify current offerings, accreditation, and schedules23.

School Program Length Highlights
Union College of Union County (Cranford, Elizabeth campus) Certificates 6–12 months; AAS ~2 years MSCHE accredited. Workforce training and technical programs with employer ties2.
Lincoln Tech – Union 9–15 months ACCSC accredited3. HVACR and Electrical programs with EPA 608 prep and day/evening schedules.
UTI – Bloomfield 9–18 months ACCSC accredited3. Automotive/Diesel programs with manufacturer-aligned training and career services.
Hudson Technical – Adult & Continuing Education (Secaucus) 6–12+ months State-approved adult programs in trades and healthcare. Evening options for working adults.

Licensing Requirements in New Jersey

  • Electrical Contractors: Apprenticeship/experience + exam + business permit to contract4.
  • HVACR Contractors: Apprenticeship/education + exam; EPA 608 required56.
  • Plumbers: Apprenticeship → journeyperson → master exam + business permit7.
  • Welding: No state license; employers require performance certifications; NCCER is common8.

Next Steps

  • Compare statewide programs: /trade-school/new-jersey/
  • Explore trades and credentials: /trades/
  • National guides: /trade-school/

Ask each school how programs map to New Jersey licensing and business permit requirements.

  1. BLS, NY–Newark–Jersey City metro employment. bls.gov/oes ↩

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

  3. ACCSC Directory. accsc.org/schools/directory/ ↩ ↩ ↩

  4. NJ Electrical Contractors Board. njconsumeraffairs.gov/elec ↩

  5. NJ HVACR Contractors Board. njconsumeraffairs.gov/hvacr ↩

  6. U.S. EPA, Section 608. epa.gov/section608 ↩

  7. NJ Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers. njconsumeraffairs.gov/plu ↩

  8. NCCER Credentials. nccer.org/credentialing/ ↩

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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.