Best Trade Schools in Albany, New York (2025 Guide)

Updated October 9, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Table of Contents
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Here are the best schools in Albany–Schenectady–Troy. This page highlights accredited programs, apprenticeships, and New York licensing basics1.

Top Trade Schools in Albany

Verify current offerings and accreditation23.

School Program Length Highlights
Hudson Valley Community College (Troy) Certificates 6–12 months; AAS ~2 years MSCHE accredited. HVAC, Welding, Electrical, Automotive; strong labs and employer ties2.
Capital Region BOCES – Adult Education 6–12+ months NYSED-approved adult programs in HVAC, Welding, Electrical, and more; evening options.
IBEW Local 236 – Electrical JATC (Albany) 3–5 years Registered electrical apprenticeship; paid OJT + classroom instruction.
UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 7 – Training (Albany) ~5 years Registered apprenticeship in plumbing/pipefitting/HVACR; paid training and certifications.

Licensing in New York

  • Electrician/Plumber: Local licensing/registration common; verify city/county rules. Typical path: apprenticeship/experience + local exams; business permit for contracting.
  • HVAC: No statewide tech license; EPA 608 required for refrigerants4. Mechanical contractor registration may be required locally.
  • Welding: No statewide license; employer/jurisdiction performance qualifications.

Next Steps

  • Compare NY programs: /trade-school/new-york/
  • Explore trades and credentials: /trades/
  • National school hub: /trade-school/

Tour labs, confirm accreditation, and map training to local licensing and apprenticeships.

  1. BLS, Albany–Schenectady–Troy Metro. bls.gov/oes ↩

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

  3. 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.