Best Trade Schools in Cary, North Carolina (2025 Guide)

Updated October 9, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Table of Contents
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 Cary and the Triangle. This guide lists accredited programs, apprenticeships, and North Carolina licensing steps1.

Top Trade Schools in Cary

Verify current offerings and accreditation23.

School Program Length Highlights
Wake Technical Community College (Raleigh/Cary area) Certificates 6–24 months; AAS ~2 years SACSCOC accredited. HVAC, Welding, Electrical, Plumbing, Automotive, Building Automation; multiple campuses and evening options2.
Durham Technical Community College (Durham) Certificates 6–24 months; AAS ~2 years SACSCOC accredited. HVACR, Welding, Electrical Systems, Biomedical Equipment; flexible schedules2.
IBEW Local 553 – Electrical JATC (Raleigh) 3–5 years Registered apprenticeship; paid OJT + classroom instruction.
UA Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 421 – Training (Triangle region) ~5 years Registered apprenticeship in plumbing/pipefitting/HVACR; paid training and certifications.

Licensing in North Carolina

  • Electrician: NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors — choose classification (Residential/Limited/Intermediate/Unlimited); apply, pass exam, maintain CE.
  • HVAC/Conditioned Air & Refrigeration: NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors (heating/air) and NC State Board of Refrigeration Examiners (commercial refrigeration). EPA 608 required for refrigerants4.
  • Plumbing: NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors — verified experience, exam eligibility, license, and CE.
  • Welding: No state license; employers often require NCCER or AWS certifications5.

Next Steps

  • Compare NC programs: /trade-school/north-carolina/
  • Explore trades and credentials: /trades/
  • National guides: /trade-school/

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

  1. BLS, Raleigh–Cary Metro. bls.gov/oes ↩

  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 ↩

  5. NCCER Credentials. nccer.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.

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.