Best Trade Schools in Hillsboro, Oregon (2025 Guide)

Updated October 9, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Table of Contents
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Here are the best schools in Hillsboro and Washington County. This guide lists accredited programs, apprenticeships, and Oregon licensing basics1.

Top Trade Schools in Hillsboro

Verify current offerings and accreditation23.

School Program Length Highlights
Portland Community College (Rock Creek) Certificates 6–12 months; AAS ~2 years NWCCU accredited. HVAC, Welding, and construction-related programs; strong labs2.
Clackamas Community College (Oregon City, regional) Certificates 6–12 months; AAS ~2 years NWCCU accredited. Manufacturing, construction, and technical programs; hybrid formats2.
NECA/IBEW Local 48 – Electrical JATC (Portland) 3–5 years Registered electrical apprenticeship; paid OJT + classroom instruction.
UA Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 290 – Training (Tualatin) ~5 years Registered apprenticeship in plumbing/pipefitting/HVACR; paid training and certifications.

Licensing in Oregon

  • Electrical/Plumbing: BCD licenses journeyman/master; CCB licenses contractors.
  • HVAC: EPA 608 required for refrigerants4; CCB for mechanical contractors.
  • Welding: No state license; employers/jurisdictions require performance tests.

Next Steps

  • Compare OR programs: /trade-school/oregon/
  • Explore trades and credentials: /trades/
  • National resources: /trade-school/

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

  1. BLS, Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro 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.