Tennessee’s economy relies on logistics, manufacturing, construction, and healthcare-making it a prime location to launch a career in the skilled trades. Whether you’re in Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, or a rural community, trade schools across the state offer practical training that leads to real jobs.
From HVAC and CDL certifications to electrical, welding, and allied health, Tennessee’s trade programs can get you working in under two years.
Best Trade Schools In Tennessee
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
TCAT, Lincoln Tech, and Chattanooga State are top choices for HVAC, electrical, welding, and healthcare careers.
Are Tennessee community colleges considered trade schools?
Yes. Community colleges like Nashville State, Chattanooga State, and Southwest TN CC offer technical training and certifications in high-demand trades.
What trades are in demand in Tennessee in 2025?
According to the Tennessee Department of Labor and the BLS:
Welders
HVAC Technicians
Electricians
CDL Truck Drivers
Medical Assistants
Automotive and Diesel Techs
Industrial Maintenance Workers
If you’re ready to enter the skilled trades in Tennessee, these accredited programs can help you get trained and certified so you can pursue roles sooner; timelines and outcomes vary by location and job market. Explore your options and take the next step today.
Trade Schools by City in Tennessee
Compare accredited trade schools in 63 Tennessee cities. Each city page lists the closest local schools with tuition, median graduate earnings, and the trades hiring nearby.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
Data
Provider
Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
