Best Trade Schools in Cypress, Texas (2025 Guide)

Updated September 14, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Table of Contents
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Here are the best schools in Cypress. This guide compares accredited programs near you, explains Texas licensing, and shows where the jobs are. Use it to choose a school and get licensed faster. Local and national data are sourced from government and accrediting bodies123.

Top Trade Schools in Cypress

Below are credible, accredited options within Cypress or a short commute. Confirm campus offerings and start dates with each school.

School Program Length Highlights
Lone Star College – Cypress Center (Cypress) 6–12 months certificates; 2 years AAS Welding, HVAC/R, machining, electrical technology; stackable credentials; modern labs; regionally accredited community college2.
Houston Community College – Katy & Northwest 9–12 months certificate; 2 years AAS HVAC, welding, electrical, plumbing; evening/weekend options; NCCER-aligned coursework; large employer network2.
MIAT College of Technology (UTI) – Houston 9–24 months HVACR, aviation maintenance, industrial maintenance, wind energy; day/evening cohorts; ACCSC-accredited; career services support3.
Tulsa Welding School & Technology Center – Houston 7–14 months Welding Specialist; Welding with Pipefitting; HVAC & Refrigeration and Electrical Applications available; hands-on labs; ACCSC-accredited3.
IEC Texas Gulf Coast (Houston) 4-year apprenticeship U.S. DOL-registered electrical apprenticeship; earn while you learn; evening classes for working adults; NCCER-aligned curriculum4.
ABC Greater Houston (Associated Builders & Contractors) 1–4 years Apprenticeships in electrical, plumbing, pipefitting, HVAC; NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor; strong contractor network4.
Houston School of Carpentry 8–10 months HVAC Technician and Electrical Technician programs; bilingual support; job placement assistance; ACCSC-accredited3.
Fortis College – Houston North 10–12 months HVAC-R diploma; day and evening schedules; ACCSC-accredited; prep for EPA 608 certification exam3.

Tip: Public community colleges like Lone Star College and HCC are listed in College Navigator and offer low-cost, accredited workforce certificates2. Many private career schools here hold national accreditation through ACCSC3.

Skilled Trades in Demand

Electrician

  • Houston’s industrial, healthcare, and data center growth keeps demand steady for licensed electricians1. Entry roles start as registered apprentices. Pay rises with each license level.

HVAC/R Technician

  • Texas heat means year-round service calls. Technicians with EPA Section 608 and strong troubleshooting skills are hired quickly. Commercial refrigeration adds higher earning potential15.

Welder

  • The Houston area is a national hub for fabrication, energy, and shipyard work. Employers value AWS structural and pipe certifications plus solid layout/blueprint reading1.

Plumber

  • Residential growth around Cypress and ongoing commercial construction support stable work for licensed plumbers and apprentices1. Backflow, medical gas, and commercial experience can boost pay.

National median wages in these trades are strong, and the Houston metro often runs higher due to industrial demand1. Focus on stacking credentials and on-the-job hours to move up fast.

Explore trades in detail:

  • Electrician career path and training options: Electrician
  • HVAC training and Texas licensing: HVAC
  • Welding schools and certifications: Welding
  • Plumbing apprenticeships and licenses: Plumbing

Licensing Requirements in Texas

Electrician (Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation – TDLR)6

  • Register as Electrician Apprentice with TDLR.
  • Residential Wireman: 4,000 hours of on-the-job training + exam.
  • Journeyman Electrician: 8,000 hours under a master electrician + exam.
  • Master Electrician: 2 years as a journeyman + exam.
  • 4 hours of continuing education required for renewals.

HVAC/R (Air Conditioning & Refrigeration – TDLR)6

  • To work under a contractor: register as an ACR Technician with TDLR.
  • To operate your own business: obtain an ACR Contractor License (Class A or B; Environmental Air or Commercial Refrigeration & Process Cooling/Heating). Requires verifiable experience (commonly 48 months under a licensed contractor, with possible education substitutions), passing the state exam, and liability insurance.
  • EPA Section 608 certification is required to handle refrigerants5.

Plumbing (Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners – TSBPE)7

  • Register as Plumber’s Apprentice to start earning hours.
  • Tradesman Plumber-Limited: 4,000 hours + exam.
  • Journeyman Plumber: 8,000 hours + exam.
  • Master Plumber: hold Journeyman for required period (typically 4 years), meet experience criteria, and pass exam.
  • Additional endorsements (Medical Gas, Drain Cleaner) require extra training and testing.

Welding

  • No state license. Employers often require AWS certifications (e.g., D1.1 Structural, ASME Section IX for pipe). OSHA 10/30 safety cards are widely requested4.

Apprenticeship note

  • DOL-registered programs like IEC and ABC help you earn while you learn and log hours required for state licenses. Training follows NCCER standards used by many Texas contractors4.

Online & Flexible Options

  • Hybrid programs: Lone Star College and HCC deliver some lecture and safety coursework online, with required in-person labs for hands-on skills2.
  • Evening cohorts: IEC Texas Gulf Coast and ABC Greater Houston run evening apprenticeship classes so you can work full-time while training4.
  • Test prep: Many schools include EPA 608 prep for HVAC techs. You can also prepare online and test with an approved proctor5.
  • Accelerated diplomas: ACCSC-accredited career schools like MIAT/UTI, TWS, Fortis, and Houston School of Carpentry offer focused, short programs that lead to entry-level roles quickly3.

Pick the format that fits your schedule. Apprenticeships maximize paid experience. Short diplomas can help you switch careers fast. Community colleges offer stackable certificates that build toward an associate degree.

Next Steps

If you already know your trade, go to the program pages above and contact two or three schools. Ask about start dates, required tools, certification prep, and job placement. Then enroll and start logging the hours you need for your Texas license.

Sources

  1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational Outlook and Employment data for electricians, HVAC mechanics and installers, plumbers, and welders. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ and https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  2. U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator institutional profiles for Texas public colleges. https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  3. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), Accredited Institutions Directory. https://www.accsc.org/Directory/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  4. NCCER, Accredited Training Sponsors and Curriculum Standards. https://www.nccer.org/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  5. U.S. EPA, Section 608 Technician Certification. https://www.epa.gov/section608 ↩ ↩ ↩

  6. Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR), Electrician and Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Licensing. https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/ ↩ ↩

  7. Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE), Licensing and Examination. https://tsbpe.texas.gov/ ↩

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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.