Trade Schools in Dallas, Texas

Dallas is one of the best big metros in the country to launch a skilled-trades career. The region combines a high volume of entry-level jobs that do not require a four-year degree, a dense mix of public and private training providers, and strong wages in core trades like HVAC, electrical, welding, diesel, and allied health.

This page is your complete, boots-on-the-ground guide. You will find:

• The fastest training paths that actually lead to jobs
• Accredited schools near Dallas with stand-out programs
• Paid apprenticeships and union training in the area
• Local wages for popular trades and what entry-level pay looks like
• Texas licensing steps you must follow to work legally
• Realistic timelines, costs, and financial-aid options
• A checklist to help you choose the right Dallas program

Quick answer: If you want the shortest path to work, start with an accredited 9 to 12-month program or a registered apprenticeship. If your goal is management or running a contracting business, pair a trade credential with business courses and Texas licensing.

Why Dallas works for trade students

• Abundant non-degree jobs. Dallas, Irving, and Garland regularly rank among the top U.S. cities for entry-level job postings that do not require a bachelor’s degree, and Texas is a national leader by number of trade schools.
• Program density and variety. You can train across automotive and diesel, HVAC, welding, electrical, machining, construction trades, and allied health from multiple providers, including Dallas College, private career schools, and union JATCs.
• Employer demand. Large construction pipelines, logistics, manufacturing, health systems, and data-center growth sustain consistent hiring across skilled trades.

Best Dallas-area trade schools and training options

Below are reputable providers inside Dallas or within a short commute. Always verify current program lengths, tuition, and accreditation on the school’s site before enrolling.

Dallas College (public)

• Where: Multiple campuses — flagship downtown at El Centro, 801 Main St., Dallas
• Good for: Affordable certificates and AAS degrees in HVAC, electrical technology, welding, machining, construction management, IT, and healthcare.
• Why it matters: Regionally accredited, Title IV eligible, strong employer ties, and transfer-friendly.
• Tip: If you want the lowest cost per credit with broad support services, start here, then stack credentials and experience.

Universal Technical Institute — Dallas/Fort Worth (Irving)

• Where: 5151 Regent Blvd., Irving
• Programs: Automotive Technology about 51 weeks, Diesel Technology about 45 weeks, Welding Technology about 36–40 weeks typical nationally.
• Why it matters: Employer-aligned labs, ASE preparation, and accelerated training designed to reach the workforce in under a year.
• Tip: Compare total program cost with Dallas College. If speed-to-work is your priority and you want brand-name employer partners, UTI can be efficient.

Lincoln College of Technology — Grand Prairie

• Where: 2915 Alouette Dr., Grand Prairie
• Programs: Automotive, Collision Repair, Diesel, Electrical/Electronics, HVAC, Machining, Welding with Pipefitting track.
• Why it matters: Hands-on labs with day, afternoon, and evening options. NCCER alignment for welding and pipefitting.

Concorde Career College — Dallas

• Where: 12606 Greenville Ave., Suite 130, Dallas
• Programs: Allied health focus such as medical assistant, dental assistant, respiratory therapy, surgical tech, and physical therapist assistant.
• Why it matters: Healthcare-specific training with local clinical partners. Some programs carry specialized accreditation.

UEI College — Dallas

• Where: 1050 N. Westmoreland Rd., Dallas
• Programs: HVAC, medical assistant, dental assistant, medical billing and insurance coding.
• Why it matters: Newly opened Dallas campus with accelerated morning or evening schedules. Good fit if you need flexible starts.

Remington College — Dallas

• Where: 9451 LBJ Freeway, Suite 200, Dallas
• Programs: HVAC diploma and associate, construction and building maintenance, medical assisting, plus culinary and cybersecurity.
• Why it matters: Nonprofit career school with day or evening formats.

Also consider nearby community colleges in Collin County, Tarrant County, and North Lake or Richland campuses under Dallas College for additional HVAC, welding, and manufacturing offerings.

Paid apprenticeships and union training near Dallas

If you prefer to earn while you learn, look at registered apprenticeships:

• UA Local 100 Plumbers and Pipefitters JATC (Mesquite)
  Pathways in plumbing, pipefitting, HVACR service, and pipe welding. Five-year earn-while-you-learn model that combines on-the-job training with evening class. Typical entry requires age 18, high school diploma or GED, Texas driver’s license, and eligibility to work in the United States.

• North Texas Job Corps
  Construction pre-apprenticeship credentials aligned with United Brotherhood of Carpenters and OSHA safety, plus other construction tracks. Useful on-ramp if you need foundational skills before applying to a full registered apprenticeship.

• Texas Workforce Commission Apprenticeship Finder
  Central place to search for registered programs in electrical, construction, healthcare, and manufacturing across the Dallas region.

Apprenticeship or straight-to-school? If you want immediate income and long-term credentials, apprenticeships are ideal. If you want the fastest classroom path into entry-level work, a 9 to 12-month program can be quicker to complete.

Dallas-area wages for popular trades

Local wages below are Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington MSA averages. Entry-level pay usually tracks the 10th to 25th percentile, while experienced techs trend toward the 75th to 90th percentile. Use this to set realistic expectations when you interview.

Note: Pay varies by overtime, night shifts, union scale, service vs. install, and specialty endorsements.

Texas licensure: what you must do to work legally

Licensing is state-level. Here are the plain-English steps for the most common Dallas trades.

Electrician

1. Register as an apprentice and work under a Texas master electrician.
2. Accumulate 8,000 hours of documented on-the-job training. You may sit for the journeyman exam after 7,000 hours, but full licensure requires 8,000.
3. Pass the Texas journeyman exam and maintain continuing education.

HVAC — Air Conditioning and Refrigeration

• Texas registers technicians and licenses contractors through TDLR.
• To be a registered technician, you must be at least 16 and work for a licensed contractor.
• To become an ACR contractor, you must be at least 18, meet experience requirements, pass the exam, and maintain insurance. Many techs work as registered technicians while accumulating experience and manufacturer training, then sit for the contractor license.

Plumbing

1. Register as a Plumber’s Apprentice and earn hours under a Responsible Master Plumber.
2. Accumulate 8,000 hours in the trade to qualify for Journeyman Plumber.
3. Apply, fingerprint, and pass the journeyman exam.
4. After additional experience as a journeyman, you may test for Master Plumber. The state announced a reduction in the journeyman-to-master experience requirement from four years to two effective September 1, 2025.

Nursing — LVN

• Complete a state-approved vocational nursing program.
• Pass the NCLEX-PN and apply to the Texas Board of Nursing for LVN licensure.
• LVNs must work under appropriate supervision and renew on schedule with CE.

How long will training take in Dallas?

• Fastest routes

  • Welding diploma: about 9 months
  • Diesel technology diploma: about 45 weeks
  • Automotive technology diploma: about 51 weeks
  • Medical assistant: about 9 months
  • HVAC technician diploma: 9 to 12 months

• Apprenticeships

  • Typically 3 to 5 years, paid, with progressive wage increases and classroom training at night.

• Community college AAS

  • 18 to 24 months. Lowest tuition, best for stacking credentials and future supervisory roles.

Financial aid and ways to reduce cost

Most public colleges and many private career schools in Dallas are Title IV eligible. Common options:

• Federal Pell Grant for eligible students in approved degree and certificate programs
• Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG) at public colleges
• WIOA training funds through Workforce Solutions boards for eligible jobseekers
• Employer tuition assistance and paid apprenticeships that cover tuition
• Tools and exam voucher bundles offered by some programs

Pro tips:

• File the FAFSA as early as possible.
• Ask each school’s financial-aid office if your specific certificate is Pell-eligible.
• If you do not have a high school diploma or GED, ask about Ability-to-Benefit career pathway options at public colleges.
• Check whether your program appears on Texas’s Eligible Training Provider lists for WIOA.

How to choose the right Dallas trade program

Use this checklist to compare shortlists:

1. Accreditation and approvals

   • Public colleges should have regional accreditation.
   • Career schools should have a recognized national accreditor such as ACCSC or ACCET.
   • Healthcare programs often carry specialized accreditations.

2. Licensing alignment

   • For state-licensed trades, confirm your coursework and hours align with TDLR or TSBPE requirements and that the school prepares you for the specific exam.

3. Hands-on hours

   • Ask how many lab hours you will get each week, what equipment is in the lab, and whether you will practice troubleshooting, not just assembly.

4. Placement and employer partnerships

   • Request recent placement data, typical starting wages, and a list of local hiring partners. Visit career-services and ask about job fairs.

5. Scheduling and support

   • Confirm day versus evening options, externships, tutoring, manufacturer certs, OSHA safety, and tool discounts.

6. Total cost of attendance

   • Compare tuition, fees, tools, certification exams, and uniforms. Include commuting and parking. Public college may be less expensive per credit, while a private career school may be faster to completion.

Getting hired in Dallas: first steps that work

• Stack quick industry certs while in school: OSHA-10, EPA 608 for HVAC, NCCER welding, basic CPR for healthcare.
• Build a simple portfolio: photos of projects and lab work, weld coupons, diagnostic reports, or wiring diagrams you completed.
• Targeted resume: emphasize lab competencies, specific tools and software, and any customer-facing experience.
• Start as a helper: electrical or HVAC helper roles are common on-ramps while you log hours toward state licensure.
• Use local channels: set alerts at WorkInTexas and with Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas; follow union halls and contractor associations for calls.

Frequently asked questions

Is Dallas better for apprenticeships or school-first?
You can succeed either way. If you need income immediately and want union benefits, the UA Local 100 JATC is a great path. If you want the fastest classroom route to an entry-level job, a 9 to 12-month program in welding, HVAC, automotive, or medical assisting moves you to the workforce quickly.

Which Dallas trade pays the most without a degree?
Among high-demand roles, electricians, plumbers, and diesel mechanics often lead average pay, with overtime pushing earnings higher. Specialized welding and industrial maintenance can also pay well.

How soon can I start?
Career schools offer monthly starts. Dallas College and other public colleges follow semester calendars with multiple starts per year. Apprenticeships post application windows; check early.

Can I transfer from a private career school to Dallas College later?
Some credits may transfer, but not all. If you want an AAS or plan to move into management later, ask about articulation agreements and consider starting at Dallas College.

Where to study — quick list and links

• Dallas College — HVAC, electrical, welding, machining, IT, healthcare
• UTI Dallas/Fort Worth (Irving) — Automotive, Diesel, Welding
• Lincoln Tech (Grand Prairie) — Welding with pipefitting, HVAC, electrical, diesel, automotive
• Concorde Career College (Dallas) — Medical assistant, surgical tech, respiratory therapy, PTA
• UEI College (Dallas) — HVAC, medical assistant, dental assistant
• Remington College (Dallas) — HVAC diploma and associate, construction and building maintenance, medical assisting

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• Trade Schools in Garland, Texas
• Trade Schools in Houston, Texas