Best Trade Schools in Eagle Pass, Texas (2025 Guide)

Updated September 14, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

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Here are the best schools in Eagle Pass. This guide compares accredited options, lists program lengths and specialties, and explains Texas licensing. It is built for quick decisions. Demand for skilled trades in Texas remains strong, so the right training can lead to steady work and good pay1.

Top Trade Schools in Eagle Pass

The schools below are accredited institutions serving Eagle Pass and the Middle Rio Grande region. Program lengths are typical; check each catalog for current details2.

School Program Length Highlights
Southwest Texas Junior College (SWTJC) – Eagle Pass Campus Certificates: 6–12 months; AAS: ~2 years Public, accredited college. Welding Technology, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Automotive Technology. Day and evening sections. Multiple start dates. Strong local employer ties2.
SWTJC – Del Rio Campus Certificates: 6–12 months; AAS: ~2 years Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Welding, Electrical Technology. Skills labs and hybrid lecture options. Good choice if you commute along US‑2772.
SWTJC – Uvalde (Main Campus) Certificates: 6–18 months; AAS: ~2 years Broader lab capacity. Options often include Diesel Technology, Welding, Industrial Maintenance, and HVAC. Pathways into apprenticeships and industry certs2.
Laredo College – South Campus Level 1–2 Certs: 9–18 months; AAS: ~2 years Public, accredited college. Welding Technology, HVACR, Automotive Technology, Industrial Maintenance. Modern shops and regional employer partnerships2.
St. Philip’s College (Alamo Colleges) – Southwest Campus (San Antonio) Certificates: 1 year; AAS: ~2 years Large trades hub. Welding, HVAC, Electrical Trades, Automotive, Diesel. Strong transfer and apprenticeship connections. SACSCOC‑accredited public college2.
Texas State Technical College (TSTC) – Harlingen + Statewide Online Certificates: 1 year; AAS: ~2 years State technical college. HVAC Technology, Welding, Electrical Lineworker, Industrial Systems. Blended delivery and statewide employer network. SACSCOC‑accredited2.

Tip: SWTJC’s Eagle Pass campus is the most convenient for most residents. If a specific specialty is not offered this term, check the Del Rio or Uvalde sites. The colleges often coordinate schedules so you can finish faster.

Skilled Trades in Demand

  • Electrician

    • Texas employs a large number of electricians, and replacement needs stay high as experienced workers retire1. Entry starts with an apprenticeship. After about four years you can test for your journeyman license. Many electricians move into industrial maintenance or controls.

  • HVAC/R Technician

    • The regional climate makes cooling essential for homes, schools, and retail. HVAC mechanics and installers in Texas continue to see steady openings across residential and commercial work1. EPA Section 608 certification is a must for anyone handling refrigerants3.

  • Welder

    • Welders work in fabrication, pipelines, oilfield services, and transportation equipment. Texas remains a top employer of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers1. Schools here align labs with common certifications so you can test soon after finishing.

  • Plumber

    • Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters remain in demand statewide, with strong construction and maintenance activity1. Texas licenses all plumbers through the state board, and paid apprenticeships are a proven way to earn while you learn.

Explore more trades and career paths in our trade hub: All Trades. For trade-specific details, see Electrician, HVAC, Welding, and Plumbing.

Licensing Requirements in Texas

Here are the basic steps and boards you will work with. Always verify the latest rules on the state sites.

  • Electricians (TDLR)

    • Register as an Apprentice with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).
    • Complete required on‑the‑job experience: typically 8,000 hours under a licensed electrician.
    • Pass the Journeyman Electrician exam. Maintain continuing education each renewal cycle.
    • Advance options: Master Electrician, Electrical Contractor registration with insurance requirements4.

  • HVAC/R (Air Conditioning & Refrigeration)

    • Earn EPA Section 608 certification before working with refrigerants3.
    • Register as an ACR Technician if working under a licensed contractor, or earn experience and test to become a licensed ACR Contractor. Contractor licensure requires experience, exam, and proof of insurance4.
    • Many techs also complete manufacturer training and safety credentials.

  • Plumbing (TSBPE)

    • Register as a Plumber’s Apprentice with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE).
    • Complete experience hours: Tradesman Plumber‑Limited typically requires 4,000 hours; Journeyman typically 8,000 hours.
    • Pass the relevant state exam. For contracting, become a Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) and meet insurance rules5.

  • Welding

    • Texas does not require a state welder license.
    • Employers often want performance qualifications based on recognized codes and credentials taught in college labs. NCCER credentials are widely accepted across Texas contractors and plants6.

Online & Flexible Options

Hands‑on trades still require lab time. That said, area colleges offer flexible paths:

  • SWTJC uses hybrid formats for some lecture courses, with labs on campus in Eagle Pass, Del Rio, or Uvalde. Night and daytime sections help working adults2.
  • Laredo College schedules evening welding and HVAC sections during many terms, with competency checks in the shop2.
  • TSTC delivers some theory online statewide. You complete required labs on campus or during scheduled intensive labs. This can reduce weekly trips while you work2.
  • For entry skills, NCCER Core modules and OSHA‑10 can be completed quickly and stack into college programs6.

If you need to work full‑time, ask each program director about:

  • Hybrid lecture options and weekend labs
  • Credit for prior learning or military experience
  • Short Level 1 certificates you can stack into an AAS

Next Steps

Have questions about licensing or which campus fits your schedule? Start with an advisor at SWTJC in Eagle Pass, then compare lab availability at Del Rio and Uvalde. If your target trade is not offered locally this term, look at Laredo College or St. Philip’s for the nearest alternative.

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational Outlook Handbook and state employment data for Electricians, HVAC Mechanics and Installers, Plumbers, and Welders. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  2. U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator, institutional profiles for Southwest Texas Junior College, Laredo College, St. Philip’s College, and Texas State Technical College. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Section 608 Technician Certification. ↩ ↩

  4. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), Electrician and Air Conditioning & Refrigeration licensing requirements. ↩ ↩

  5. Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE), state plumbing license pathways and exams. ↩

  6. NCCER, standardized craft training and credentialing for construction and industrial trades. ↩ ↩

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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.