Best Trade Schools in Edinburg, Texas (2025 Guide)

Updated September 14, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Table of Contents
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Here are the best schools in Edinburg. This guide compares accredited programs, shows which trades are in demand, and explains Texas licensing so you can start a high-paying career faster. All schools listed are accredited or state-recognized programs you can trust12.

Top Trade Schools in Edinburg

Below are strong options in Edinburg and the Rio Grande Valley. Program lengths are typical ranges; check the school catalog for the latest details1.

School Program Length Highlights
South Texas College (STC) – McAllen Certificates: 6–12 months; AAS: ~2 years Region’s public community college; SACSCOC accredited; HVAC-R, Welding, Electrician Technology, Automotive, Diesel, Precision Manufacturing; hands-on labs; dual-credit options1.
Texas State Technical College (TSTC) – Harlingen Certificates: 7–16 months; AAS: ~2 years State technical college; SACSCOC accredited; Welding, HVAC Technology, Automotive, Precision Machining, Industrial Systems; strong employer ties and placement support1.
Southern Careers Institute (SCI) – Pharr Diplomas: 7–12 months COE accredited; programs in HVAC, Electrical Technician, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing and Coding; career services and industry cert prep1.
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute (STVT) – McAllen Diplomas: 9–12 months ACCSC accredited; HVAC & Basic Refrigeration, Automotive Service, Medical Assistant; short-term training aligned to entry-level roles2.
The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) – McAllen Diplomas: 9–12+ months; Some AAS options ABHES accredited via USDE; Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, Limited Medical Radiologic Technologist; hybrid and evening schedules available1.
Rio Grande Valley College (RGV College) – Pharr Diplomas: 9–18+ months ABHES accredited via USDE; Vocational Nursing (LVN), Medical Assistant; strong clinical partnerships and exam prep1.
Valley Grande Institute (VGI) – Weslaco Diplomas: 9–18 months ABHES accredited via USDE; Patient Care Tech, Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy; focused healthcare training1.
Paul Mitchell The School – McAllen Cosmetology: ~10–12 months NACCAS accredited via USDE; Cosmetology operator training; state board prep; salon experience1.

Tip: Visit each school, ask to see the lab spaces, and confirm programmatic accreditations that matter to your trade (for example, HVAC’s EPA 608 exam readiness; welding test booths and cert options; clinical sites for allied health)134.

Skilled Trades in Demand

Electrician

  • Electricians install and maintain electrical systems in homes, businesses, and industry. Demand stays steady because of construction, grid upgrades, and solar integration5. Texas employers value hands-on training, OSHA safety, and aptitude with code and troubleshooting. See career paths and wages: Explore electrician careers.

HVAC

  • HVAC technicians service heating, cooling, and refrigeration. Work is year-round in the Valley’s climate. EPA Section 608 certification is required to handle refrigerants, and many techs pursue state contractor licensure over time53. Learn more: Explore HVAC licensing in Texas.

Welding

  • Welders join and repair metal structures across construction, manufacturing, and energy. Look for schools with ample booth time, multiple processes (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW), and credentials like NCCER to validate skills employers recognize54. Get details: Explore welding careers.

Plumbing

  • Plumbers install and repair water, gas, and drainage systems. Texas uses a clear apprenticeship-to-licensure ladder with strong wages for licensed tradespeople56. See steps: Explore plumbing careers.

Local snapshot: The McAllen–Edinburg–Mission metro shows ongoing demand in construction and building services, supporting steady hiring for electricians, HVAC techs, welders, and plumbers5.

Licensing Requirements in Texas

Electricians (TDLR)7

  • Start as an Electrical Apprentice (register with TDLR).
  • Accumulate required on-the-job hours under a licensed Master Electrician.
    • Residential Wireman: 4,000 hours and pass exam.
    • Journeyman Electrician: 8,000 hours and pass exam.
    • Master Electrician: 12,000 hours under a Master and hold a Journeyman license for at least 2 years; pass exam.
  • Renew with continuing education each year.

HVAC – Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (TDLR)7

  • To work independently, you need an ACR Contractor License (Class A or B; Environmental/Air Conditioning).
  • Qualify via 48 months of practical experience in the past 72 months (or an approved experience/education combination), then pass the state exam.
  • EPA Section 608 certification is required to handle refrigerants3.
  • Many start as registered ACR technicians working under a licensed contractor while they build experience.

Plumbing (TSBPE)6

  • Register as a Plumber’s Apprentice and train under a licensed plumber.
  • Tradesman Plumber-Limited: 4,000 hours of experience and pass exam.
  • Journeyman Plumber: 8,000 hours and pass exam.
  • Master Plumber: hold Journeyman license for the required period and pass exam.
  • Specialty endorsements exist (medical gas, multipurpose residential fire protection).

Welding

  • Texas does not issue a state welder license for general employment. Employers and jurisdictions may require performance qualifications. Schools often align training with NCCER Welding or prepare you to test to relevant structural or pipe codes4.

Cosmetology and Barbering (TDLR)7

  • Complete a state-approved program, submit application, pass written and practical exams, and maintain continuing education for renewal.

Online & Flexible Options

  • Hybrid learning: Many Edinburg-area schools blend online theory with on-campus labs. Examples include CHCP and SCI for allied health and trades support courses, and STC for some academic portions tied to technical programs1.
  • Evening or accelerated schedules: Look for evening labs or accelerated daytime cohorts to fit work schedules. Short-term certificates can help you enter the field and stack into an associate degree later.
  • Industry certifications: Programs often embed cert prep, such as EPA 608 for HVAC, NCCER Welding modules, OSHA 10/30, and various healthcare certifications34.
  • Apprenticeships: For electrical and plumbing, combine paid on-the-job training with related classroom instruction. Ask schools and local contractors about Department of Labor–registered programs or state-recognized pathways58.

Next Steps

If you already know your trade, start with the licensing steps above and contact two or three schools to tour labs and confirm start dates. If you are undecided, visit our Trades Hub to compare job duties, certifications, and wages before you enroll.

  1. U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator institutional profiles, accessed 2025. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  2. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), School Directory, accessed 2025. ↩ ↩

  3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Section 608 Technician Certification, accessed 2025. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  4. National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), credentials and curriculum, accessed 2025. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  5. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational Outlook Handbook and May 2023 OEWS data, accessed 2025. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  6. Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE), Licensing and Registration, accessed 2025. ↩ ↩

  7. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), Electrical; Air Conditioning and Refrigeration; Cosmetology and Barbering, accessed 2025. ↩ ↩ ↩

  8. O*NET OnLine, occupation profiles and task lists, accessed 2025. ↩

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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.