Best Trade Schools in McKinney, Texas (2025 Guide)

Updated October 9, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Table of Contents
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Here are the best schools in McKinney and Collin County. This guide lists accredited programs, apprenticeships, and Texas licensing basics1.

Top Trade Schools in McKinney

Verify current offerings and accreditation23.

School Program Length Highlights
Collin College (McKinney/Frisco/Allen) Certificates 6–12 months; AAS ~2 years SACSCOC accredited. HVAC, Welding, Industrial Maintenance, and Automotive; hybrid and evening options2.
Dallas College (regional) Certificates 6–12 months; AAS ~2 years SACSCOC accredited. Construction, HVAC, Welding, Electrical-related programs2.
IBEW Local 20 – Electrical JATC (Dallas) 3–5 years Registered electrical apprenticeship; paid OJT + classroom instruction.
UA Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 100 – Training (Dallas) ~5 years Registered apprenticeship in plumbing/pipefitting/HVACR; paid training and certifications.

Licensing in Texas

  • Electrician: TDLR — Apprentice → Journeyman/Master exams; contractor license to operate.
  • HVAC: ACR Contractor license via TDLR; EPA 608 required4.
  • Plumbing: TSBPE — Apprentice → Tradesman/Journeyman/Master via hours and exams.
  • Welding: No state license; performance tests per employer/project.

Next Steps

  • Compare TX programs: /trade-school/texas/
  • Explore trades and credentials: /trades/
  • National resources: /trade-school/

Tour labs, confirm accreditation, and map training to Texas licensing and apprenticeships.

  1. BLS, Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Metro. bls.gov/oes ↩

  2. U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator. nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator ↩ ↩ ↩

  3. ACCSC Directory. accsc.org ↩

  4. U.S. EPA, Section 608 Technician Certification. epa.gov/section608 ↩

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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.