Best Trade Schools in Nacogdoches, Texas (2025 Guide)

Updated September 14, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

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Here are the best schools in Nacogdoches. This guide lists accredited options close to home, the trades in demand, and Texas licensing steps. It’s written for high school grads and career changers. Electricians, HVAC techs, welders, and plumbers continue to see steady demand in Texas1.

Top Trade Schools in Nacogdoches

Below are accredited schools in or near Nacogdoches with strong hands-on programs. Program lengths are typical; check each school for current details2.

School Program Length Highlights
Angelina College (Lufkin) Certificates: ~6–12 months; AAS: ~2 years Closest full-service technical college to Nacogdoches; HVAC, Welding, Automotive, Electrical, Industrial Maintenance, Health Sciences; daytime/evening options; modern labs; institutional accreditation: SACSCOC2
Texas State Technical College – Marshall Certificates: ~1 year; AAS: ~2 years Focused on high-demand trades; Diesel Equipment, HVAC, Welding, Electrical Lineworker, Industrial Systems; strong employer ties; SACSCOC accredited2
Panola College (Carthage & Shelby College Center in Center) Certificates: ~1 year; AAS: ~2 years Welding, Petroleum/Industrial Technology, Health Sciences, Cosmetology; small class sizes; multiple East Texas sites; SACSCOC accredited2
Tyler Junior College (Tyler) Certificates: ~1 year; AAS: ~2 years HVAC-R, Welding, Automotive Technology, Electrical/Electronics, Industrial Maintenance; extensive labs; SACSCOC accredited2
Kilgore College (Kilgore) Certificates: ~1 year; AAS: ~2 years Instrumentation & Electrical, Process Operations, Welding, Industrial Maintenance; employer partnerships in East Texas industry; SACSCOC accredited2
Northeast Texas Community College (Mount Pleasant) Certificates: ~1 year; AAS: ~2 years Welding, Industrial Technology, HVAC-related coursework, Allied Health; rural-serving campus; SACSCOC accredited2

Tip: Visit each campus, ask to tour labs, and confirm schedules that fit work and family life. For more options statewide, see the Texas hub: Trade Schools in Texas. Or browse all trades: Trades Hub.

Skilled Trades in Demand

  • Electrician

    • New construction, plant maintenance, and utilities keep demand steady across East Texas1. Many start as apprentices and move up with experience. Electricians often work full-time with overtime during peak construction. See career details: Electrician.

  • HVAC/R Technician

    • Texas heat drives year-round service calls for air conditioning and refrigeration. Employers value EPA 608 certification and hands-on troubleshooting skills1. Learn how to get licensed: HVAC.

  • Welder

    • Manufacturing, energy, and construction in the Piney Woods region rely on welders. Multi-process skills (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW) help you move into higher-paid roles and fabrication work1. Explore the trade: Welding.

  • Plumber

    • Residential and commercial construction continue to support plumbing careers. Texas licensing is tiered and rewards experience with higher responsibility and pay1. See pathways: Plumbing.

These careers pay solid wages relative to short training timelines and offer clear advancement paths from helper to journeyman and beyond1.

Licensing Requirements in Texas

Getting licensed in Texas is straightforward if you follow the steps and log your hours with approved supervisors.

  • Electricians (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation)

    • Register as an Apprentice with TDLR3.
    • Log supervised experience. Common paths:
    • Residential Wireman: 4,000 hours and exam.
    • Journeyman Electrician: 8,000 hours and exam.
    • Master Electrician: additional experience and exam (typically after journeyman)3.
    • Renew annually and complete required continuing education.

  • HVAC/ACR (Air Conditioning and Refrigeration)

    • Get EPA Section 608 certification to handle refrigerants4.
    • Work as a Registered ACR Technician under a licensed contractor (recommended for experience)3.
    • To run your own business, qualify for an Air Conditioning Contractor license (Class A or B) with verified experience (or education plus experience) and pass the state exam3.

  • Plumbers (Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners)

    • Register as a Plumber’s Apprentice with TSBPE5.
    • Tradesman Plumber-Limited: 4,000 hours and exam.
    • Journeyman Plumber: 8,000 hours (total) and exam.
    • Master Plumber: meet experience requirement as a journeyman and pass exam.
    • Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) is required to operate a plumbing business5.

  • Welders

    • No state license is required. Many employers require certifications such as AWS D1.1 structural steel, pipe, or process-specific quals. Schools often prepare you for industry tests.

Before you enroll, confirm your program aligns with Texas licensing and exam prep. Schools listed above provide hands-on training and often embed exam preparation or certification testing in your coursework.

Online & Flexible Options

  • Hybrid classes

    • Many programs at Angelina College, TSTC Marshall, and nearby community colleges offer lecture content online with labs on campus. This helps working adults balance schedules without giving up hands-on practice.

  • Evening and accelerated schedules

    • Welding, HVAC, and electrical labs frequently run evenings or weekends during peak terms. Ask about 8-week mini-mesters and summer blocks for faster completion.

  • Exam prep and microcredentials

    • Look for EPA 608 test scheduling through your HVAC program, OSHA-10/30 safety cards, and campus testing centers. Short workforce certificates can stack toward an AAS degree.

  • Credit for experience

    • If you have military, plant, or field experience, ask about prior-learning assessment or challenge exams. This can shorten time to completion.

If full-time on-campus doesn’t fit, start with general education or safety courses online, then move into lab blocks when your schedule allows.

Next Steps

Have questions about hours, exams, or program choices? Use the school advising offices and state licensing sites linked below.

Sources

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational Outlook Handbook, Electricians, HVAC Mechanics and Installers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, and Welders. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  2. U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator. Institutional profiles for public community and technical colleges in Texas. https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

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

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

  5. Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) – Licensing and exams. 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.