Best Trade Schools in New Braunfels, Texas (2025 Guide)

Updated September 14, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

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Here are the best schools in New Braunfels. This guide ranks accredited options close to home, explains Texas licensing steps, and points you to flexible and online programs. Use it to compare programs and pick a training path that fits your goals. Most trades below lead to stable, in-demand jobs across Central Texas1.

Top Trade Schools in New Braunfels

The schools below are accredited and serve New Braunfels students. Program lengths are typical ranges. Verify current offerings and schedules with each school.

School Program Length Highlights
Southern Careers Institute (SCI) – New Braunfels 7–12 months (most diplomas) Career-focused training in HVAC, electrical technician, welding, medical assistant, and business office; fast starts and career services. Accredited by ACCSC2.
Alamo Colleges – Central Texas Technology Center (CTTC), New Braunfels 4–12 months (most certificates) Local Alamo Colleges site offering workforce certificates and CE courses that rotate by demand (examples: welding, industrial maintenance, CNA, phlebotomy). Accreditation via Alamo Colleges (SACSCOC) listed in College Navigator3.
St. Philip’s College – Southwest Campus (San Antonio) 1–2 years (AAS); 4–12 months (certs) Hands-on labs for welding, HVAC, automotive, diesel, machining, and electrical trades; strong employer ties. Regionally accredited (SACSCOC)3.
San Antonio College (Alamo Colleges) 1–2 years (AAS); 1 year (certs) Air Conditioning & Heating (A/C and refrigeration), building trades, and related apprenticeships with local contractors. Regionally accredited (SACSCOC)3.
Pima Medical Institute – San Antonio 9–12 months (certs); 18–24 months (AAS) Healthcare pathways like medical assistant, dental assistant, veterinary assistant, and radiography; day and evening options. Institutionally accredited (see College Navigator)3.
Hallmark University – College of Aeronautics (San Antonio) ~15 months (A&P) FAA-focused Airframe & Powerplant maintenance program; strong aviation employer network at San Antonio Intl. Accredited by ACCSC2.
Concorde Career College – San Antonio 8–20 months Allied health training including dental assistant, surgical technology, medical assistant, and respiratory therapy. Accredited by ACCSC2.
Universal Technical Institute (UTI) – Austin 9–18 months Automotive, diesel, and welding training with manufacturer-aligned curriculum; blended learning schedules. Accredited by ACCSC2.

Accreditations verified via the U.S. Department of Education’s College Navigator and ACCSC public directories32.

Skilled Trades in Demand

  • Electrician

    • New construction, data centers, and advanced manufacturing across the I‑35 corridor keep electricians busy. Apprentices earn while they learn and can advance to journeyman and master roles1.

  • HVAC/R Technician

    • Texas heat, growth in residential construction, and retrofits for efficiency keep HVAC techs in steady demand. EPA 608 certification is required to work with refrigerants14.

  • Welder

    • Fabrication shops, heavy equipment repair, and infrastructure projects use welders daily. Local employers value AWS or NCCER credentials and strong shop safety habits15.

  • Plumber

    • Licensed plumbers handle residential and commercial systems, remodels, and service calls. Apprenticeship hours lead to higher licenses and pay1.

If you’re deciding between trades, compare day-to-day work, licensing steps, and advancement paths in our trade hub: Explore all skilled trades.

Licensing Requirements in Texas

Most hands-on trades in Texas are licensed at the state level. Here are the basics you should know before enrolling.

  • Electricians (Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation – TDLR)6

    • Register as an Electrical Apprentice with TDLR.
    • Accumulate 8,000 hours of supervised experience to qualify for the Journeyman Electrician exam.
    • Pass the state exam and maintain annual continuing education.
    • Master Electrician requires additional experience (typically 12,000 hours total) and time as a Journeyman.

  • HVAC/ACR (Air Conditioning & Refrigeration – TDLR)6

    • Get hands-on experience under a licensed ACR contractor (pathways include 48 months of experience or combinations with approved training).
    • Pass the Texas ACR Contractor exam to work as a contractor; technicians can register and work under a contractor.
    • EPA Section 608 certification is required for refrigerant handling4.

  • Plumbing (Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners – TSBPE)7

    • Register as a Plumber’s Apprentice.
    • Tradesman-Limited license typically needs 4,000 hours; Journeyman requires 8,000 hours under supervision.
    • Pass the required state exams; upgrade to Master and Responsible Master Plumber to contract independently.

  • Welding

    • No state license. Employers often require certifications such as AWS D1.1 structural or NCCER credentials. Schools in this guide prepare you for common industry tests5.

Not sure which license fits your goal? Start with the overviews in our trade pages:

Online & Flexible Options

  • Hybrid learning

    • Many programs blend online theory with on-campus labs. SCI, UTI, and Pima offer online modules for classroom subjects with scheduled hands-on labs on campus32.

  • Evening and accelerated schedules

    • Alamo Colleges (St. Philip’s, San Antonio College) and SCI often run evening or accelerated cohorts for working adults. Ask about term starts, weekend labs, and externships32.

  • Credit for prior learning

    • If you already have military or industry experience, ask about prior learning assessment. Community colleges can award credit toward certificates or an AAS degree3.

  • Apprenticeships

    • For electrician and plumbing, paid apprenticeships are the most direct route to licensure. Pair classroom instruction with supervised work hours logged through TDLR or TSBPE sponsors67.

If you need fully online options, focus on trade-adjacent programs like construction management, safety, or estimating for now, then add short in-person labs or certifications to meet hands-on requirements.

Next Steps

  • Compare Texas schools and requirements: Texas Trade School Hub
  • Browse all trades and pick a path: Skilled Trades Hub
  • Get planning tips and checklists: Career Guides
  • Ready to start visiting campuses?
    • Shortlist 2–3 schools above.
    • Ask about upcoming start dates, lab schedules, externships, and pass rates for any required licenses.
    • Confirm accreditation and state approval for your specific program before enrolling32.

Looking beyond New Braunfels? See more options statewide: All Trade Schools

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational Outlook Handbook, www.bls.gov/ooh/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  2. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), Directory of Accredited Institutions, www.accsc.org ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

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

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

  5. National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), www.nccer.org ↩ ↩

  6. Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR), Electricians and Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, www.tdlr.texas.gov ↩ ↩ ↩

  7. Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE), 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.