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

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 Texas[^1].

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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.

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 roles[^1].

• 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 refrigerants[^1][^6].

• Welder

  • Fabrication shops, heavy equipment repair, and infrastructure projects use welders daily. Local employers value AWS or NCCER credentials and strong shop safety habits[^1][^8].

• Plumber

  • Licensed plumbers handle residential and commercial systems, remodels, and service calls. Apprenticeship hours lead to higher licenses and pay[^1].

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

Median Salaries for Popular Trades

Median salaries reflect the latest OEWS release; national data shown when state medians are unavailable.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. State data (Texas). Job growth reflects projected U.S. change for each trade.

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)[^4]

  • 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)[^4]

  • 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 handling[^6].

• Plumbing (Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners – TSBPE)[^5]

  • 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 tests[^8].

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

• Electrician careers
• HVAC technician path
• Welding training
• Plumbing careers

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 campus[^2][^3].

• 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 externships[^2][^3].

• 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 degree[^2].

• 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 sponsors[^4][^5].

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 enrolling[^2][^3].

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]: U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator, nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ [^3]: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), Directory of Accredited Institutions, www.accsc.org [^4]: Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR), Electricians and Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, www.tdlr.texas.gov [^5]: Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE), tsbpe.texas.gov [^6]: U.S. EPA, Section 608 Technician Certification, www.epa.gov/section608 [^7]: O*NET OnLine, Career profiles and tasks, www.onetonline.org [^8]: National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), www.nccer.org

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