Best Trade Schools in Port Arthur, Texas (2025 Guide)

Updated September 14, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

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Here are the best schools in Port Arthur. This guide focuses on accredited programs, local apprenticeship options, and Texas licensing steps. Port Arthur’s refineries, shipyards, and construction projects keep demand strong for electricians, HVAC techs, welders, and plumbers1.

Top Trade Schools in Port Arthur

School Program Length Highlights
Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Certificates 6–12 months; AAS ~2 years SACSCOC-accredited public college; Process Technology, Instrumentation, Welding, HVAC, CDL, Maritime; day and evening options2
Lamar Institute of Technology (Beaumont) Certificates 1 year; AAS ~2 years SACSCOC-accredited; Electrical Technology, Instrumentation, Process Technology, Welding, HVAC-R, Diesel; hands-on labs2
ABC Southeast Texas Training Center (Nederland) 2–4 years part-time NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor; employer-backed craft training in Electrical, Plumbing, Pipefitting, Millwright; evening classes3
Southeast Texas Electrical JATC (IBEW Local 479, Beaumont) 5-year apprenticeship Earn-while-you-learn inside wireman program; paid OJT with related classroom instruction; prepares for TDLR journeyman requirements
UA Local 195 Plumbers & Pipefitters JATC (Beaumont/Nederland) 4–5 year apprenticeship Registered apprenticeship; plumbing, pipefitting, HVACR service, and welding; strong safety and industrial standards training
Texas Healthtech Institute (Beaumont) 4–12 months diplomas COE-accredited career school; Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, Pharmacy Tech, Nurse Aide; multiple start dates2
Lamar State College Orange (Orange) Certificates 6–12 months; AAS ~2 years SACSCOC-accredited; Welding, Process Tech, Instrumentation, Industrial Systems; close to Port Arthur employers2

Tip: Visit each school’s program page, ask about lab hours, industry certifications included, and employer partners for placement.

Skilled Trades in Demand

Electrician

  • Refineries, chemical plants, and port facilities drive steady demand for industrial and commercial electricians in the Beaumont–Port Arthur metro1. Training that includes conduit bending, motor controls, and NEC code is valuable. Union and merit-shop apprenticeships are both active locally.

HVAC Technician

  • Southeast Texas heat and year-round humidity keep residential and light commercial service busy. Industrial HVACR techs are also needed in plants and marine facilities. Employers look for hands-on troubleshooting and EPA 608 refrigerant certification4.

Welder

  • Structural, pipe, and TIG welders support petrochemical turnarounds, ship repair, and fabrication shops along the ship channel. Certifications aligned to AWS or NCCER standards help you qualify for refinery and contractor sites3.

Plumber

  • New construction, maintenance, and industrial shutdowns fuel plumbing and pipefitting work. Apprenticeship routes lead to Tradesman and Journeyman licensing with strong long-term prospects in the region5.

Licensing Requirements in Texas

Electrician licensing (TDLR)6

  • Register as an Electrical Apprentice with TDLR.
  • Accumulate supervised experience:
    • Residential Wireman: 4,000 hours OJT.
    • Journeyman Electrician: 8,000 hours OJT under a Master.
    • Master Electrician: Journeyman license + 12,000 hours total OJT.
  • Apply and pass the TDLR exam for your license type.
  • Complete continuing education each renewal period.

Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC) licensing (TDLR)6 and EPA 6084

  • To work independently, you need an ACR Contractor License (Class A or B). This requires verified experience (typically 48 months or an approved combination of education and experience) and passing the state exam.
  • Technicians working under a licensed contractor should hold EPA Section 608 certification to handle refrigerants.
  • Some techs register with TDLR as ACR Technicians if required by employer.

Plumbing licensing (TSBPE)5

  • Register as a Plumber’s Apprentice with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.
  • Tradesman Limited: 4,000 hours OJT + exam.
  • Journeyman Plumber: 8,000 hours OJT + exam.
  • Master Plumber: Journeyman license + 4 years experience + exam.
  • Continuing education is required for renewal.

Welding certification

  • Texas does not license welders at the state level. Employers and sites accept industry credentials such as AWS performance qualifications or NCCER Welding certifications. Many industrial sites also require OSHA safety training and a TWIC card for refinery/port access3.

Online & Flexible Options

  • Hybrid learning: LSCPA, LIT, and LSCO deliver some lecture content online with hands-on labs on campus for trades like HVAC, instrumentation, and welding. Ask how many hours are in-shop vs. online.
  • Evening apprenticeships: ABC Southeast Texas, the Electrical JATC, and UA Local 195 schedule most related training after work hours. This fits full-time job schedules.
  • Short-format healthcare programs: Texas Healthtech Institute offers accelerated medical programs with day or evening cohorts. Clinicals are in person.
  • Exam prep and CE: Many Texas CE and code-update classes for electricians and plumbers are available online. Verify that providers meet TDLR or TSBPE requirements before enrolling65.

Next Steps

  • Compare programs and visit labs: Start at the Texas hub to see more schools statewide: Texas Trade Schools.
  • Explore trades and licensing: See role overviews and requirements at the Trades Hub, including Electrician, HVAC, Welding, and Plumbing.
  • Plan your path: Use our main Trade School hub to map programs, certifications, and timelines.
  • Learn how to pay: Browse our Guides for financial aid tips, scholarships, and GI Bill notes.

If you are ready to apply, contact admissions and the apprenticeship coordinators early. Ask about upcoming cohorts, required tools, and site access credentials for local refinery work.

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational Employment and projections for Texas and the Beaumont–Port Arthur metro. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_13140.htm and https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ ↩ ↩

  2. U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator profiles for Lamar State College Port Arthur, Lamar Institute of Technology, Lamar State College Orange, and Texas Healthtech Institute. https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  3. NCCER — Accredited Training Sponsor standards and craft credentials. https://www.nccer.org/ ↩ ↩ ↩

  4. U.S. EPA — Section 608 Refrigerant Management requirements. https://www.epa.gov/section608 ↩ ↩

  5. Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) — Licensing pathways and exams. https://tsbpe.texas.gov/ ↩ ↩ ↩

  6. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) — Electrician and A/C Refrigeration licensing requirements. https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/elec.htm and https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/airconditioning/ac.htm ↩ ↩ ↩

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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.