Best Trade Schools in The Woodlands, Texas (2025 Guide)

Updated September 14, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

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Here are the best schools in The Woodlands. This guide lists accredited options nearby, what they teach, how long programs take, and the steps to get licensed in Texas. The Woodlands sits in a fast-growing Houston metro area with strong demand for electricians, HVAC techs, welders, and plumbers1.

Top Trade Schools in The Woodlands

Below are reputable, accredited schools in or near The Woodlands. Program lengths are typical ranges. Always confirm current offerings and schedules with the school23.

School Program Length Highlights
Lone Star College – Montgomery (Conroe) 1–2 years Public college serving The Woodlands area; hands-on workforce certificates and AAS pathways; evening and daytime sections; strong employer connections in Montgomery County.
Lone Star College – North Harris (Houston) 6–24 months HVAC/R, electrical, welding, and automotive options across LSC; stackable certificates to AAS; exam prep support and career services.
MIAT College of Technology (UTI) – Houston 9–24 months HVACR Technician, Aviation Maintenance, and energy-tech programs; accelerated, career-focused training; ACCSC-accredited; employer networking events3.
Tulsa Welding School & Technology Center – Houston 7–10 months Intensive welding training with multiple processes; industry-aligned labs; day/evening schedules; ACCSC-accredited3.
Fortis Institute – Houston North 9–12 months HVAC/R and allied trade programs; flexible starts; tutoring and job placement support; nationally accredited.
Houston Community College – Northeast/Northline 1–2 years HVAC/R, welding, and electrical technology; NCCER-aligned curricula; pathways from Level I certificate to AAS; public college with SACSCOC accreditation.
San Jacinto College – North (Houston area) 1–2 years Welding, HVAC, process technology; modern training labs; respected by petrochemical and manufacturing employers region-wide.

Tip: Lone Star College has multiple nearby campuses. If a program isn’t at Montgomery, you may find it at North Harris, Tomball, or another LSC site still within an easy drive.

Skilled Trades in Demand

  • Electrician The Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metro continues to add commercial and residential projects, driving steady demand for electricians1. Work includes installs, maintenance, and troubleshooting. Training can lead to residential wireman, journeyman, and later master roles. Explore career paths on our electrician hub: Electrician.

  • HVAC/R Technician Texas heat keeps HVAC employers busy year-round. Techs work on installs, service calls, and refrigeration systems. EPA Section 608 certification is required for refrigerants. Many The Woodlands grads start as installers or service techs and advance to lead roles or contractor status1. Learn more at HVAC.

  • Welder Fabrication, construction, and energy sectors across Greater Houston hire welders with current process skills and safety credentials. Certifications through AWS or school-run performance tests can boost your hireability. See training paths at Welding.

  • Plumber Growth across Montgomery County and North Houston means steady plumbing work in residential and light commercial. Apprentices earn while they learn and move toward Tradesman Plumber-Limited and Journeyman licenses in Texas. Compare pathways at Plumbing.

Electricians, HVAC techs, plumbers, and welders all have strong national outlooks and competitive wages, with many opportunities for overtime and advancement1.

Licensing Requirements in Texas

Here are the basic state steps for common trades. Always confirm current requirements with the board before you apply.

  • Electricians (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation — TDLR)

    • Register as an Apprentice.
    • Residential Wireman: 4,000 hours under a licensed master; pass exam.
    • Journeyman: 8,000 hours under a master; pass exam.
    • Master Electrician: 12,000 hours, including journeyman experience; pass exam.
    • Maintain continuing education each renewal cycle4.

  • HVAC/R (Air Conditioning & Refrigeration — TDLR)

    • Register as an ACR Technician to work under a licensed contractor.
    • Contractor License (Class A or B; Environmental Air or Commercial Refrigeration): 48 months practical experience under a licensed contractor, or reduced hours with approved training; pass state exam; carry required insurance.
    • EPA Section 608 certification is required for refrigerant handling45.

  • Plumbers (Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners — TSBPE)

    • Register as a Plumber’s Apprentice.
    • Tradesman Plumber-Limited: 4,000 hours + approved course; pass exam.
    • Journeyman: 8,000 hours as an apprentice; pass exam.
    • Master Plumber: Additional experience as a journeyman; pass exam.
    • Optional endorsements: Medical Gas, Water Supply Protection Specialist6.

  • Welders

    • No Texas state license for general welding.
    • Employers commonly require performance qualifications to AWS standards, OSHA-10/30 safety, and site-specific cards (e.g., TWIC for refineries). School labs often include test prep aligned to AWS or NCCER1.

Online & Flexible Options

  • Hybrid training Many programs combine online theory with in-person labs. Expect to complete safety, electrical theory, codes, and calculations online, then attend campus for hands-on practice, skills check-offs, and capstone projects. Lone Star College, MIAT (UTI), and several Houston-area schools offer blended formats.

  • Night and weekend sections Evening cohorts are common in HVAC, electrical, and welding so you can work while training. Ask about compressed terms (8–10 weeks) or accelerated day tracks that finish faster.

  • Credit for experience Some colleges award credit for prior learning or industry credentials (NCCER, OSHA, military transcripts). This can shorten your path to a certificate or AAS.

  • Career services Look for resume help, interview coaching, and employer days. Schools with strong local employer networks can speed up your job search.

Next Steps

If you live in The Woodlands, start with Lone Star College – Montgomery for close-to-home options, then compare specialized programs like welding at TWS or HVAC/Aviation at MIAT. Confirm accreditation, program length, scheduling, and state licensing steps before you enroll2346.

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook (various trades). https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

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

  3. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), School Directory. https://www.accsc.org/Directory/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  4. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), Electrician and ACR licensing. https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/ ↩ ↩ ↩

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

  6. 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.