Best Trade Schools in Victoria, Texas (2025 Guide)

Updated September 14, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

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Here are the best schools in Victoria. This guide compares accredited programs, shows which trades are hiring, and explains Texas licensing. Use it to pick a program that fits your timeline and goals. Electricians, HVAC techs, welders, and plumbers remain in steady demand in Texas1.

Top Trade Schools in Victoria

School Program Length Highlights
Victoria College (Victoria) Certificates: 6–12 months; AAS: ~2 years Public college with regional accreditation; welding, industrial maintenance/electrical, process technology, EMT/paramedic, LVN/ADN nursing. Day/evening options; strong local employer ties2.
Southern Careers Institute – Victoria 7–12 months (certificate/diploma) ACCSC-accredited career school; HVAC, welding, medical assistant, medical billing & coding. Skills labs, employer-aligned certifications, quick starts, career services3.
Victoria Beauty College (Victoria) 600–1,000 hours State-licensed cosmetology school; Cosmetology Operator (1,000 hrs), Esthetics (750 hrs), Manicuring (600 hrs). Clinic floor experience; TDLR state board prep4.
Wharton County Junior College (Wharton; drivable from Victoria) Certificates: 1 year; AAS: ~2 years HVAC/R technology, welding technology, industrial trades. Public, regionally accredited; hands-on labs and industry cert prep2.
Del Mar College (Corpus Christi) Certificates: 1 year; AAS: ~2 years HVACR, welding, machining, diesel mechanics. SACSCOC-accredited public college with modern labs and employer partnerships2.
Coastal Bend College (Beeville) Certificates: 1 year; AAS: ~2 years Welding, automotive, allied health (LVN/ADN), cosmetology. Multiple locations; stackable credentials and night sections2.
Craft Training Center of the Coastal Bend (Corpus Christi) 2–4 years (apprenticeship) NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor; electrical, pipefitting, welding apprenticeship pathways. Evening classes; employer-sponsored training5.

Tip: Tour campuses, ask about evening/weekend labs, and confirm program-specific accreditation or approvals for licensed trades.

Skilled Trades in Demand

  • Electrician

    • Electrical work touches residential, commercial, and industrial sites across the Coastal Bend. Texas electricians earn solid middle-income wages and benefit from consistent project pipelines1. Entry starts as a registered apprentice. Advancing to Journeyman and Master boosts earnings and independence.

  • HVAC Technician

    • Hot Texas summers and growing populations keep HVAC service steady. Most new techs register with TDLR as ACR Technicians and earn EPA 608 to handle refrigerants. With experience and an exam you can become a licensed ACR Contractor and run your own business46.

  • Welder

    • Refineries, fabrication shops, shipyards, and construction create ongoing welding needs in South Texas. Employers often look for AWS or NCCER credentials. Many programs teach MIG, TIG, and stick, plus blueprint reading and safety5.

  • Plumber

    • Plumbing offers stable work in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. Texas requires state licensing through TSBPE with structured on-the-job training and exams. Water conservation and code updates keep skills current7.

Median pay in Texas varies by trade and experience; statewide BLS data shows dependable earnings for electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, and welders with room to grow through licensing and certifications1.

Licensing Requirements in Texas

Electrical (TDLR)

  • Register as an Electrical Apprentice with TDLR; work under a licensed contractor4.
  • Log 8,000 hours to qualify for the Journeyman Electrician exam; pass the exam.
  • For Master Electrician: typically 12,000 hours and time-in-grade as a Journeyman; pass the Master exam.
  • Complete required continuing education each renewal cycle; follow local permitting rules.

HVAC/Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (TDLR)

  • Register as an ACR Technician to perform work under a licensed contractor4.
  • Earn EPA Section 608 certification to handle refrigerants6.
  • To open your own shop: meet experience requirements (usually 48 months under a licensed contractor or equivalent), pass the ACR Contractor exam, choose license class (A or B), carry required insurance, and complete continuing education.

Plumbing (TSBPE)

  • Register as a Plumber’s Apprentice; work under a responsible master plumber7.
  • Tradesman Limited: 4,000 hours + exam.
  • Journeyman: 8,000 hours + exam.
  • Master: experience as a Journeyman + exam. CE required for renewals. Optional endorsements include Medical Gas and Water Supply Protection.

Cosmetology (TDLR)

  • Complete an approved program (e.g., 1,000 hours for Operator).
  • Pass the written and practical exams; apply for licensure and renew with CE4.

Welding

  • No state license. Employers and unions typically require skills verification and industry credentials such as AWS D1.1 or NCCER performance certifications5. Many programs embed these exams.

Online & Flexible Options

  • Hybrid learning: Many trade programs deliver theory online and schedule hands-on labs on campus. Ask schools about evening and weekend labs if you work full-time.
  • Short courses and exam prep: Find online prep for EPA 608 (HVAC), OSHA 10/30, basic electricity, blueprint reading, and code updates.
  • Apprenticeships: Earn while you learn. NCCER- and DOL-affiliated programs often hold evening classes with paid daytime site work5.
  • General education: Community colleges let you complete gen ed courses online while you attend in-person labs for shop work.
  • Support services: Ask about career services, employer days, and certification test vouchers included with your program.

Next Steps

If you want one school to tour first in Victoria, start with Victoria College or Southern Careers Institute. Both offer hands-on labs, stackable credentials, and clear pathways to entry-level jobs and state licensing.

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Occupational Employment and Wages and job outlook; see May 2023 State data for Texas and OOH profiles: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ and https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_tx.htm ↩ ↩ ↩

  2. U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator institutional profiles (Victoria College, Del Mar College, Wharton County Junior College, Coastal Bend College): https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  3. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) school directory; Southern Careers Institute: https://www.accsc.org/ ↩

  4. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR): Electricians, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, and Cosmetology licensing and school approvals: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  5. National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), Accredited Training Sponsors/Performance Certifications: https://www.nccer.org/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  6. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Section 608 Technician Certification: https://www.epa.gov/section608 ↩ ↩

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