Best Trade Schools in Waco, Texas (2025 Guide)

Updated September 14, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Disclaimer: This article is for education only, not professional advice. Always verify details with official sources. Some links, forms, or listings are sponsored or paid, which may affect their placement. We may earn from them. Read our full Disclaimer.

Here are the best schools in Waco. This guide compares accredited programs, lays out Texas licensing steps, and highlights local demand for electricians, HVAC, welding, and plumbing. It is written for high school grads and career changers who want a fast path to skilled work in Central Texas. Electricians, HVAC techs, plumbers, and welders continue to see steady hiring and strong wages in Texas¹.

Top Trade Schools in Waco

All schools below are institutionally accredited and listed in U.S. Department of Education resources². Always confirm the specific program you want and its current accreditation status before you enroll²³.

School	Program Length	Highlights
Texas State Technical College (TSTC) – Waco	Certificates 6–12 months; AAS 2 years	HVAC Technology, Welding Technology, Electrical Power & Controls, Industrial Systems, Diesel Equipment, Automotive. Hands-on labs and strong employer partnerships. Public technical college.
McLennan Community College (MCC) – Waco	Certificates 1–2 semesters; AAS 2 years	Welding, HVAC, Automotive, Industrial Maintenance, Construction Management, Machining. Day and evening options. Public community college.
Hill College – Hillsboro Campus	Certificates 1 year; AAS 2 years	Welding Technology, Industrial Maintenance, Automotive Technology, Machining. Small class sizes. Public community college.
Temple College – Temple	Certificates 1 year; AAS 2 years	Welding, Machining/CNC, Industrial Systems, Allied Health, Workforce HVAC training. Public community college.
Central Texas College (CTC) – Killeen	Certificates 1 year; AAS 2 years	HVACR, Welding, Automotive, Diesel, Building Trades, Industrial Technology. Flexible start dates. Public community college.
Navarro College – Corsicana	Certificates 1 year; AAS 2 years	HVACR, Welding, Industrial Maintenance, Electrical Technology. Multiple labs and evening sections. Public community college.

Tips:

Ask admissions about apprenticeship tie-ins, EPA 608 testing for HVAC, and AWS or NCCER welding test availability.
Compare schedules, lab time, and career services rather than just course lists.
Verify program approvals, outcomes, and licensure pass rates with the school and state boards²⁴⁵⁶.

Skilled Trades in Demand

Electrician Electricians keep homes, schools, hospitals, and industry running in Central Texas. Work includes installation, troubleshooting, and upgrades. Growth in construction and maintenance drives steady hiring. Electricians also earn strong pay with overtime potential¹. Learn the career path and tools you need here: Explore the electrician trade.

HVAC Texas heat keeps HVAC technicians busy year-round. Jobs include installing new systems, replacing old equipment, and performing service calls. Most employers require EPA Section 608 certification to handle refrigerants⁷. See training options and licenses: Explore HVAC licensing in Texas.

Welding Welders work in manufacturing, fabrication, construction, and energy. Local programs focus on SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, and GTAW, plus blueprint reading and safety. Employers often want AWS or NCCER credentials for specific processes and codes⁸. Compare training paths: Explore welding careers.

Plumbing Plumbers are essential for residential and commercial builds, remodels, and service work. Texas has a clear license ladder with paid on‑the‑job training. Plumbers also see strong pay and steady work across Central Texas¹. Start your plan here: Explore plumbing careers.

Licensing Requirements in Texas

Electricians – Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)⁴

Register as an Electrician Apprentice with TDLR.
Train under a licensed electrician or in a registered apprenticeship.
Residential Wireman: 4,000 hours of supervised experience and pass the exam.
Journeyman Electrician: 8,000 hours of supervised experience and pass the exam.
Master Electrician: Qualify with experience as a journeyman, meet total hour requirements, and pass the exam.
Renew licenses and complete required continuing education each cycle.

HVAC (Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) – TDLR⁵

Get EPA Section 608 certification to work with refrigerants⁷.
Register with TDLR as an ACR Technician to work under a licensed ACR Contractor.
To become an ACR Contractor: document practical experience (often 48 months within the past 72 months, with some credit for approved schooling), pass the state exam, and carry required insurance.
Use the correct license class and endorsements for the type of systems you service.

Plumbers – Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE)⁶

Register as a Plumber’s Apprentice and work under a licensed plumber.
Tradesman Plumber-Limited: 4,000 hours plus exam.
Journeyman Plumber: 8,000 hours plus exam.
Master Plumber: additional experience and exam.
Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) is required to run a plumbing business and pull permits.
Continuing education is required for renewals.

Welders – No state license

Texas does not license welders at the state level.
Employers may require process-specific certifications such as AWS D1.1 or NCCER credentials⁸.
Keep OSHA safety training current if required by your jobsite.

Online & Flexible Options

Hybrid classes: TSTC and MCC offer general education online with lab work on campus. This shortens days on-site while keeping hands-on training.
Fast, focused credentials: Many programs offer stackable Level 1 certificates you can finish in 6–12 months, then return for advanced certificates or an AAS.
OSHA and safety: Online OSHA 10/30, confined space, and related safety courses are widely available through reputable providers. TEEX and other Texas providers run frequent sessions. Confirm acceptance with your employer.
HVAC EPA 608: Approved testing organizations offer in-person and online proctored exams. Study guides and practice tests are available. Certification is required for most HVAC jobs⁷.
Apprenticeships: Electrical and plumbing apprenticeships in the Waco area combine paid work with classroom training. These programs help you log hours toward Texas licenses while earning.

Choosing a Waco Program

Match the program to your license path. For example, an electrical technology program plus an approved apprenticeship helps you reach journeyman hours faster in Texas⁴.
Check equipment and labs. Ask to see HVAC trainers, weld booths, simulators, and troubleshooting stations.
Verify outcomes. Ask about completion rates, job placement support, and how many students pass license or industry exams².
Confirm accreditation and program standing. Use College Navigator and state boards to verify status before you enroll²⁴⁵⁶. You can also check national career-school accreditation through ACCSC’s directory if you consider private career colleges³.

Next Steps

Compare programs and request info: Visit the Texas state hub and the full Trade School directory.
Learn the trades: Explore the Trades hub and deep dives for Electrician, HVAC, Welding, and Plumbing.
Plan your funding and training path: See our Financial Aid guide, Apprenticeships guide, and How to Choose a Trade School.

Footnotes:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ ↩ ↩ ↩
U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator. https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), School Directory. https://www.accsc.org/Directory/index.aspx ↩ ↩
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), Electricians. https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/elec.htm ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), Air Conditioning and Refrigeration. https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/acr/acr.htm ↩ ↩ ↩
Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE). https://tsbpe.texas.gov/ ↩ ↩ ↩
U.S. EPA, Section 608 Technician Certification. https://www.epa.gov/section608 ↩ ↩ ↩
National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), Credentials. https://www.nccer.org/credentials/ ↩ ↩

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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.