Virginia’s economy is fueled by construction, logistics, energy, and healthcare-making it a great place to launch a skilled trade career. Whether you live in Richmond, Norfolk, Roanoke, or a rural part of the state, trade schools in Virginia offer hands-on training to prepare you for high-demand jobs.
From HVAC and CDL certifications to welding, allied health, and mechatronics, Virginia trade programs help students get certified and hired in under two years.
Best Trade Schools In Virginia
We could not confirm enough colleges teaching this subject within range of this
location, so the list below shows nearby institutions instead. Confirm with each
school that it offers the program before you apply.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 4 schools, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
4 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
#1
Advanced Technology Institute
📍
Virginia Beach, VA
•In-state option•BOC Score
63.1
Tuition$14,568 - $23,713
Contact
5700 Southern Blvd Ste 100 Virginia Beach, VA 23462
Top picks include the VCCS system, ATI in Virginia Beach, and ECPI University for hands-on programs in HVAC, CDL, welding, and electronics.
Are Virginia community colleges considered trade schools?
Yes. Many VCCS schools offer short-term career and technical education (CTE) in high-demand skilled trades.
What trades are in demand in Virginia in 2025?
According to the Virginia Employment Commission and BLS:
Welders
HVAC Technicians
Electricians
CDL Truck Drivers
Medical Assistants
Mechatronics Technicians
Automotive & Diesel Techs
If you’re ready to start a skilled trade career in Virginia, these accredited schools can help you get trained, certified, and working. Explore your options and apply today.
Trade Schools by City in Virginia
Compare accredited trade schools in 43 Virginia cities. Each city page lists the closest local schools with tuition, median graduate earnings, and the trades hiring nearby.
Outcome figures such as graduation, completion, and job placement rates are reported by schools and by federal data sources, reflect prior student cohorts, and are not a prediction or promise of future results. Individual outcomes may vary.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
Data
Provider
Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
