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
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. 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.
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)
