Best Trade Schools in Virginia (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

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 – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 10 schools, ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.

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

Centra College

Lynchburg, VA In-state option BOC Score 95.9
Tuition $12,983
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 100.0%
  • Graduation rate: 100.0%
  • Programs offered: 1
  • Annual completions: 19
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Southside College of Health Sciences

Colonial Heights, VA In-state option BOC Score 78.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
  • 430 Clairmont Court - Suite 200 Colonial Heights, VA 23834
  • (804) 765-5800
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 2
  • Annual completions: 23
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $76,113 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Central School of Practical Nursing

Norfolk, VA In-state option BOC Score 68.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 76.5%
  • Programs offered: 1
  • Annual completions: 12
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $52,946 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Riverside College of Health Careers

Newport News, VA In-state option BOC Score 67.6
Tuition $17,250
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 12.9%
  • Graduation rate: 100.0%
  • Programs offered: 5
  • Annual completions: 54
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $67,735 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Advanced Technology Institute

Virginia Beach, VA In-state option BOC Score 63.1
Tuition $14,568
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 53.5%
  • Graduation rate: 78.6%
  • Programs offered: 5
  • Annual completions: 350
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $47,728 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Northern Virginia Community College

Annandale, VA In-state option BOC Score 62.5
Tuition $5,891 in-state / $12,409 out-of-state
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 33.1%
  • Programs offered: 36
  • Annual completions: 2560
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $57,487 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

Eastern Virginia Career College

Fredericksburg, VA In-state option BOC Score 62.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
  • 10304 Spotsylvania Ave, Suite 400 Fredericksburg, VA 22408
  • (540) 373-2200
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 96.0%
  • Graduation rate: 65.8%
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 94
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $55,957 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Piedmont Virginia Community College

Charlottesville, VA In-state option BOC Score 62.2
Tuition $5,072 in-state / $11,510 out-of-state
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 38.6%
  • Programs offered: 17
  • Annual completions: 149
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $51,090 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best trade school in Virginia?

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.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)