Best Trade Schools in Alexandria, Virginia (2025 Guide)

Updated October 9, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Table of Contents
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Here are the best schools in Alexandria and Northern Virginia. This guide lists accredited programs, apprenticeships, and Virginia licensing basics1.

Top Trade Schools in Alexandria

Verify current offerings and accreditation23.

School Program Length Highlights
Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) – Alexandria/Annandale Certificates 6–12 months; AAS ~2 years SACSCOC accredited. HVAC, Welding, Automotive, and construction-related programs; hybrid and evening options2.
IBEW Local 26 – Electrical JATC (Lanham, MD / Fairfax VA) 3–5 years Registered apprenticeship; paid OJT + classroom instruction; strong regional contractor network.
UA Plumbers & Gasfitters Local 5/Local 602 – Training (DC/NoVA) ~5 years Registered apprenticeship in plumbing/pipefitting/HVACR; paid training and certifications.

Licensing in Virginia

  • DPOR (Virginia Board for Contractors) licenses tradesmen (Journeyman/Master) and contractors. Exams and verified experience required; specialty classifications apply.
  • HVAC: EPA 608 required for refrigerants4.
  • Welding: No state license; employers/jurisdictions require performance quals.

Next Steps

  • Compare VA programs: /trade-school/virginia/
  • Explore trades and credentials: /trades/
  • National resources: /trade-school/

Tour labs, confirm accreditation, and map training to Virginia DPOR licensing and apprenticeships.

  1. BLS, Washington–Arlington–Alexandria Metro. bls.gov/oes ↩

  2. U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator. nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator ↩ ↩

  3. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), Directory. accsc.org ↩

  4. U.S. EPA, Section 608 Technician Certification. epa.gov/section608 ↩

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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.