"Which skilled trades have the most jobs near Richmond, Virginia?"

"By local employment, Richmond County's largest skilled-trade fields include medical assistants, phlebotomy technicians, and surgical technologists (BLS QCEW, 2024). The school comparison table on this page lists trade-relevant schools serving the area so you can match a program to these fields."

"How much do medical assistants earn near Richmond, Virginia?"

"In the Richmond, VA metro area, medical assistants earn a median of $44,490 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Reported pay ranged from about $37,810 at the 10th percentile to $46,940 at the 90th percentile, varying with experience, certification, and employer (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

"How much does trade school cost in Richmond, Virginia?"

"Published tuition across the trade-relevant schools serving Richmond ranges from $5,646 to $23,713 per year (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Schools that do not report a rate are shown as \"Contact school for pricing\" in the table above. Confirm current tuition, schedules, and credentials directly with each school."

"What trade schools are near Richmond, Virginia?"

"Trade-relevant schools serving Richmond include Paul Mitchell the School-Roanoke (median graduate earnings about $28,991, College Scorecard), Advanced Technology Institute (median graduate earnings about $47,728, College Scorecard), and Blue Ridge Community College (median graduate earnings about $51,042, College Scorecard). Compare them by tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings in the table above (IPEDS and College Scorecard)."

"How long does medical assistant training take?"

"Typical medical assistant training runs 9-12 months (certificate or diploma) (TradeCareerPath program data). Certificate programs sit at the shorter end and associate degrees at the longer end; actual completion time depends on full-time versus part-time scheduling and any prerequisite coursework."

"Is Richmond a good place to train for a skilled trade?"

"That depends on your goals, but local labor data offers a starting point: medical assistants are among the area's higher-employment trades (BLS QCEW, 2024) with a median wage of $44,490 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Review the school comparison table and nearby-cities links above to weigh tuition, program length, and commute."

Best Trade Schools in Richmond, Virginia

Updated June 20, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Start here to compare accredited trade schools near Richmond. This guide links to programs, state licensing steps, and related career paths so you can get job-ready quickly in Virginia.

How to Get Started in Richmond

Compare schools and program lengths above
Check your state licensing steps: Virginia
Explore careers: Skilled trades hub
Ask each school about tuition, schedules, and embedded certifications (EPA 608, NCCER, ASE)

Compare Trade Schools Near Richmond, 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.

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.