Best Trade Schools in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (2025 Guide)

Updated September 14, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Disclaimer: This article is for education only, not professional advice. Always verify details with official sources. Some links, forms, or listings are sponsored or paid, which may affect their placement. We may earn from them. Read our full Disclaimer.

Here are the best schools in Milwaukee. This page lists accredited programs, shows which trades are hiring, and explains Wisconsin licensing. The Milwaukee area employs thousands of skilled trades workers with solid wages and steady demand¹. Use this guide to compare options and plan your next step.

Top Trade Schools in Milwaukee

The schools below offer accredited training or registered apprenticeships. Program length is typical time to complete. All colleges listed are recognized in U.S. Department of Education College Navigator or are registered apprenticeship sponsors in Wisconsin²³.

School	Program Length	Highlights
Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC)	1–2 years	HVAC, Welding, Electrical Construction, CNC/Machining, Industrial Maintenance. Apprenticeship pathways. Day and evening schedules.
Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC)	1–2 years	Welding-Fabrication, HVAC/R, Electrical Apprenticeship related instruction, Plumbing Apprenticeship support, Mechatronics. Strong employer ties.
Gateway Technical College (Racine/Kenosha)	1–2 years	Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Heating; Welding; CNC; Diesel; CDL. Multiple campuses and hybrid course options.
Milwaukee Electrical JATC – IBEW Local 494	3–5 years	Registered Inside Wireman and Residential Wireman apprenticeships. Paid on-the-job training plus classroom. Journeyman exam prep⁴³.
Plumbers Local 75 UA Apprenticeship	5 years	Registered plumbing apprenticeship. OSHA training, backflow and med gas modules. DSPS journeyman exam prep⁴³.
Carpenters Training Institute – Pewaukee	4 years	Commercial carpentry and interior systems apprenticeship. OSHA 30, scaffolding, layout, print reading. Paid training with benefits³.
ABC of Wisconsin Apprenticeship (West Bend)	3–5 years	Merit-shop apprenticeship in Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, Carpentry. Evening classes. NCCER-aligned curriculum³⁵.
Moraine Park Technical College (West Bend/Fond du Lac)	1–2 years	Tool and Die, Welding, HVAC, Electromechanical. Flexible diplomas and embedded certificates.

Notes:

MATC, WCTC, Gateway, and Moraine Park are public technical colleges with regional accreditation and robust lab facilities².
Union and merit-shop apprenticeships are registered with the Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards. Related instruction may be delivered at a technical college or training center³.

Skilled Trades in Demand

Electrician

Commercial and residential construction across the Milwaukee metro keeps electricians busy. Apprentices who complete 8,000 hours and pass the state exam move into journeyman roles with strong pay and steady overtime options¹⁴. O*NET lists electricians as a high-opportunity occupation with continued growth⁶.
Start with an IBEW Local 494 apprenticeship or a pre-apprenticeship and related instruction at MATC or WCTC. Learn more about the career path at our hub: Electrician.

HVAC/R Technician

HVAC techs handle heat, AC, and refrigeration in homes, hospitals, breweries, and manufacturing plants. Work is year-round and includes service calls, installs, and commissioning. Technicians who hold EPA 608 can work with refrigerants, which is required by federal law⁷. Wisconsin businesses that pull HVAC permits for 1–2 family dwellings need a DSPS HVAC Qualifier on staff⁴.
Consider diplomas at MATC, WCTC, Gateway, or apprenticeships through ABC of Wisconsin. Explore details here: HVAC.

Welder and Fabricator

Milwaukee’s manufacturing base supports steady demand for welders in fabrication, maintenance, and construction. Employers often look for process certs like SMAW, FCAW, GMAW, and GTAW. AWS or NCCER credentials can help you move up⁵. Training labs at MATC, WCTC, Gateway, and Moraine Park are hands-on and aligned to local hiring needs².
See paths and certifications: Welding.

Plumber

Plumbers are essential on new builds and remodels, and for service work across the metro. Wisconsin licenses plumbers at the state level. Completing a registered apprenticeship and passing the DSPS exam are required for journeyman status⁴³. O*NET projects ongoing demand for licensed plumbers⁶.
Compare options and steps: Plumbing.

Licensing Requirements in Wisconsin

Electricians – DSPS

Register as an apprentice with Wisconsin DWD-BAS and find a sponsoring employer or apprenticeship program³.
Complete 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 500 hours of related instruction, or an approved equivalent program.
Apply to DSPS and pass the Journeyman Electrician exam⁴.
To run a business, obtain an Electrical Contractor license and have a Master Electrician of record⁴.
After experience as a journeyman, apply for the Master Electrician exam⁴.

Plumbers – DSPS

Enter a registered apprenticeship through DWD-BAS with an employer sponsor³.
Complete 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and required related instruction.
Pass the DSPS Journeyman Plumber exam. Upgrade later to Master Plumber with added experience and exam⁴.

HVAC Technicians and Contractors

No state license is required for individual HVAC technicians in Wisconsin. EPA 608 certification is mandatory to work with refrigerants⁷.
For HVAC work on one- and two-family dwellings, a business must employ a DSPS-credentialed HVAC Qualifier to pull permits and supervise code-compliant work⁴.
Check local permitting with the City of Milwaukee Development Center for project requirements.

Welders

Wisconsin does not license welders. Employers may require AWS D1.1, ASME section qualifications, or NCCER credentials depending on the job⁵.
Keep procedure and position certs current to stay competitive.

Tip: Always verify current rules and exam requirements with DSPS and the Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards before you enroll or test⁴³.

Online & Flexible Options

Hybrid technical college programs: MATC, WCTC, Gateway, and Moraine Park offer blended courses for safety, math, blueprint reading, code, and soft skills, with labs on campus².
Apprenticeship classroom schedules: Many programs hold evening classes so you can earn while you learn during the day³.
Test prep online: EPA 608 exam prep and code update courses are widely available in hybrid or online formats⁷.
Short-term certificates: Colleges offer stackable certificates that fit around work and can roll into a longer diploma or degree².

If you need flexibility, ask admissions about night labs, weekend sections, and accelerated blocks. Also ask whether credits transfer into apprenticeships or advanced standing.

Next Steps

Compare more schools: Visit the Wisconsin trade school hub and the national Trade School directory.
Explore trades: See training, tools, pay, and licensing for top careers in our Trades hub.
Plan your path: Read our Apprenticeships Guide, Financial Aid Guide, and Online Trade Schools Guide.

Milwaukee has strong options whether you want a fast certificate, an associate degree, or a paid apprenticeship. Pick a school that matches your schedule, verify licensing steps, and get started.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Milwaukee–Waukesha–West Allis, WI MSA. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_33340.htm ↩ ↩
U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator. https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards. https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/apprenticeship/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), Credentialing for Electricians, Plumbers, and HVAC Qualifier. https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Professions/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
NCCER, Industry-Recognized Credentials and Training. https://www.nccer.org/ ↩ ↩ ↩
O*NET OnLine, Career Outlook for Electricians and Plumbers. https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2111.00 and https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2152.00 ↩ ↩
U.S. EPA, Section 608 Refrigerant Management Program. https://www.epa.gov/section608 ↩ ↩ ↩

Explore Related Topics:

Notice an update we should make?
We strive for accuracy. Contact us here if you see incorrect or outdated info on this page.

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.