10 Best Trade Schools inArkansas

1Little Rock School of Dental Assisting

Little Rock School of Dental Assisting is a dental assisting school in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The school’s aim is to provide students with the fundamental skills of dental assisting through a hands-on educational approach.

The 10-week program prepares students to be chairside ready and able to assist the dentist with a variety of tasks ranging from patient care to record keeping.

Classes are held on Fridays or Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A test will be given to all students at the end of the program. Students who pass the test will be registered/certified in dental radiography, coronal polishing, N2O administration, infection control, and CPR. 

Little Rock School of Dental Assisting is governed by both the Arkansas State Board of Higher Education and the Arkansas Dental Examiners Board.

Fees. The registration fee is $100 and the tuition fee is $3900. Books, materials, and lab supplies are included in this price.

The school offers three payment plan options, including a full payment option and two down-payment options.

Private student loans are also available to students who qualify.

Contact information:

• The school is located at 4220 N Rodney Parham Rd #200, Little Rock, AR 72212
• Phone: 501-249-2772
• Website: https://www.lrsda.com

2Blue Cliff College

Blue Cliff College is preparing students to function proficiently in a competitive society in the career of their choice.

The College was founded in 1987 as a Massage Therapy training center and received accreditation from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) in 1998.

The school’s philosophy is to inspire students to strive for excellence and to achieve maximum personal potential.

Enrollment: An applicant must provide proof of high school completion or the equivalent.

Future students must complete a personal interview with an Admissions Representative or Campus Director.

Students must be of good health and physically capable to perform the duties and techniques required for employment in their field of interest.

Applicants must successfully complete the Wonderlic Scholastic Level exam with at least a minimum acceptable score.

Fees. Tuition fee varies between $10,452 and $19,958, depending on the program. Financial aid is also available to students who qualify.

Courses available:

The following programs are available at the main campus in Fayetteville:

• Clinical Medical Assisting
• Health Information Management, Billing and Coding
• Dental Assisting

Programs available at the satellite campus of Blue Cliff College in Fayetteville:

• Massage Therapy

Contact information:

• The main campus is located at 2503 Hiram Davis, Fayetteville, AR 72703.
• Phone: 1-888-853-3349
• Website: https://bluecliffcollege.edu

3Vista College

Vista College offers career training that will help students build a new rewarding career in a matter of months.

Students learn from real-world expert instructors through accelerated hands-on training.

The Arkansas campus is located in Fort Smith. All Vista College ground campuses are accredited by COE.

The Fort Smith campus is approved by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education

Enrollment. College admissions representatives are available to help you enroll.

Fees. Tuition/training fees vary depending on the program.

Total tuition fees start at $18,600 to $42,425. Total tuition includes a $100 registration fee.

Vista College offers numerous scholarships to qualifying candidates. The College has financial aid offices at every campus.

Courses offered:

• Dental Assistant Diploma
• Medical Assisting Diploma
• Medical Assisting Associate of Applied Science
• Medical Insurance Billing and Coding Associate of Applied Science
• Business Administration Diploma
• Business Administration Associate of Applied Science
• Information Technology Diploma
• Information Technology Associate of Applied Science
• HVAC Diploma
• Industrial Maintenance Mechanic Diploma

Contact information:

• The Fort Smith campus is located at 1200 S. Waldron Rd, Suite 122 Fort Smith, AR 72903
• Phone: (479) 385-6145
• Website: https://www.vistacollege.edu/campuses/fort-smith-ar/

4Arkansas School of Massage

Arkansas School of Massage is offering Fort Smith and surrounding areas affordable massage therapy training programs since 2013.

During the 500-hour program, students learn anatomy and physiology but also business management and ethics.

The school also teaches about massage therapy laws, rules, and regulations, helping students understand how the profession is governed.

Arkansas School of Massage follows the guidelines put forward in the Arkansas Massage Therapy Law and Rules and Regulations.

The school offers day and night classes.

For the past four years, Arkansas School of Massage students has achieved a 91% first-time pass rate on the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination.

Enrollment. Candidates need a high school diploma, GED, or college transcript, a photo ID, Social Security card and an entrance essay.

The application and documents may be mailed at the school address or be dropped off at the same address, in the mailbox located on the side door that is marked with an ASM sign.

After processing your application, the school staff will contact the candidate to schedule an interview.

Fees. Registration fee is $500. Tuition is $5400

Contact information:

• The massage school is located at 6108 S. 31st Street Fort Smith, AR 72908
• Phone: 479-648-0021
• Email: arkansasschoolofmassage@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.arkansasschoolofmassage.com/

5National School of Real Estate

The National School of Real Estate offers classes that help students get an Arkansas Real Estate License in as little as 2 months.

With an experience of over 30 years in offering real-world education, the school incorporates practical tactics and socially relevant topics to create a well-rounded curriculum for future realtors and brokers. The school also offers continuing education courses.

Classes are held by real estate instructors from relevant fields of interest in Arkansas.

Instructors bring real-world lessons from their own careers in order to prepare students for any challenges.

Educators monitor student’s progress through sample testing and class discussions.

The school offers flexible hours to accommodate busy schedules.

Fees. The training fee for the pre-license agent class is $375 if paid in advance thru online registration.

The training fee for the pre-license broker class is $600 if paid in advance thru online registration.

Courses offered:

• Pre-license agent course
• Pre-license broker course
• Post-license agent course
• Post-license broker course
• Agent continuing education
• Broker continuing education

Contact information:

• The school is located at 5323 John F Kennedy Blvd, N. Little Rock, AR 72116
• Phone: 501-753-1633
• Email: learning@weteachrealestate.com
• Website: https://weteachrealestate.com

6The Salon Professional Academy

The Salon Professional Academy is a cosmetology school in Little Rock.

Students spend the bulk of their time in a large, high-end salon, learning in a real-life atmosphere.

The school hires highly qualified education staff of board licensed cosmetology school instructors with over 80 years of combined industry experience.

The Salon Professional Academy is the only Little Rock cosmetology school endorsed by REDKEN for excellence in education.

Enrollment: Students must be at least 16 years old.

A copy of the student’s high school diploma or equivalent is required along with a copy of the student’s driver’s license or photo I.D.

Students must complete an enrollment application and sign an enrollment agreement.

Fees. Tuition for the 45-week cosmetology program is $15,990. Books and supplies cost an additional $2,400.

Tuition for the 23-week esthetics program is $8,299. Books and supplies cost an additional $826.

Financial aid is available for qualified students through the U.S. Department of Education.

Courses offered:

• Cosmetology program
• Esthetics program

Contact information:

• The school is located at 13125 AR-107, Sherwood, AR 72120
• Phone: 501-753-2400
• Website: https://www.littlerockbeautyschool.com

7Arkansas Elite Welding Academy

Arkansas Elite Welding Academy is a complete welding educational institution that helps students become skilled welding craftsman.

The school is committed to training welders for top jobs all over the nation.

Students attending the welding academy learn a high demand trade from instructors with 7 plus years of experience in the field.

The school has a 1 to 10 teacher to student ratio.

Arkansas Elite Welding Academy is located on approximately 4 acres consisting of one building containing administrative offices, conference room, student break and vending room, student computer labs, bathrooms and shop/lab consisting of 60 welding booths, various real-world welding simulators, an outdoor covered pipe and plate preparation cutting area, tool room and bathroom.

The school currently has the capacity for 60 students during day time courses and 60 for night time courses.

Enrollment: Applicants must be at least 17 years or older and submit proof of a high school diploma or GED to be enrolled.

Fees. The registration fee is $100. Training/tuition fee is $8,000 for the Elite Structural Program and $14,990 for the Elite Pipe Welding program.

The school offers student loans through the Arkansas Rural Endowment Fund for qualifying applicants.

Courses offered:

• Elite Pipe Program
• Elite Structural Program

Contact information:

• The school is located at 333 Rosebud Rd, Quitman, AR 72131.
  
• Phone: 833-354-8310
• Website: https://www.arkansasewa.com

8GoodFellas Barber College

The GoodFellas Barber College is offering high-quality training for students who want to become barbers.

The school offers two programs: a 1500-hour Barber Program and 600-hour Teacher Manager Instructor program.

GoodFellas Barber College is an approved institution by the Arkansas Department of Education.

Fees. Tuition costs start at $15,675.

Financial aid and student loans are also available to qualifying students.

Enrollment. Candidates must have a current driver’s license or state-issued photo identification and a social security card.

Students must be at least 17 years old.

The school admits only persons who are not currently enrolled at a primary or secondary institution.

Courses offered:

• Barber Hair Styling program
• Teacher Manager Instructor program

Contact information:

• The school’s main campus is located at 4306 Asher Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72204
• Phone: 501-916-9827
• Website: https://www.gfbc.edu

9Arkansas Bartending School

ABC Bartending School trains students to become professional bartenders/mixologists.

After graduating from the 2-week bartending class students are ready to work in any bar in the world.

All classes will be hands-on training held in a real working bar setting.

This helps students feel comfortable working behind a bar at course completion and be able to go out and work as a bartender in any type of bar.

At course completion, students will receive job placement.

The school provides assistance on the last day of graduation.

Graduates will be able to access job openings from the school’s website.

The textbook will have a chapter dedicated to interviewing skills as well.

The bartending school offers day classes, night classes, and weekend classes.

Enrollment.  Applicants can enroll by filling out a form on the school’s website.

Fees. The total tuition fee is $295, with a $100 deposit to start.

Contact Information:

• The Little Rock School is located at 13311 Lawson Rd, Suite B, Little Rock AR 72210
• Phone: 501-263-0936
• Website: https://www.abcbartendingschool.com

10National Park College

National Park College offers two-year degrees and certificates both on-campus and online.

NPC was designated as part of the top ten online colleges in Arkansas for 2017.

The Adult Education Center offers a variety of classes that are available to any adult who is a resident of the area.

Flexible class schedules provide day and evening sessions.

Enrollment. An Admissions Application is available on the school’s website.

Candidates must submit their school transcript or GED, immunization record and either their ACT or placement test scores.

Fees. Registration fee is $50 per semester. Tuition starts at $1,584 per semester for Garland County Residents to $3,564 per semester for international students.

Meal Plan Fees also apply.

A $10 per credit hour lab fee is charged each semester to all students who enroll in classes that have a lab.

Courses offered:

The school offers the following technical programs:

• Accounting Technician
• Allied Health
• Automotive Service Technolog
• CJI Crime Scene Investigation
• CJI Law Enforcement Administration
• Computer Networking
• Digital & Media Arts
• Emergency Medical Services – Paramedic
• Hospitality and Tourism Management
• Industrial Technology
• Marine Repair Technology
• Practical Nursing
• Pre-Nursing
• Professional Medical Coding
• Welding Technology

Contact information:

• National Park College is located at 101 College Drive, Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas 71913
• Phone: (501) 760-4222
• Website: https://np.edu/