If you’re reading this article, that probably means that you realized the benefits of vocational education.
Many individuals don’t have the means, desire, or the time to attend expensive four-year college education.
However, there is an abundance of trade schools that specialize in teaching skills needed to succeed in various profitable industries.
The educational facilities from our list specialize in the following areas of expertise:
- Dental Assisting
- Building
- Bartending
- Nursing
- Welding
- Barbering
- Cosmetology
- Massage therapy
We’re certain that the perfect school for you is somewhere on the list. Take a look:
Trade Schools by City
1Pelican Associated Builders and Contractors
Pelican Associated Builders and Contractors is one of the 69 chapters of the national construction industry.
Founded in 1980, ABC Pelican has been helping individuals reach their career goals.
Building and construction is yet another industry that is in high-demand for properly-trained professionals.
They have trained hundreds of aspiring builders and construction workers.
When it comes to this industry, it’s crucial to get proper training because work-related injuries are a frequent occurrence.
That’s why ABC Pelican strives to provide the most complete programs that will teach students all the necessary skills and knowledge.
Enrollment: There aren’t any special requirements. Everyone’s welcome to apply.
Fees: The prices for each of the courses go as follows:
- NCCER core – $400
- NCCER heavy equipment operator (excavation) – $700
- NCCER electrical – $700
- NCCER instrumentation – $700
- NCCER millwright – $700
- NCCER mobile crane operator – $700
- NCCER pipefitting – $700
- Welding – $1,400
The school offers the following courses:
- NCCER core
- NCCER heavy equipment operator (excavation)
- NCCER electrical
- NCCER instrumentation
- NCCER millwright
- NCCER mobile crane operator
- NCCER pipefitting
- Welding
Contact information:
- Pelican Associated Builders and Contractors
- Address: 19251 Highland Road, Building A, Baton Rouge, LA, 0809
- Phone: 225-752-0088
- Website: http://www.abcpelican.org/
2Northwest Louisiana Technical College
Northwest Louisiana College aims to become the standard when it comes to technical colleges.
They want to provide the best service to students who trust them with their education.
NLTC is continuously working with various institutions, companies, and the industry in general, to help students find jobs.
This is a renowned institution known for its dynamic curriculum and amazing relationship with students.
Enrollment: All applicants must have a high school diploma or GED. They also have to provide proof of residency.
Fees: The prices for each of the courses go as follows:
- Air Conditioning and Refrigeration – $8,543
- Automotive Technology – $6,871
- Barber Styling – $7,857
- Business Office Administration – $12,322
- Business Office Technology – $10,466
- Culinary Arts and Occupations – $9,326
- Diesel Powered Equipment Technology – $6,410
- Electrician – Commercial Wiring II – $9,653
- Electrician- Industrial Electrician – $9,653
- Heavy Construction Vehicle Operator – $5,039
- Industrial Instrumentation Technology – $9,529
- Industrial Maintenance Technology – $7,502
- Industrial Manufacturing Technology – $7,266
- Information Technology – $7,374
- Patient Care Technician – $9,409
- Practical Nursing – $11,502
- Welding – $8,521
Northwest Louisiana Technical College also offers the following financing plans and aids:
- Federal aid
- State aid and scholarships
- Military education benefits at NWLTC
- Waiver/institutional programs
- Waiver/institutional programs
The school offers the following courses:
- Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
- Automotive Technology
- Barber Styling
- Business Office Administration
- Business Office Technology
- Culinary Arts and Occupations
- Diesel Powered Equipment Technology
- Electrician – Commercial Wiring II
- Electrician- Industrial Electrician
- Heavy Construction Vehicle Operator
- Industrial Instrumentation Technology
- Industrial Maintenance Technology
- Industrial Manufacturing Technology
- Information Technology
- Nurse Assistant
- Patient Care Technician
- Phlebotomy
- Practical Nursing
- Welding
Contact information:
- Northwest Louisiana Technical College
- Address: 9500 Industrial Drive, Minden, LA 71055
- Phone: 318-371-3035
- Website: http://www.nwltc.edu/
3Denham Springs Beauty College
Denham Springs Beauty College is a family-owned cosmetology school that helps students from all over the country with becoming licensed cosmetologists.
With over 100 years of combined experience, their instructors have been in the industry for a long time and know all the inside scoop.
That is extremely helpful to students because knowing the industry can be crucial for one’s career.
And what’s better than being taught by someone who knows all the tricks of the trade?
Upon completing certain classes, students will start offering their services to the public on the school’s clinic floor.
That will be of immense help in gaining much-needed practical experience and learning how to communicate with clients.
Enrollment: All applicants must be at least 16 years of age, and they have to provide proof of education – a high school diploma or GED.
Fees: The tuition fee for the cosmetology course is $15,500. The fee includes books, CHI kit, and a non-refundable $100 application fee.
The school offers the following courses:
- Cosmetology
Contact information:
- Denham Springs Beauty College
- Address: 923 Florida Boulevard SE, Denham Springs, LA 70726 US
- Phone: 225-665-6188
- Website: https://dsbeautyschool.org/
4Saint Agatha Career School
Saint Agatha Career School strives to provide a safe and relaxed learning environment for all students.
That is especially important in the healthcare industry, as students will be eventually taking care of other people.
They want to show students the wonders of compassion, diligence, and hard work.
Saint Agatha’s staff is comprised of highly-experienced individuals who are eager to share their knowledge and love of the industry.
Here, students will receive a top-notch education that will instantly enable them to pursue careers in healthcare.
Once certified, this school will direct students to various job openings in companies they work closely with.
Enrollment: All applicants must fill in the application form, accept a thorough background check, have a high school diploma or GED, and pay a non-refundable $40 application fee.
Fees: The prices for each of the courses go as follows:
- Nursing assistant – $750
- Phlebotomy – $1,200
- EKG/ECG – $800
- CPR – $65
The school offers the following courses:
- Nursing assistant
- Phlebotomy
- EKG/ECG
- CPR
Contact information:
- Saint Agatha Career School
- Address: 7078 Read Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70127
- Phone: 504-245-7227
- Website: http://www.sacsla.com/
5Livingston Parish Literacy and Technology Center
Livingston Parish Literacy and Technology Center is an outstanding vocational educational institution with hundreds of satisfied students behind them.
The facilities are very modern and include a distance learning center, lecture halls, a conference room, eight classrooms, and two computer lab classrooms.
They offer a variety of useful courses that will help students advance in their careers and achieve their goals.
Students who graduate will hold a valuable certificate in the respective field of expertise, which will help them find a suitable job.
Their instructors love being around students and sharing valuable lessons they learned by being top-notch industry professionals.
Overall, this school offers a well-rounded program suitable for everyone.
Enrollment: All applicants must fill in the application form,
Fees: Contact their admissions department to get further information about tuition fees and payment plans.
The school offers the following courses:
- Automotive service tech I and II
- Computer service tech I and II
- Criminal justice
- Drafting and design
- EMT
- Nursing courses
Contact information:
- Livingston Parish Literacy and Technology Center
- Address: 9261 Florida Blvd, Walker, LA 70785
- Phone: 225-667-5268
- Website: http://lpltc.org/
6Rock Bridge Training Institute
Rock Bridge Training Institute offers vocational training, corporate training, and professional development.
The courses are custom-tailored according to the latest industry standards.
The school works hard to provide students with a high-quality education that will enable them to improve their lives and further their careers.
They also have consultants that help students with all their needs but also assist with job placement.
All of the professions they specialize in are in high demand, so students will potentially have an abundance of job opportunities.
The class sizes are small, which is perfect when it comes to specialized training.
The overall atmosphere is very friendly and comfortable.
Enrollment: There aren’t any special requirements. Everyone’s welcome to apply.
Fees: Tuition fees for each of the courses vary from $640 to $2,500 depending on the course.
The school offers the following courses:
- Dental assisting
- Forklift training
- Home care aide
- Phlebotomy lab tech
- CPR BLS – AED classes
Contact information:
- Rock Bridge Training Institute
- Address: 200 N Thomas Dr #14, Shreveport, LA 71107
- Phone: 318-219-5779
- Website: https://www.rockbridge100.com/
7ABC Bartending School
ABC Bartending School is one of the best when it comes to teaching bartending and mixology.
They are spread all over the county, which just shows the quality of their program.
Upon completion, students will be able to work in any bar, anywhere in the world.
Bartenders are currently in high demand so this can be a smart career choice for individuals who like having fun while working.
They also offer job placement to students, which is just amazing.
The classrooms are designed to look like actual bars, so the students will get a feel for what’s it like in the real world.
They will learn about wine, beer, alcohol and state laws, fruit cutting, glassware, and many more useful aspects of the bartending industry.
Enrollment: There aren’t any special requirements. Everyone’s welcome to apply.
Fees: The tuition fee for their bartending course is $290.
The school offers the following courses:
- Bartending and mixology
Contact information:
- ABC Bartending School
- Address: 11837 Bricksome Ave c, Baton Rouge, LA 70816
- Phone: 225-330-7128
- Website: https://www.abcbartendingschool.com/
8Accelerated Dental Assisting Academy
Accelerated Dental Assisting Academy provides accelerated education, as the name suggests.
Ever since it was founded in 2011, this school has been constantly changing and adapting to meet all students’ needs.
The classes are ever-changing and dynamic, inspiring individuals to thrive and obtain new skills while having fun.
The instructors teach the latest methods and technology, allowing students to rapidly adjust to the fast-paced dental industry.
Accelerated Dental Assisting Academy is licensed by the Arkansas State Board of Private Career Education and is pending approval to be licensed by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.
Students will be fully ready to work in only 10 weeks.
The school also has a Career Services Program which guides students through the terrifying process of finding work.
Enrollment: All applicants must meet the following criteria:
- They must be in good health
- They must be at least 17 years of age
- They must present a copy of a high school diploma, GED, or HiSET
Fees: The tuition fee for their accelerated dental assisting course is $3,199.
The school offers the following courses:
- Accelerated dental assisting course
Contact information:
- Accelerated Dental Assisting Academy
- Address: 137 Aspen Sq Ste E, Denham Springs, LA 70726
- Phone: 844-727-3755
- Website: https://adaa.us/
9Louisiana Institute of Massage Therapy
Louisiana Institute of Massage Therapy offers great education that helps students to become certified massage therapists.
It was founded by massage therapists, for massage therapists, so this is a unique place perfect for individuals looking to find high-quality education at reasonable prices.
This school is one of the oldest massage therapy schools on the Gulf coast.
Upon graduation, students will receive a diploma which qualifies them to take the National Certification exam and other licensing exams in Lousiana.
The school’s curriculum was approved and licensed by the following entities:
- Louisiana State Board of Regents
- Louisiana Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
- Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards
- National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
- Louisiana State Board of Massage Therapy
Enrollment: All applicants must meet the following criteria:
- They have to pay a $50 registration fee
- They must fill in an application form
- They must be at least 17 years of age
- They must provide proof of education – a high school diploma or GED
Fees: The tuition fee for their massage therapy course is $5,450
The school offers the following courses:
- Massage therapy course
Contact information:
- Louisiana Institute of Massage Therapy
- Address: 3750 Nelson Road, Lake Charles, LA
- Phone: 337-474-3737
- Website: http://www.lamassageschool.com
10New Orleans Dental Assistant School
New Orleans Dental Assistant School offers a unique 9-week program that is guaranteed to teach students all the most critical aspects of the dental assisting industry.
They take pride in providing a high-quality education that’s affordable and accessible to students from all walks of life.
Instead of regular boring classrooms, at NODAS, students will have classes in an actual dental office.
Even though the course lasts for only nine weeks, their curriculum was built to accompany the fast-paced program and yield amazing results.
All their graduates will also receive a 40-hour internship in a local dental office, which will help them in getting a feel for what’s it like in the real world.
Enrollment: All applicants must meet the following criteria:
- They must have a high school diploma or GED.
- They must provide an up-to-date immunization record
- They must own a government-issued photo ID.
- They must make a down payment made before the first day of class.
Fees: The tuition fee for their dental assisting course is $2,545. They offer multiple different payment plan options.
The school offers the following courses:
- Dental assisting
Contact information:
- New Orleans Dental Assistant School
- Address: 816 Behrman Hwy, Gretna, LA
- Phone: 504-636-6278
- Website: https://neworleansdentalassistant.com/
Salary Information for Popular Trade Careers
Career | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 4,860 | $53,980 | $25.95 | $79,930 | $35,580 |
Medical Records Specialists | 2,040 | $50,700 | $24.38 | $74,300 | $31,110 |
Nursing Assistants | 17,740 | $30,420 | $14.63 | $37,080 | $23,470 |
Dental Assistants | 4,740 | $38,290 | $18.41 | $48,040 | $28,100 |
Medical Assistants | 10,610 | $33,610 | $16.16 | $42,610 | $25,250 |
Phlebotomists | 2,540 | $35,130 | $16.89 | $43,830 | $27,930 |
Electricians | 11,100 | $57,990 | $27.88 | $76,960 | $36,140 |
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | 7,180 | $60,190 | $28.94 | $77,510 | $37,630 |
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | 8,400 | $47,660 | $22.91 | $76,530 | $26,250 |
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | 4,830 | $54,400 | $26.16 | $73,670 | $36,170 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are so many amazing non-traditional educational facilities eager to help individuals better their lives.
Choosing the vocational route is especially beneficial for individuals who are in a time crunch or simply can’t afford overpriced education.
But, the great thing about these schools is that once certified, students will be able to immediately become a part of the workforce.