Trade Schools
Trade schools offer many opportunities for individuals who want to learn a new craft through hands-on training.
Because we know that choosing the right vocational school is not an easy task, we compiled information about 10 of the best trade schools in Maryland.
The institutions presented in this list offer high-quality training in various educational departments, such as Medical Care, Beauty, Transportation, Construction and more.
We have also included relevant information about each school: costs, duration, accreditation, etc.
Don’t forget to do your own research before choosing the school that best meets your educational needs.
Trade Schools by City
1North American Trade Schools
North American Trade School has a variety of programs meant to help individuals who want to explore options in a different field or expand expertise in their current position.
The school was founded in 1971 and since then has graduated job-ready trades professionals and truck drivers.
North American Trade School is accredited by ACCSC (Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges).
NATS is also approved and licensed by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, and Maryland State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
North American Trade School is a member of Maryland Association of Private Career Schools, Better Business Bureau, and American Trucking Association.
Enrollment. All applicants must possess a high school diploma or GED. NATS may accept a copy of a DD214 with a clear indication that the high school diploma was obtained on a case by case basis.
Prospective students must be at least 18 years old. Applicants who want to enroll in the CDL program Class A must be at least 21 years old.
Other conditions may apply depending on the program.
Fees. Tuition varies between $5,000 and $23,205, depending on the program.
Courses offered:
- Building Construction Technology
- Combination Welding
- Commercial Truck Driving
- Diesel Technology
- Diesel Technology w/ CDL
- Electrical Technology
- HRVAC
- Industrial Maintenance
Contact information:
- Phone: (410) 298-4844
- Email: info@natradeschools.edu
- Website: https://www.natradeschools.edu
2Maryland Bartending Academy
Founded in 1980, Maryland Bartending Academy is the oldest bartending school in Maryland.
Maryland Bartending Academy is approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
The school is also an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating.
The Academy is affiliated with the Professional Bartending Advisory Board.
Training sessions at Maryland Bartending Academy take place in a fully functional bar stocked with the latest equipment and tools used in the bartending industry.
The school’s real-world, hands-on training gives students the skills and confidence needed to start bartending right away.
The Academy offers a free intro class with no obligation to register.
Students can choose between three different bartending class schedules: day class, evening class and day/evening class combination.
Enrollment. Applicants must be at least 18 years old to enroll.
Fees. Tuition fees vary depending on the program.
Courses offered:
- Bartending Class
- On and Off-Premise Alcohol Awareness
- Bartender Bootcamp
- Wine Education
- Liquor & Beer
- Gratuity Secrets
- Waiter/Waitress
- Safe Food Handlers
Contact information:
- The school is located at 209 New Jersey Avenue, N.E., Glen Burnie, Maryland 21060
- Phone: 410-787-0020
- Website: https://www.marylandbartending.com
3HCDL Training Center
HCDL Training Center offers MVA approved one on one commercial driving programs for class A and B.
The school is operated by experienced instructors offering state-of-the-art learning facilities, hands-on training, and future job placement assistance.
The school values are safety, honesty and integrity and personal commitment to train.
Single vehicles over 26,000 lbs GVW requires a Class-B CDL. Single vehicle under 26,000 GVW which haul hazardous materials, or are designed to haul sixteen or more passengers, require a Class-C CDL.
Combination vehicles (truck and trailer) require a Class-A CDL if the gross weight rating of the trailer is over 10,000.
Driving any school bus requires a Class-B or Class-C CDL.
Fees. Fees vary depending on the program
The school also helps students who want to receive financial aid.
Courses offered:
- Class-B CDL training: needed for any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more. Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more towing another vehicle with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less
- Class-A CDL training: needed for any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more if the vehicle(s) being towed have a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds.
Contact information:
- The school is located at 101 Chestnut St Ste 38, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
- Phone: 301-825-4488
- Website: http://www.hcdltrainingcenter.com
4Brett Aviation
Brett Aviation is Baltimore’s Premier FAA Certified 141 Flight School.
The school offers training programs for all experience levels in order to train pilots to the highest level of competence.
The flight training provided by Brett Aviation prepares students for whatever type of flying job they are interested in.
Brett Aviation is one of the longest continually operating flight schools in Maryland.
School instructors are pilots with thousands of hours of flight experience.
Brett Aviation is also holding in-house written test prep courses every month throughout the year.
Fees. Hourly rates vary depending on the program and the aircraft.
The Discovery Flight program offers a first 30-minute flight experience for $129.
Financing options are also available
Brett Aviation offers VA Approved Flight training to all eligible service members, veterans and reservists.
Chapter 33 Veterans are eligible for up to 100% free flight training. Some may be eligible to receive a monthly housing allowance.
Courses offered:
- Discovery Flight
- Private Rating
- Instrument Rating
- Commercial Rating
- Certified Flight Instructor
- Multi-engine rating
Contact information:
- Brett Aviation / Martin State Airport, 701 Wilson Point Road, Box 18 Middle River, MD 21220
- Phone: 410.391.0210
- Website: http://www.brettaviation.com
5Care Xpert Academy
Care Xpert Academy, LLC is a private for-profit career school committed to quality health education and training.
Established in February 2007, CXA aims to provide basic nursing education to students from diverse backgrounds and to provide the community with entry-level nursing personnel capable of meeting the challenges in the allied health fields.
The purpose of the school is to teach each student the skills required to be gainfully employed as a Certified Nursing Assistant or Geriatric Nursing Assistant.
Enrollment. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
A high school diploma or GED is also required. Applicants without a high school diploma or GED must pass an Ability to Benefit exam to be eligible to enroll.
Prospective students must have a valid social security card and submit a copy of a current physical examination within 6 months of start date.
Proof of negative TB – Tuberculosis Test or Chest X-ray is also required along with Hepatitis B series or waiver from the healthcare provider.
Applicants must also provide criminal (state and federal) background within 6 months of start.
Fees. The total cost of the Nursing Assistant program is $1100 with Textbook.
A payment plan is also available.
Courses offered:
- Certified Nursing Assistant
- Geriatric Nursing Assistant
Contact information:
- Care Xpert Academy is located at 13321 New Hampshire Avenue, Suite 205, Silver Spring, MD 20904
- Phone: 301-384-6011
- Email: info@cxana.com
- Website: http://cxana.com
6IEC Chesapeake
IEC Chesapeake is part of the Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc., the industry’s premier national trade association.
The school offers several apprenticeship programs for professionals in the electrical industry as well as continuing education programs.
The IEC Electrical Apprenticeship Programs combine the on-the-job training and formal technical instruction to prepare students for this high-demand field.
Students get paid to work while they receive a top-notch education in the electrical field.
IEC is also a support network that offers its members professional training and education, public relations services, legislative and regulatory insights, access to other skilled workers, and cost-saving benefits.
Fees. Tuition for the 4-year Electrical Apprenticeship Program is $13,960.
Courses offered:
- Electrical Apprenticeship Program
- Telecommunications Technician
- HVACR Program
- Online Electrical Apprenticeship Program
- Spanish-Assisted Electrical Program
- Continuing Education Classes
- Emerging Technologies
- Workforce Development
Contact information:
- The Maryland campus is located at 8751 Freestate Drive Suite 250, Laurel, MD 20723
- Phone: 301-621-9545
- Website: https://www.iecchesapeake.com
7Baltimore Studio of Hair Design
With 4 locations in the Baltimore area, Maryland Beauty Academy and Baltimore Studio of Hair Design have been training students to become cosmetologists and nail technicians for over 35 years.
The school prepares students for salon work with hands-on training as well as preparation for the Maryland State Board Licensing Exam.
Baltimore Studio and Maryland Beauty Academy are nationally accredited schools through The National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS) and approved for education through Maryland Higher Education Commission and the United States Department of Education.
Enrollment. Applicants must be at least 16 years old. They must have a valid state I.D., birth certificate or Social Security Card.
Prospective students must have a high school diploma, GED or equivalency.
Fees. Tuition is $16,650 for the cosmetology program.
Courses offered:
- Cosmetology
- Nail Technician
Contact information:
- Baltimore Studio of Hair Design is located at 318 North Howard Street, Baltimore MD 21201
- Phone: 410-539-1935
- Maryland Beauty Academy (Westminster) is located at 10 Carroll Plaza Shopping Center, Westminster, Maryland 21157
- Phone: 410-848-1277
- Maryland Beauty Academy of Essex is located at 7930 Eastern Avenue, Suite 5, Baltimore, MD 21224
- Phone: 443-503-8630
- Website: http://www.baltimorestudio.com
8Tristar Academy
Tristar Academy is an independent, private, career Academy approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
The Academy prepares students in the pre-licensing real estate program, Maryland Principles, and Practices of Real Estate for Salespersons.
Tristar Academy aims to provide to each student a solid understanding of the principles and practices of real estate in the State of Maryland in a safe, pleasant, and comfortable environment and to prepare students for the State of Maryland Real Estate Licensing Examination for Salespersons or State of Maryland Real Estate Licensing Examination for Brokers.
The Academy has 5 locations in Maryland: Silver Spring, Bowie, Columbia, Waldorf, and Rockville.
Fees. The registration fee is $30. Training fees vary depending on the class.
The 60-Hour Salespersons pre-licensing course costs $295 while the MD Brokers Pre-licensing Accelerated Course costs $1,201.
Courses offered:
- Pre-Licensing
- Continuing Education
- Exam Prep
- Reciprocity
Contact information:
- 1620 Elton Rd. #202 Silver Spring, MD 20903
- 6395 Dobbin Rd. #102 Columbia, MD 21045
- 2441 Crain Hwy Waldorf, MD 20601
- 4201 Mitchellville Rd #401 Bowie, MD 20716
- Phone: 240.701.6327
- Website: https://www.mytristaracademy.com
9Fomen Nursing Assistant Training Academy
Fomen Nursing Assistant Training Academy provides high-quality nursing assistant and healthcare training programs.
The Academy is recognized in the community as a respected training institution that produces competent nursing assistants and medication technicians year after year.
Fees. Tuition for the CNA/GNA program is $900, at the Hyattsville campus. The application fee is $25 and the registration fee is $50.
The cost of the Glenburnie Program is $1175.
This includes Application, registration, tuition, and textbook.
Tuition for the Certified Medical Technician program is $250.
Scholarships are also available for qualified candidates by the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
Courses offered:
- CNA/GNA program
- Certified Medical Technician
- CPR
- First Aid
Contact information:
- Hyattsville Campus is located at 7411 Riggs Road, Suite 210
Hyattsville, Maryland 20783 - Phone: 301-328-0423
- Glen Burnie Campus is located at 7452 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd., Suite 201A, Glen Burnie, MD 21061
- Phone: 410-553-4068
- Website: http://www.fomennursingassistant.com
10Bladensburg Barber School
Bladensburg Barber School mission is to provide high-quality vocational training that prepares future barbers.
The school was opened in 1968 as a school for vocational training in the Barbering trade.
It currently offers a 1200-hour barber training program with full-time and part-time class schedules.
Barbering is a profession with a high-income potential.
Barbers can earn more than individuals with a 4-year degree.
As a Barber you decide how hard you want to work and how much you want to earn.
Barbers provide haircutting, hairstyling, and a range of other beauty services.
Barbers cut, trim, shampoo, and style hair, mostly for male clients.
The school’s flexible schedule is designed to help meet the needs of its students.
Future barbers can graduate from the Barber School in as little as 8 months.
Students successfully graduating from the program will be qualified to take the licensing exam and assume positions as barbers.
Fees. Total tuition and fees at the Bladensburg Barber School sum up to $7,875.
Tuition payment plans are also available.
Contact information:
- The school is located at 4810 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg, MD 20710
- Phone: (301) 277-8913
- Email: admin@bbarberschool.com
- Website: http://www.bladensburgbarberschool.org
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 | 6,190 | $68,070 | $32.73 | $94,100 | $43,480 |
| Medical Records Specialists | 3,040 | $62,930 | $30.26 | $90,840 | $38,750 |
| Nursing Assistants | 24,810 | $40,770 | $19.60 | $49,130 | $32,920 |
| Dental Assistants | 5,700 | $50,040 | $24.06 | $60,870 | $37,190 |
| Medical Assistants | 14,440 | $44,100 | $21.20 | $55,250 | $36,130 |
| Phlebotomists | 2,630 | $48,970 | $23.55 | $57,900 | $37,540 |
| Electricians | 12,930 | $69,100 | $33.22 | $107,610 | $39,520 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | 10,880 | $65,650 | $31.56 | $100,130 | $38,090 |
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | 14,340 | $56,860 | $27.34 | $80,920 | $35,540 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | 6,700 | $66,510 | $31.97 | $97,520 | $44,950 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Whether you want to become a nursing assistant, a truck driver, or a cosmetologist, Maryland schools offer you a variety of training programs.
All you have to do is decide what is your dream job and start searching for the institution that is best suited to your educational needs.
Before deciding which trade school is the right place for you, make sure the institution is trustworthy and the classes are accredited by the government institutes.
