10 Best Trade Schools inMedford, OR

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If you want to start a rewarding career in an in-demand field without spending four years in post-secondary education, our selection of the best trade schools in Medford is designed to provide you with information about the best training options available to you.

The programs included in our list are typically less than two years long and combine classroom with hands-on education.

Our selection also includes apprenticeships that combine on-the-job training with classroom education.

Apprentices train with a journeyman during the day and attend classes on weekends or evenings.

Although apprenticeships take up to five years to complete, you will receive a wage for the on-the-job training part.

We encourage you to explore all your options and decide what format best meets your learning style and career aspirations.



1Rogue Community College

Rogue Community College has a Community and Workforce Training division that aims to provide lifelong learning opportunities for citizens.

Courses Offered

The following workforce training programs are available:

  • Forklift Operator Safety Training
  • Commercial Truck Driving
  • Healthcare & Workforce Training with CareerStep
  • Massage Therapy, Continuing Ed Units
  • Nursing Assistant 1
  • And more

Apprenticeships are also available for students who are at least 18 years of age, hold a high school diploma or GED, and have completed one year of high school algebra/integrated math 2 or equivalent post-high school algebra course with a grade of “C” or better, or have completed an equivalent post-high school placement test.

Contact Information


2Northwest College School of Beauty

Northwest College School of Beauty prepares spa and beauty salon professionals.

The school provides training programs for future hairstylists, barbers, estheticians, and nail technicians.

Northwest College School of Beauty has locations in Beaverton, Clackamas, Medford, Springfield, and Tualatin, Oregon.

Courses Offered

The following programs are available at the school:

  • Cosmetology- a program that covers hairstyling, skin care, nail art, and many other skills
  • Hair Design- a program that covers hairstyling and color
  • Barbering- a program that focuses on short hairstyles and prepares students to create stunning shaves
  • Esthetics- a program that covers facials, waxing, and makeup
  • Advanced Esthetics- students learn how to use advanced esthetics equipment for stunning results
  • Nail Technology- students learn from manicures to intricate nail art

Contact Information


3Phagans' Cosmetology Colleges

Phagans’ Cosmetology Colleges prepares students for lifetime careers in cosmetology.

A group of five institutions in Oregon, Phagans’ Cosmetology Colleges are dedicated to graduating career-ready beauty and barbering professionals.

Courses Offered

The following programs are available at the college:

  • Hair Design- students learn how to cut, color, style, design, texture, balayage, and weave hair
  • Esthetics- skin care and treatment, make-up, waxing and tweezing skills
  • Barbering- students learn to cut, clipper, fade, shave, style, and design
  • Nair Technology- students learn about natural nail care, gels, acrylics, and polish

Costs vary depending on the program.

The Nail Technology program costs $6,654 and includes 320 clock hours.

The Hair Design program costs $15,169 and includes 1,168 clock hours.

Contact Information


4UA Local 290

About the School

UA Local 290 offers five-year apprenticeships for plumbers, steamfitters, and HVAC/R Service Technicians.

The programs are for high school graduates who are looking for something other than the traditional college route.

Once accepted into the apprenticeship program, each new apprentice is paired with a journeyman.

The apprentice trains with the journeyman during the day, working for one of the contractors that partner with UA Local 290.

Related training classes are held in the evenings and occasionally on Saturdays.

Students earn a salary while they learn and receive pay increases as they learn to perform more complex tasks.

When they become journeyman, apprentices increase their chances of finding a better-paying job in the industry.

Contact Information


5160 Driving Academy

About the School

160 Driving Academy prepares students for new careers with flexible scheduling options.

The programs are designed to give students room to grow and advance.

The truck driving program available at 160 Driving Academy includes 160 hours of classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel training.

Students prepare with everything they need to begin a rewarding career in the truck driving field.

The academy offers:

  • Classroom instruction
  • Behind-the-wheel training
  • Four-week program
  • One teacher for every four students
  • Convenient weekday and night classes
  • Multiple tuition options
  • And more

Contact Information


6Imani Institute of Cosmetology

About the School

Imani Institute of Cosmetology offers a school and an upscale spa located in a private and serene environment.

The school offers complete programs for complete cosmetology certification.

Imani Institute of Cosmetology offers a highly integrated cross-training curriculum designed to prepare students for an upscale cosmetology career.

The program includes theory and practical instruction, plus hands-on experience with real clients in a professional setting.

Courses Offered

The following programs are available at the Imani Institute of Cosmetology:

  • Cosmetology Program
  • Esthetics Program
  • Hair Program
  • Advanced Esthetics
  • Nail Program
  • Barbering Program

Contact Information


7Cascade Culinary Institut

If you want to start a career in the hospitality field, Cascade Culinary Institute may help you learn the skills needed for entry-level employment.

The school emphasizes high-level conceptual learning and competency-based skill training.

Cascade Culinary Institute is located on the Central Oregon Community College campus, in Bend, Oregon.

Courses Offered

The following Associate of Applied Science Degrees are available at the institute:

  • Culinary Arts- a 94-credit program
  • Baking & Pastry Arts- 96 credits
  • Hospitality Management- a program that awards between 90-94 credits

The following certificates are also available:

  • Culinary Arts- 50 credits
  • Baking and Pastry Arts- 54 credits
  • Hospitality Management- 47-51 credits

The Associate of Applied Science Culinary Arts Associate in Applied Science Degree and the Baking and Pastry Arts program are accredited by the American Culinary Federation Foundation Accrediting Commission.

The curriculum emphasizes applied learning grounded theory and hands-on training.

Certificates are also available in the two fields.

Contact Information


8Institute of Technology

The Institute of Technology offers vocational education in Salem, Oregon.

The programs prepare students for employment in the medical field.

Courses Offered

The following programs are available:

  • Practical Nursing
  • Professional Medical Assistant- IDL

The Practical Nursing program provides a real-world focus on areas such as geriatrics, adult health, obstetrics, pediatrics, community health, and other medical fields, as well as clinical nursing procedures, communication, and ethics.

This hybrid program combines convenient online learning and face-to-face classroom and lab experiences.

The Professional Medical Assistant program is also available in a hybrid format and emphasizes areas such as:

  • Basic accounting and insurance claim processing
  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Electrocardiographs
  • Injections
  • Venipuncture
  • Urinalysis
  • And more

Contact Information

  • Address: 4700 Silverton Road Northeast, Salem, OR 97305
  • Phone: 503.363.9001
  • Website: https://www.iot.edu

9Eastern Oregon University

About the School

Eastern Oregon University offers programs for students in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson Counties, as well as EOU online students from outside of Oregon.

Students may earn a fully accredited bachelor’s degree.

The university offers flexible courses that are available completely online.

Courses Offered

The following programs are available on campus:

  • Accounting
  • Biology
  • Agricultural Sciences
  • Nursing
  • Rangeland Science
  • Computer Science
  • Public Policy Minor
  • And more

The following online Certificate programs are also available:

  • Computer Programming I & II Certificate
  • Early Childhood Education Certificate
  • Trauma in Educational Communities Certificate

The per-year tuition for 18 credits is $5,155.

Contact Information

  • Address: One University Boulevard, La Grande, OR 97850-2807
  • Phone: 800-452-8639 | 541-962-3672
  • Website: https://www.eou.edu

10Leading Edge Flight Academy

About the School

If you want to start a career as a pilot, Oregon is also home to some reputable flight schools.

One such school is Leading Edge Flight Academy.

Leading Edge Flight Academy has been the go-to flight training program for airplane and helicopter pilots for nearly 20 years.

The school has a hands-on, service-first approach to flight training and aims to help each student reach their full potential.

Courses Offered

The following airplane programs are available at the Academy:

  • Private Pilot- Airplane Single Engine Land
  • Instrument- Airplane
  • Commercial Pilot- Airplane Single and Multi-Engine Land
  • Certified Flight Instructor- Airplane Single and Multi-Engine Land
  • Certified Flight Instructor- Instrument Airplane

The following helicopter programs are also available:

  • Private Pilot- Rotorcraft
  • Instrument- Rotorcraft
  • Commercial Pilot- Rotorcraft
  • Certified Flight Instructor- Rotorcraft
  • Certified Flight Instructor- Instrument Helicopter

Contact Information

  • Address: 63048 Powell Butte Highway, Bend, OR 97701, USA
  • Phone: (541) 383-8825
  • Website: https://flybend.com

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a high school graduate or an adult who wants to learn new skills and improve your earning prospects, the schools included in our list may help you achieve your goals.

Now that you have read our selection of the best trade schools in Medford it’s time to complete your research and decide where you want to enroll.


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