Trade SchoolsIf you live in Morgantown and you want to start a rewarding career, there are several reputable trade schools and community colleges that provide a viable alternative to four-year higher education.
Most programs can be completed in two years or less and focus on the skills that are relevant to the student’s future profession.
After graduation, students are usually ready to apply for an entry-level job in their chosen field or ready to take the licensure exam.
The training usually combines theory with practical hands-on applications to prepare students for real-world scenarios.
Students get ready for careers as medical assistants, welders, HVAC technicians, emergency medical technicians, and many other in-demand professions.
Tuition costs vary depending on the program, the credential it leads to, and the institution but many schools also provide financial aid to qualifying students.
Moreover, the schedules are usually flexible to allow students to keep full-time jobs while preparing for a new career.
1Pierpont Community & Technical College
About the School
Pierpont Community & Technical College offers a wide range of programs to a diverse student body.
Flexible scheduling and support services are available to meet the needs of busy students.
The college is headquartered at the Advanced Technology Center located along the I-79 High Technology Corridor.
Credit and non-credit training are available in the state-of-the-art facility.
Hands-on training is provided in dynamic training laboratories and simulators.
Courses Offered
The following Associate Degrees are available at Pierpont Community & Technical College:
- Advanced Welding Associate in Applied Science
- Applied Design, Fashion Merchandising
- Applied Design, Interior Design
- Aviation Maintenance Technology
- Criminal Justice
- Emergency Medical Services
- Health Sciences
- And more
The following certificates are also provided:
- Airframe Technology
- Medical Billing and Coding
- Petroleum Technology
- Powerplant Technology
- Technical Drafting
- Veterinary Assistant
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 500 Galliher Dr. Fairmont, WV 26554
- Phone: 304-367-4907
- Website: https://www.pierpont.edu
2Monongalia County Technical Education Center
About the School
Monongalia County Technical Education Center provides a variety of programs for adult learners and high school students.
Adult daytime and evening programs are also available at the center.
The center reports a 100% job placement rate for medical program completers.
Courses are available in a variety o areas of study, including architecture and construction, human services, education, law, public safety, manufacturing, automotive technology, and more.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available for high school students:
- Carpentry
- Electrical Technician
- Building Maintenance & Operations
- Plumbing Technician
- Coding, Apps & Game Design
- Graphic Design
- Pro-Start Restaurant Management
- Careers in Education
- Law & Public Safety
- Welding
- Automotive Technology
The programs can be completed in two years and are designed to prepare students for work in their chosen fields.
Two-year programs are also available for students who want to start careers in health occupations such as Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, EMS, and Pharmacy Tech.
A 12-month Practical Nursing curriculum and a nine-month Surgical Technology curriculum are also offered.
A nine-month HVAC Technician program is available through ACE Adult HVAC.
Contact Information
- Address: 1000 Mississippi Street, Morgantown, WV 26501
- Phone: 304-291-9240
- Website: https://mtec.mono.k12.wv.us
3Laurel College of Technology
About the School
Laurel College of Technology helps students start new careers by offering training programs at several locations in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
The school’s West Virginia campus is located in Morgantown.
Laurel College of Technology is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Careers Schools and Colleges.
Courses Offered
The college provides cosmetology, healthcare, trade, technical, and online programs.
The following programs are available at the college:
- School of Spa and Cosmetology Arts
- School of Healthcare
- School of Trade and Technical
The School of Spa and Cosmetology Arts covers skills such as:
- Cutting and styling
- Complex procedures
- Chemical texture services
- Skincare
- Manicures and pedicures
The School of Healthcare includes classes that help students start careers in the fields of:
- Medical Billing & Coding
- Respiratory Therapy
- Clinical Medical Assistant
- Veterinary Assistant
- Nursing
- And more
The curriculum and program duration varies depending on the program.
Contact Information
- Address: 200 Wedgewood Drive Morgantown, WV 26505
- Phone: 304-381-4097
- Website: https://www.laurel.edu
4West Virginia Junior College
About the School
West Virginia Junior College prepares students for in-demand and rewarding careers for more than 120 years.
Plenty of degrees and diplomas in healthcare, technical, and professional fields are available at the college.
Programs are available in Morgantown, Bridgeport, and Charleston.
Scholarships are available for many of the college’s programs and vary by location.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available in Morgantown: Information Technology, Nursing, and Nursing at Mon Health.
The Information Technology program covers network, server administration, security, Cisco technology, PC repair, and more.
The curriculum also provides information on the installation, configuration, and management of network servers using the Windows server platform, including Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, storage management, printer management, and more.
Graduates are ready for certifications such as:
- Cisco Certified Network Associate
- Cisco Certified Technician
- A+ Certified Technician
- Security+ Certified
Contact Information
- Address: 148 Willey St. Morgantown, WV 26505
- Phone: 304-769-0011
- Website: https://www.wvjc.edu
5Morgantown Beauty College
About the School
Morgantown Beauty College provides programs that can prepare students for careers in less than two years.
The school has been helping students to achieve their dream for nearly 70 years.
Courses Offered
The following courses are available at the college:
- Cosmetology
- Hair Styling
- Esthetics
- Nail Technology
- Massage Therapy
The Cosmetology program includes 1,800 hours of training and covers all aspects of the beauty industry.
The coursework covers skills such as hair coloring, hairstyling, hair coloring permanent weaving, basic manicuring & pedicuring, facials, anatomy & physiology.
Distance Learning programs are also available at the college.
The Esthetics program includes 600 hours of training and prepares students with the skills to become a West Virginia Licensed Esthetician.
The coursework includes basic & advanced skincare, makeup, facial massage, nutrition for health and beauty, the health of skin, skin structure, and temporary hair removal.
The Hair Styling program includes 1,000 hours of training and covers general hairdressing, choosing the right haircut, hair treatments, hair coloring, barbershop experience, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 276 Walnut Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
- Phone: 304-292-8475
- Website: https://morgantownbeautycollege.edu
6Sharp As An Errol
Sharp As An Errol offers training programs in Morgantown and Inwood.
Courses Offered
The Barber with Chemical program provides 1,500 clock hours and can be completed in 52 weeks.
The curriculum covers:
- Introduction to Barbering- a course that covers course outlines, the history of barbering study skills, and professional image
- The Science of Barbering- a program that teaches microbiology, infection control, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, electricity, properties and disorders of the skin, and more
- Professional Barbering- students learn about the treatment of the hair and scalp, shaving and facial hair design, men’s haircutting and styling, and men’s hair replacements
- The Science of Esthetics- a program that includes infection control, general anatomy and physiology basics of chemistry, basics of electricity, and basics of nutrition
- And more
A Waxing Specialist program is also available and can be completed in three and a half weeks.
This program covers professional requirements, safety and health, skin structure, disorders and diseases, and the removal of superfluous hair.
A 600-hours Esthetics Program is also available at the school and can be completed in 16 weeks.
Tuition for the Barber with Chemical Program is $21,000.
Contact Information
- Address: 551 Beechurst Ave, Morgantown, West Virginia 26508
- Phone: (304) 381-2712
- Website: https://saaebarberschool.com
7Arthur's Academy
About the School
Arthur’s Academy provides training, skill development, and consulting services.
The organization is based in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Courses Offered
Courses are available in Cybersecurity, Graphics, Web, Programming, Mobile Apps, Data Science, and Tech Repairs.
The academy provides courses such as:
- OpenAI and ChatGPT
- Learn Phonegap and Cordova
- Learn jQuery
- Learn WordPress
- Learn Python
- Learn PHP
- Bookkeeping with Excel and Google Sheets
- Tech Repair Business Course
- Tech Repair Courses
- Learn CSS
- Learn JavaScript
- Learn HTML
Course duration varies between one hour and 30 hours, depending on the program.
Contact Information
- Address: 185 Walnut St, Morgantown, WV 26505
- Phone: 304-460-8786
- Website: https://arthursacademy.org
8West Virginia University
About the School
West Virginia University provides training programs at Beckley, Keyser, and Morgantown campuses.
The university offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program that provides students with hands-on education and clinical training opportunities.
Graduates are ready for the NCLEX exam and a career beyond licensure.
The university reports a 99 percent passing rate for first-time test-takers of the NCLEX-RN exam.
Courses Offered
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offered by West Virginia University covers technical courses while also focusing on developing the following skills:
- Critical Thinking
- Nursing Interventions
- Professional Role
- Caring
- Communication
The curriculum includes classes such as General Biology with Lab, Survey of Chemistry with Lab, Medical Microbiology, Introduction to Nursing, Algebra with Applications, Intro to Human Biology, Introduction to Nursing, Intro to Nutrition, Elementary Statistical Inference, Microbiology, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 64 Medical Center Drive, P.O. Box 9600, Morgantown, WV 26506-9600
- Phone: 304-293-1386
- Website: http://nursing.hsc.wvu.edu
9Spruce School of Real Estate
About the School
Morgantown also provides training options for students who want to start careers in the real estate field.
Spruce School of Real Estate offers exam prep classes for people who want to become licensed salespersons in West Virginia.
The school provides 90 hours of courses that are constantly updated to keep pace with the state exam requirements.
After completing the course, students receive 14 hours of review materials.
All of the school’s materials are approved by the state of West Virginia’s Real Estate Commission, the West Virginia Community and Technical Colleges, and also by ARELLO, a global organization that regulates real estate education and online delivery.
The school provides study guides, test prep, and approaches to prepare students for the real estate salesperson exam for 29 years.
Contact Information
- Address: 5000 Greenbag Road, Morgantown, WV 26501, USA
- Phone: 800-864-7318
- Website: https://sprucerealestateschool.com
10RSA Flight Training
About the School
RSA Flight Training provides flight training and aircraft rentals for those who want to become pilots.
Private pilot certificate training is available for people who want to fly recreationally.
The school also provides advanced training for students who are looking to take their flying to the next level and start a career as a commercial pilot.
A Cessna 172N and Piper Warrior 2 are available for rental and instruction.
The private pilot minimum requirements include:
- Being at least 16 years of age to solo in the aircraft and 17 years old to take the ride and obtain their certificate
- The FAA also mandates a minimum of 40 flight hours that must be met by a prospective pilot
- 20 hours of dual instruction with an FAA-certified flight instructor
- 10 hours of solo time as the sole occupant of the aircraft
- And more
Students can also prepare for Instrument Rating and Commercial Rating.
An introductory flight is available for $150.
The instruction rate is $70 per hour on the school’s plane.
Flight simulator training is $130 per hour with an instructor.
Students can use 2.5 hours of simulator time toward their private pilot requirements.
Contact Information
- Address: 82 Hart Field RD Suite 241, Morgantown, WV 26505
- Phone: (304) 322-2135
- Website: https://flyrsa.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 | 140 | $63,840 | $30.69 | $130,500 | $36,430 |
| Medical Records Specialists | 110 | $44,680 | $21.48 | $62,710 | $29,910 |
| Nursing Assistants | 1,280 | $37,010 | $17.79 | $37,550 | $31,950 |
| Dental Assistants | 130 | $41,370 | $19.89 | $59,980 | $31,570 |
| Medical Assistants | 580 | $35,950 | $17.29 | $42,590 | $29,710 |
| Phlebotomists | 140 | $36,980 | $17.78 | $38,110 | $34,100 |
| Electricians | 250 | $60,740 | $29.2 | $96,830 | $36,400 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | 100 | $57,010 | $27.41 | $79,760 | $37,480 |
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | 340 | $39,940 | $19.2 | $59,820 | $27,420 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | 160 | $46,120 | $22.18 | $63,610 | $30,710 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our selection of the best 10 trade schools in Morgantown, West Virginia, the next step is to continue the research and apply for the program that best meets your needs, learning style, and career aspirations.
Before making this important decision, we encourage you to take some time and gather information about all the factors that are relevant to you.
Trade Schools by City in West Virginia
