Most hands-on trade training in Alabama happens at the state’s 24 public community and technical colleges, with private career schools, short HVAC and CDL courses and beauty schools filling in around them. This page helps you pick a trade, compare the schools we profile, and see what training costs and which license it leads to.
Alabama at a glance
- Schools listed
- 11 open to adults, plus 3 for high-school students
- Where
- Birmingham area, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Dothan and Tuscaloosa
- Public colleges profiled
- Lawson State (Birmingham) and Bishop State (Mobile)
- Shortest course
- 2-week HVAC express course (BTrained)
- Federal aid at
- 7 of the 11 adult schools
- Free options
- Skills for Success short courses; career centers for high-school students
Facts checked October 2026. Sources are linked in each section and in each school’s profile.
Alabama Trade Schools and Career Colleges
Listed alphabetically, not ranked. Each card links to a full profile with programs, outcomes and sources. Pick a trade to filter the list; each trade’s pay, length and license are in Trades and licensing.
Open to adults (11 schools)
Aveda Arts Birmingham (Aveda Institutes)
Cosmetology, esthiology and instructor training at Alabama’s only Aveda Institute. It reported a 100% licensure pass rate for 2024.
- Length
- 1,500 hours cosmetology; 1,000 hours esthiology
- Accredited
- Yes (NACCAS)
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: $23,100 cosmetology; $17,300 esthiology (October 2026)
Bishop State Community College
Three Mobile campuses teach nursing, welding, HVAC, electrical, diesel, cosmetology and barbering, plus truck driving. Open admission.
- Length
- Short certificates to 2-year associate degrees
- Accredited
- Yes (Commission on Colleges and Universities)
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: $204 per credit hour in-state, fees included (2026-27)
View school profile →BTrained
A 12-week evening HVAC course, a 2-week express version and a 2-day exam prep seminar. The HACR Board lists it as an approved pre-exam curriculum.
- Length
- 2 days (exam prep) to 12 weeks
- Accredited
- No
- Federal aid
- No
Cost: $2,950 course; $595 exam prep (2026-27)
View school profile →Champion Technician Institute
In-person HVAC courses of 2 to 8 weeks and an online option, with EPA 608 included.
- Length
- 2 to 8 weeks in person; online option
- Accredited
- No (HACR Board approval only)
- Federal aid
- No
Cost: $2,895 in person; $1,499 online (October 2026)
View school profile →Fortis College and Fortis Institute
HVAC-R and medical assisting at all four campuses; Birmingham adds welding, electrical trades and dental hygiene. No nursing in Alabama.
- Length
- Diplomas of 36 to 48 weeks
- Accredited
- Yes (ABHES)
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: $23,461 electrical trades, Birmingham (2025-26)
View school profile →Lawson State Community College
Trades from HVAC, welding, electrical and plumbing to nursing, automotive and a 10-week lineworker program. Its RN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN at 97.22% (35 of 36) in 2024.
- Length
- 10 weeks (lineworker) to 5-semester degrees
- Accredited
- Yes (Commission on Colleges and Universities)
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: $194 per credit hour in-state (2026-27)
View school profile →Paul Mitchell The School Birmingham
Cosmetology (1,500 hours), esthetics and a 650-hour instructor program, as part of the national network of independently owned Paul Mitchell schools.
- Length
- 1,500 hours cosmetology
- Accredited
- NACCAS; on probation since January 2026
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: ask the school for current Hoover pricing
Remington College
Its only Alabama campus teaches cosmetology, HVAC, medical assisting and process technology. All 9 tested 2022-23 cosmetology graduates passed the state board.
- Length
- Diplomas of about 7 to 9 months
- Accredited
- Yes (ACCSC)
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: $16,800 HVAC diploma; $22,500 cosmetology (2026)
View school profile →Roadmaster Drivers School
Full-time Class A CDL training with new classes weekly. The school is owned by trucking company Werner Enterprises.
- Length
- About 4 weeks, full time
- Accredited
- No
- Federal aid
- No
Cost: Alabama tuition: request current pricing
View school profile →Ross Medical Education Center
Medical, dental and veterinary assisting diplomas, each ending in an externship.
- Length
- 30 to 36 weeks
- Accredited
- Yes (ABHES)
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: $16,297 tuition and fees, medical or dental assisting (2024-25, federal IPEDS data)
View school profile →Skilled Trades of West Alabama
Employer-led construction training: an 18-week day class in electrical, HVAC or plumbing, apprenticeship night classes and a beginner Jumpstart program.
- Length
- 18-week day class
- Accredited
- No (not a college)
- Federal aid
- No
Cost: $1,500 day class (January to May 2027)
View school profile →Also in Birmingham: Strayer University offers mostly online business, IT and criminal justice degrees and is not a trade school, so it is not listed above.
High school only (3 schools)
Bryant Career Technical Center
About 500 juniors and seniors from five high schools learn welding, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, automotive, cosmetology and health science.
- Who
- Mobile County Public Schools juniors and seniors
- Federal aid
- Not applicable
Cost: no tuition for local students
View school profile →LeCroy Career Tech Center
12 programs, including welding, HVACR, line worker with CDL, cosmetology and CNA. A new $40 million center is due in early 2028.
- Who
- Chilton County Schools students
- Federal aid
- Not applicable
Cost: no tuition for local students
View school profile →Tuscaloosa Career & Technology Academy
14 programs, including welding, building construction, electrical, plumbing, and cosmetology and barbering.
- Who
- Tuscaloosa City Schools students
- Federal aid
- Not applicable
Cost: no tuition for local students
View school profile →No schools on this page match. Try another trade or city, or see the public colleges named below.
Alabama’s largest public trade colleges are not profiled here yet: Wallace State (Hanceville), Calhoun (Decatur and Huntsville), Jefferson State (Birmingham), Gadsden State, Coastal Alabama, Shelton State (Tuscaloosa), Trenholm State (Montgomery) and Drake State (Huntsville). All charge the same $133 per credit hour in tuition for 2026-27, and each trade section below names the ones that teach it.
City pages: Birmingham trade schools · Mobile trade schools
- Check accreditation and federal aid on each card. The HVAC, CDL and construction course providers above are not accredited and award no college credit.
- Ask for program-level results, not school-wide claims. Pass rates on this page range from 97% to 30% depending on the program.
- Get the Alabama price in writing. Roadmaster publishes no Alabama tuition, and some private schools show prices as discounts from a higher list price.
Where to start, by goal
| Your goal | Schools to consider | Why they may fit |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest-cost accredited credential | Lawson State; Bishop State | $194 and $204 per credit hour in-state with fees (2026-27); both take federal aid |
| Fastest start in HVAC | BTrained; Champion | Courses of 2 to 12 weeks for $1,499 to $2,950; not accredited, no federal aid |
| Electrical, HVAC or plumbing with an apprenticeship | Skilled Trades of West Alabama | 18-week day class for $1,500 (ages 18 to 32), plus apprenticeship night classes in Tuscaloosa |
| Lineworker | Lawson State | 10-week program with Alabama Power; the first Workforce Pell program approved in Alabama |
| Nursing (LPN or RN) | Lawson State; Bishop State | ACEN-accredited nursing programs; Lawson State RN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN at 97.22% in 2024 |
| Medical or dental assisting | Ross (Huntsville); Fortis; Remington (Mobile) | Diplomas of about 7 to 9 months; Ross programs end in an externship |
| Cosmetology license | Aveda Arts Birmingham; Paul Mitchell (both Hoover); Remington (Mobile); Bishop State; Lawson State | Alabama requires 1,500 school hours; all five take federal aid |
| Class A CDL | Roadmaster (Bessemer); Bishop State (Mobile) | About 4 weeks full time at Roadmaster; Bishop State offers a truck driving short certificate |
| Still in high school | Bryant, LeCroy or Tuscaloosa CTA; ACCS dual enrollment | No tuition for local students; see high school options |
These match goals to published program features. They are not rankings.
Costs and financial aid
These are the prices each school published, with the year. They exclude books, tools, and exam and license fees unless noted.
| Route | Example | Cost | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public community college | Lawson State; Bishop State | $194 and $204 per credit hour in-state (about $2,900 to $3,100 for a full-time 15-credit semester) | 2026-27 |
| Nonprofit apprenticeship center | Skilled Trades of West Alabama day class (18 weeks) | $1,500 | January to May 2027 |
| Private HVAC course | Champion (in person); BTrained | $2,895; $2,950 | October 2026; 2026-27 |
| Private CDL course | Roadmaster Class A | Alabama tuition: request current pricing | n/a |
| Private career school diploma | Ross medical or dental assisting; Remington HVAC; Fortis electrical trades (Birmingham) | $16,297; $16,800; $23,461 | 2024-25 (IPEDS); 2026; 2025-26 |
| Beauty school | Aveda Arts Birmingham cosmetology; Remington cosmetology | $23,100; $22,500 | October 2026; 2026 |
A community college certificate is usually the cheapest accredited route: in-state tuition is the same $133 per credit hour at every college in the Alabama Community College System, and only the fees differ.
Paying for training
- Federal aid: Bishop State, Lawson State, Fortis, Remington, Ross, Aveda, Paul Mitchell and Strayer take federal aid through the FAFSA. BTrained, Champion, Roadmaster and Skilled Trades of West Alabama do not.
- Workforce Pell: a new federal grant for programs of 8 to 15 weeks. Alabama opened its approval process in June 2026, and Lawson State’s lineworker program was the first approved.
- Skills for Success: short training in CDL, construction, manufacturing and healthcare at the community colleges, offered at no cost through state funding.
- Alabama Career Essentials: a free employability course (formerly Ready to Work) that earns a career readiness certificate and one free college course.
- WIOA: Alabama Career Centers can pay tuition, tools and fees for eligible adults in approved programs.
- Registered apprenticeship: earn while you train. The Alabama Office of Apprenticeship lists programs.
- AIDT: the state’s free job-specific training for new and expanding employers, usually tied to a hiring employer.
Trade pathways and licensing
How each trade works in Alabama, how long training takes, what it pays and which license you need. Pay is the Alabama median annual wage for all experience levels (BLS 2025, via O*NET OnLine).
HVAC
Alabama has more HVAC options than any other trade on this page. Short private courses cost $1,499 to $2,950 (October 2026); community college certificates cost less per credit but take longer.
- Length
- 2 weeks to 2 years
- Alabama median pay
- $48,370 (HVAC mechanics)
- License
- EPA 608; HACR Board contractor exam to run a business
- Step-by-step guide
- How to Become an HVAC Technician in Alabama →
Schools on this page: Lawson State (25-credit short certificate to 76-credit degree), Bishop State (Mobile), Fortis (48-week diploma, four campuses), Remington (Mobile), Champion (Mobile), BTrained (Birmingham, Huntsville) and Skilled Trades of West Alabama (Tuscaloosa).
Also at public colleges we don’t profile yet: Wallace State, Calhoun, Gadsden State, Coastal Alabama, Shelton State, Trenholm State and Drake State.
The short HVAC course providers (BTrained, Champion and Skilled Trades of West Alabama) are not accredited. On the HACR Board’s 2025 heating exam results by school, test-takers passed at 100% for Bishop State (3 of 3), 64% for Champion (9 of 14), 58% for BTrained (48 of 82), 43% for Fortis (10 of 23) and 30% for Lawson State (4 of 13). Source: HACR Board, 2025 pass/fail by institution.
Electrical, plumbing and lineworker
Electricians and plumbers in Alabama need years of supervised work for a license, and school counts toward part of it.
- Length
- 10 weeks to 2 years
- License
- Journeyman electrician after 8,000 hours (school counts up to 2,000); journeyman plumber after 2 years as an apprentice
- Step-by-step guide
- Electrician guide →
Plumber guide →
Schools on this page: Lawson State (electrical and plumbing short certificates, Building Construction degree, 10-week lineworker program with Alabama Power), Bishop State (Electrical Technology, Mobile), Fortis (48-week Electrical Trades diploma, Birmingham) and Skilled Trades of West Alabama (apprenticeship night classes, Tuscaloosa).
Also at public colleges we don’t profile yet: electrical at Wallace State, Calhoun, Gadsden State, Coastal Alabama, Shelton State, Trenholm State and Drake State; noncredit plumbing at Wallace State and Drake State; noncredit lineworker training at Calhoun, Jefferson State and Trenholm State.
Welding
Alabama has no state welding license, so what counts is passing the welding tests employers ask for, often to AWS standards.
- Length
- Short certificate to 2 years
- Alabama median pay
- $48,490
- License
- None from the state; ask which AWS or other tests are included
- Step-by-step guide
- Welding Schools in Alabama →
Schools on this page: Bishop State (certificates to associate degree, daytime only, Mobile), Lawson State (28-credit short certificate to 73-credit degree) and Fortis (48-week, 1,600-hour diploma, Birmingham).
Also at public colleges we don’t profile yet: Wallace State, Calhoun, Jefferson State, Gadsden State, Coastal Alabama, Shelton State, Trenholm State and Drake State.
Nursing and healthcare
Nursing is taught at the public colleges; private schools focus on assisting roles.
- Length
- 30 weeks to 2 years
- License
- NCLEX for nurses (91.64% of Alabama RN candidates passed first time in 2024); national certificates for assistants
Schools on this page: Lawson State (LPN and RN), Bishop State (LPN and RN), Ross (medical, dental and veterinary assisting, Huntsville), Fortis (medical assisting at all four campuses; no nursing in Alabama) and Remington (medical assisting, Mobile).
Also at public colleges we don’t profile yet: LPN and RN programs at all 8 large public colleges we list; medical assisting at Wallace State, Gadsden State, Coastal Alabama, Trenholm State and Drake State.
Results differ by program at the same college. Lawson State’s RN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN at 97.22% (35 of 36) in 2024, but its radiologic technology graduates passed the ARRT exam on the first try at 40% (4 of 10) in 2024 and 65% (11 of 17) in 2025, below the 75% benchmark. Sources: Lawson State NCLEX results and radiologic technology exam results.
Cosmetology and barbering
Alabama requires 1,500 school hours for a cosmetology license and 1,000 for barbering or esthetics.
- Length
- 1,000 to 1,500 school hours
- Alabama median pay
- $29,150 (cosmetologists)
- License
- Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering exams; Mobile County barbers also need a county license
Schools on this page: Aveda Arts Birmingham (Hoover), Paul Mitchell The School Birmingham (Hoover), Remington (Mobile), and cosmetology and barbering certificates at Bishop State and Lawson State.
Also at public colleges we don’t profile yet: cosmetology at Wallace State, Gadsden State, Coastal Alabama, Shelton State and Drake State; barbering at Shelton State and Drake State.
Paul Mitchell The School Birmingham (Hoover) has been on NACCAS probation under financial reporting requirements since January 22, 2026, as disclosed on the school’s own page.
CDL and truck driving
First-time truck drivers must finish federal entry-level driver training before the CDL skills test.
- Length
- About 4 weeks full time
- Alabama median pay
- $52,120 (tractor-trailer drivers)
- License
- An Alabama CDL from ALEA, after holding a learner’s permit for at least 14 days
Schools on this page: Roadmaster Drivers School (full-time Class A, Bessemer) and Bishop State (truck driving short certificate, Mobile and Jackson).
Also at public colleges we don’t profile yet: noncredit CDL courses at Wallace State, Calhoun, Jefferson State, Gadsden State, Shelton State and Trenholm State, and Class B at Coastal Alabama.
Roadmaster is not accredited (its catalog says so), is not approved for federal student aid and publishes no Alabama tuition. Ask for the Alabama enrollment agreement and price in writing before signing. Source: Roadmaster catalog (Florida edition, October 2025); details in our Roadmaster profile.
Licensing at a glance
| Trade | Who licenses it | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC | Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors | Contractor certification by exam ($175). To sit it: 2 years as a registered apprentice, 3,000 hours of training or experience, or an approved program, including Alabama community college certificates. EPA 608 certification to handle refrigerant (federal). Full HVAC guide |
| Electrical | Alabama Electrical Contractors Board | Journeyman: 8,000 hours of experience plus an exam; a year of school or apprenticeship counts for 1,000 hours, up to 2,000. Contractor: 8,000 hours of supervision-level work plus an exam. Full electrician guide |
| Plumbing and gas fitting | Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board | Apprentices register. Journeyman: 2 years as an apprentice plus a written exam. Master: 1 year as a journeyman plus written and business law exams. Full plumber guide |
| Cosmetology and barbering | Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering | School hours: cosmetology 1,500, barber 1,000, esthetics 1,000, manicurist 750. Apprenticeship routes need about double. Mobile County barbers are also licensed by the Mobile County Barber Commission. |
| CDL | Alabama Law Enforcement Agency | Federal entry-level driver training for first-time Class A or B drivers, a learner’s permit held at least 14 days, then the skills test. |
| Nursing | Alabama Board of Nursing | An approved program and the NCLEX. In 2024, 91.64% of Alabama RN candidates and 94.81% of LPN candidates passed on the first try. |
| Residential building | Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board | A license for residential jobs over $10,000 (roofing over $2,500). |
High school students: career centers and dual enrollment
Three schools on this page are public career centers for high-school students only: Bryant Career Technical Center in Irvington (Mobile County), LeCroy Career Tech Center in Clanton (Chilton County) and Tuscaloosa Career & Technology Academy. They charge no tuition to local students and often build in industry certifications such as EPA 608, AWS welding and CNA. Adults cannot enroll and should look at the nearest community college: Bishop State for Mobile, Jefferson State’s Clanton campus for Chilton County, and Shelton State for Tuscaloosa.
High-school students can also take college courses through ACCS dual enrollment, with scholarships for grades 10 to 12.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest trade school in Alabama?
For adults, a public community college certificate is usually cheapest: in-state tuition is $133 per credit hour in 2026-27, or $194 to $204 with fees at the colleges on this page, and federal aid applies. Some short courses are free through Skills for Success.
Is trade school free in Alabama?
Not generally, but there are free routes: the state-funded Skills for Success short courses, Alabama Career Essentials, AIDT training tied to employers, WIOA funding through Alabama Career Centers, and Pell Grants at accredited schools. We found no statewide free community college program.
Do I need a license to work as an HVAC technician in Alabama?
Alabama certifies HVAC contractors, not technicians. Technicians who handle refrigerant need federal EPA 608 certification. To run your own HVAC business you need HACR Board certification, which requires an exam plus an approved program, 3,000 hours of training or experience, or 2 years as a registered apprentice.
How long does trade school take in Alabama?
From two weeks for a private HVAC course to about two years for an associate degree. Diplomas at private career schools on this page run 30 to 48 weeks, and an LPN certificate takes about three semesters.
Can adults attend Alabama career tech centers?
Not the three on this page. Bryant, LeCroy and Tuscaloosa CTA teach high-school students only; adults should look at the nearest community college.
Alabama career guides
- How to Become an Electrician in Alabama
- How to Become an HVAC Technician in Alabama
- How to Become a Plumber in Alabama
- How to Become a Travel Agent in Alabama
- Welding Schools in Alabama
Facts checked October 2026. School facts come from each school’s profile on this site, where the original sources are linked. Pay figures are Alabama median annual wages from BLS 2025 data, via O*NET OnLine.