Most hands-on trade training in the Birmingham area runs through two public community colleges: Lawson State, with campuses in Birmingham and Bessemer, and Jefferson State, with campuses in Birmingham and Hoover. Around them are short private HVAC courses, Fortis’s career campus, a CDL school in Bessemer and two beauty schools in Hoover. This page helps you pick a trade, compare 8 Birmingham-area trade schools, and see what training costs and which Alabama license it leads to.
Birmingham at a glance
- Schools listed
- 8 trade schools, all open to adults
- Where
- Birmingham, Hoover and Bessemer
- Public colleges
- Lawson State and Jefferson State
- Shortest course
- 2-week HVAC express course (BTrained)
- Federal aid at
- 5 of the 8 schools
- Free options
- Skills for Success short courses, including Jefferson State’s CDL classes
Facts checked October 2026. Sources are linked in each section and in each school’s profile.
Birmingham Trade Schools and Career Colleges
Listed alphabetically, not ranked. Most cards link to a full profile with programs, outcomes and sources; Jefferson State’s links to the college’s own website. Pick a trade to filter the list; each trade’s pay, length and license are in Trades and licensing.
Open to adults (8 schools)
Aveda Arts Birmingham (Aveda Institutes)
Teaches cosmetology, esthiology and instructor training, with classes Wednesday to Saturday. It reported 83.7% graduation and 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)
BTrained
A 12-week evening HVAC course (also taught in Spanish), 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 →Fortis Institute Birmingham
Fortis’s Alabama campus with the most trades: HVAC-R, welding and electrical trades, plus medical and dental assisting and a dental hygiene degree.
- Length
- 48-week diplomas; 120-week dental hygiene degree
- Accredited
- Yes (ABHES)
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: $23,461 electrical trades; $63,058 dental hygiene (2025-26)
View school profile →Hands On HVAC School
One HVAC/R course ending with the EPA 608 exam (one attempt included). Approved by the Alabama Private School Licensure Division.
- Length
- 100 hours over 12 weeks
- Accredited
- No
- Federal aid
- No
Cost: $3,350 including registration (2026-27)
View school profile →Jefferson State Community College
Teaches RN and LPN nursing and welding, with day and evening classes. Its lineworker program with Alabama Power trains at the Birmingham campus, and its CDL classes run at the Clanton campus.
- Length
- 10 weeks (lineworker) to 2-year degrees
- Accredited
- Yes (SACSCOC)
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: $196 per credit hour in-state: $133 tuition plus fees (2026-27)
Visit the college’s website →Lawson State Community College
The widest range of trades here: HVAC, welding and electrical at Bessemer; plumbing, cosmetology and barbering in Birmingham; nursing on both campuses; and a 10-week lineworker program. Its RN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN at 97.22% 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
Teaches cosmetology, esthetics and a 650-hour instructor program.
- Length
- 1,500 hours cosmetology
- Accredited
- NACCAS; on probation since January 2026
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: ask the school for current pricing
Roadmaster Drivers School
Full-time Class A CDL training on weekdays, with new classes weekly. Students must finish federal ELDT theory before they start.
- Length
- About 4 weeks, full time
- Accredited
- No
- Federal aid
- No
Cost: Alabama tuition: request current pricing
View school profile →No schools on this page match. Try another trade, or see the Alabama page.
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.
- Check accreditation. BTrained, Hands On HVAC and Roadmaster are not accredited, award no college credit and take no federal aid.
- Ask which campus you will attend. At Lawson State, most construction and industrial programs are in Bessemer, while plumbing, cosmetology and barbering are in Birmingham.
- Ask for program-level results, not school-wide claims. Lawson State’s RN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN at 97.22% in 2024, but its radiography graduates passed their exam at 40% that year.
- Get the price in writing. Roadmaster publishes no Alabama tuition, and we found no published price for Paul Mitchell’s Hoover school.
More in Alabama: All Alabama trade schools · Mobile trade schools
Where to start, by goal
| Your goal | Schools to consider | Why they may fit |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest-cost accredited credential | Lawson State; Jefferson State | $194 and $196 per credit hour in-state with fees (2026-27); both take federal aid |
| Fastest start in HVAC | BTrained; Hands On HVAC | Courses of 2 to 12 weeks for $2,950 to $3,350 (2026-27); not accredited, no federal aid |
| HVAC, welding or electrical diploma | Fortis | 48-week diplomas at an accredited school that takes federal aid; $23,461 for electrical trades (2025-26) |
| Lineworker | Lawson State; Jefferson State | 10-week programs with Alabama Power; Jefferson State’s tuition is $4,150, and Lawson State’s qualifies for Workforce Pell |
| Nursing (LPN or RN) | Lawson State; Jefferson State | Both teach RN and LPN; Lawson State RN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN at 97.22% in 2024 |
| Medical or dental assisting, or dental hygiene | Fortis; Lawson State (dental assisting) | Fortis teaches medical and dental assisting and a 120-week dental hygiene degree |
| Cosmetology license | Aveda Arts Birmingham; Paul Mitchell (both Hoover); Lawson State | Alabama requires 1,500 school hours; all three take federal aid |
| Class A CDL | Roadmaster (Bessemer); Jefferson State (Clanton campus) | About 4 weeks full time at Roadmaster; Jefferson State’s CDL classes have Skills for Success scholarships |
| Still in high school | ACCS dual enrollment at Lawson State or Jefferson State | College courses with scholarships for grades 10 to 12; see Paying for training |
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; Jefferson State | $194 and $196 per credit hour in-state, including fees (about $11,640 at Lawson State for a 60-credit degree) | 2026-27 |
| Lineworker program (10 weeks) | Jefferson State | $4,150 tuition, plus books, gear and exam fees | October 2026 |
| Short private HVAC course | BTrained; Hands On HVAC | $2,950; $3,350 | 2026-27 |
| HVAC contractor exam prep | BTrained two-day seminar | $595 | 2026-27 |
| Private CDL course | Roadmaster Class A | Alabama tuition: request current pricing | n/a |
| Private career college | Fortis Birmingham electrical trades diploma; dental hygiene degree | $23,461; $63,058 | 2025-26 |
| Beauty school | Aveda Arts Birmingham cosmetology; esthiology | $23,100; $17,300 | October 2026 |
A community college certificate is usually the cheapest accredited route: in-state tuition is the same $133 per credit hour at Lawson State, Jefferson State and every other Alabama community college, and only the fees differ.
Paying for training
- Federal aid: Lawson State, Jefferson State, Fortis, Aveda, Paul Mitchell and Strayer take federal aid through the FAFSA. BTrained, Hands On HVAC and Roadmaster 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 10-week 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. Roadmaster accepts WIOA funding.
- Payment plans and employers: Hands On HVAC offers an interest-free weekly plan, and Roadmaster’s partner carriers can reimburse tuition while you drive for them.
- Registered apprenticeship: earn while you train. The Alabama Office of Apprenticeship lists programs.
- High-school students: can take college courses at Lawson State or Jefferson State through ACCS dual enrollment, with scholarships for grades 10 to 12.
Trade pathways and licensing
How each trade works in the Birmingham area: how long training takes, local pay, which schools teach it and what Alabama license you need. Prices are in the school cards and the cost table above. Pay is the Birmingham metro median annual wage for all experience levels from BLS 2025 data, via O*NET OnLine. For every state board in one table, see Alabama licensing at a glance.
HVAC
HVAC has the most choice in Birmingham: two short private courses for about $3,000, a 48-week diploma at Fortis, or a cheaper but longer certificate or degree at Lawson State.
- Length
- 2 weeks to 2 years
- Birmingham median pay
- $48,740 (HVAC mechanics)
- License
- EPA 608 to handle refrigerant; HACR Board contractor exam to run a business
- Step-by-step guide
- How to Become an HVAC Technician in Alabama →
Where to train:
- Lawson State: 25-credit short certificate to 76-credit degree, Bessemer campus
- Fortis: 48-week HVAC-R diploma, morning or evening sessions Monday to Thursday
- BTrained: 12-week evening or 2-week express course, plus contractor exam prep
- Hands On HVAC: 100-hour course over 12 weeks, EPA 608 exam included
BTrained and Hands On HVAC are not accredited, and BTrained’s pages don’t say whether EPA 608 testing is included, so ask. On the HACR Board’s 2025 heating exam results by school, test-takers passed at 58% for BTrained (48 of 82), 43% for Fortis (10 of 23) and 30% for Lawson State (4 of 13); Hands On HVAC is not listed. 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 →
Where to train:
- Lawson State: 28-credit electrical short certificate (Bessemer), 28-credit plumbing short certificate (Birmingham), Building Construction degree, and a 10-week lineworker program with Alabama Power
- Fortis: 48-week Electrical Trades diploma, taught in Alabama only at Birmingham
- Jefferson State: 10-week lineworker program with Alabama Power at the Birmingham campus, with three weeks of CDL training at its Clanton campus; up to 10 seats per class, two classes a year
Lawson State’s lineworker program was the first in Alabama approved for Workforce Pell grants.
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
- Birmingham median pay
- $49,930
- License
- None from the state; ask which AWS or other tests are included
- Step-by-step guide
- Welding Schools in Alabama →
Where to train:
- Lawson State: 28-credit short certificate to 73-credit degree, Bessemer campus, with AWS SENSE and NC3 Lincoln certifications along the way
- Fortis: 48-week Welding Technician diploma
- Jefferson State: welding certificates and a two-year degree, with day and evening classes and welding labs at the Birmingham and Shelby-Hoover campuses
Nursing and healthcare
Nursing in Birmingham is taught at Lawson State and Jefferson State; Fortis focuses on assisting roles and dental hygiene.
- Length
- One semester (EMT) to 120 weeks (dental hygiene)
- License
- NCLEX for nurses; national board, clinical and jurisprudence exams for dental hygienists; national certification for assistants
Where to train:
- Lawson State: RN (days in Birmingham, evenings in Bessemer), LPN (Bessemer), radiologic technology and EMT (Birmingham), and dental assisting
- Fortis: medical and dental assisting, and a 120-week dental hygiene degree; no nursing in Alabama
- Jefferson State: RN degree and practical nursing (LPN); the day RN program admits at the Birmingham and Shelby-Hoover campuses, and the evening program at Shelby-Hoover
Results differ by program at the same college. Lawson State’s RN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN at 97.22% in 2024, but its radiography graduates passed the ARRT exam at 40% in 2024 and 65% in 2025, below the 75% benchmark, and its EMT students passed the national exam at 57%. Fortis’s dental hygiene program is accredited with reporting requirements. Sources: Lawson State NCLEX results and radiography results; our Lawson State and Fortis profiles.
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
- Birmingham median pay
- $29,000 (cosmetologists)
- License
- Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering exams
Where to train:
- Aveda Arts Birmingham (Hoover): cosmetology, 1,000-hour esthiology and instructor training
- Paul Mitchell The School Birmingham (Hoover): cosmetology, esthetics and instructor training
- Lawson State: cosmetology and barbering certificates and degrees, Birmingham campus
Pass rates vary: Aveda reported a 100% licensure pass rate for 2024, while Lawson State’s cosmetology students passed the state theory exam at about 50% in 2024 and 2025. Paul Mitchell The School Birmingham has been on NACCAS probation under financial reporting requirements since January 2026, as disclosed on the school’s own page. Source: our Lawson State profile.
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
- Birmingham median pay
- $54,460 (tractor-trailer drivers)
- License
- An Alabama CDL from ALEA, after holding a learner’s permit for at least 14 days
Where to train:
- Roadmaster Drivers School (Bessemer): full-time Class A course, weekdays 7:30 am to 5:30 pm
- Jefferson State: Class A CDL classes at its Chilton-Clanton campus, with full scholarships available through Skills for Success (October 2026)
Roadmaster is not accredited and expects you to arrive with ELDT theory already done; ask who provides it and what it costs, and ask for the Alabama enrollment agreement and price in writing before signing. Source: Roadmaster catalog (Florida edition, October 2025); details in our Roadmaster profile.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest trade school in Birmingham?
For an accredited credential, one of the two public community colleges: $194 per credit hour in-state at Lawson State and $196 at Jefferson State for 2026-27, including fees, with federal aid available. The cheapest short courses are BTrained’s $2,950 HVAC course and Hands On HVAC’s $3,350 course, though neither takes federal aid. Some community college short courses, including Jefferson State’s CDL classes, are currently free through Skills for Success scholarships.
What is the fastest trade program in Birmingham?
BTrained’s express HVAC course takes two weeks of full-time weekdays, and Roadmaster’s Class A CDL course takes about four weeks. The lineworker programs at Lawson State and Jefferson State run 10 weeks, and Hands On HVAC’s course 12 weeks.
Can I use financial aid at Birmingham trade schools?
Yes at Lawson State, Jefferson State, Fortis, Aveda, Paul Mitchell and Strayer, which take federal aid through the FAFSA. BTrained, Hands On HVAC and Roadmaster do not, but WIOA funding, payment plans or employer reimbursement may help. Lawson State’s lineworker program also qualifies for Workforce Pell.
Do I need a license to work as an HVAC technician in Birmingham?
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.
Which Lawson State campus teaches which trades?
Most construction and industrial programs, including HVAC, welding and electrical, are on the Bessemer campus, along with practical nursing and the evening RN program. Plumbing, cosmetology, barbering, culinary arts, radiologic technology, EMT and the day RN program are on the Wilson Road campus in Birmingham.
Alabama career guides and more locations
- How to Become an Electrician in Alabama
- How to Become an HVAC Technician in Alabama
- How to Become a Plumber in Alabama
- Welding Schools in Alabama
- All Alabama trade schools
- Mobile trade schools
Facts checked October 2026. School facts come from each school’s profile on this site, where the original sources are linked; Jefferson State facts come from the college’s own website. Pay figures are Birmingham metro median annual wages from BLS 2025 data, via O*NET OnLine.