Fargo is the place in eastern North Dakota to train for a trade, and the whole Fargo-Moorhead area counts: NDSCS teaches nursing, EMS and aircraft maintenance in Fargo, M State’s Moorhead campus across the river teaches electrical, HVAC, plumbing and diesel, and the region’s two electrical apprenticeships are headquartered or teach here. Lynnes Welding Training and Rasmussen’s BSN campus round out the list. This page compares the 6 Fargo schools we have profiled and M State Moorhead.
Fargo at a glance
- Schools listed
- 7: 2 public colleges (NDSCS and M State Moorhead), 2 electrical apprenticeships, an electrician exam-prep course, a welding school and a nursing school
- Short programs
- 12- and 16-week combination welder certificates (Lynnes); a 75-hour nursing assistant course and an EMT certificate (NDSCS); paid electrical apprenticeships with no tuition (Dakotas Electrical)
- Federal aid at
- NDSCS, M State, Lynnes (loans, plus Pell for Combination Welder II) and Rasmussen; apprentices are paid instead
- Licensed trades
- Electricians need 8,000 hours of experience and a state exam; plumbers need four years as apprentices. HVAC technicians and welders have no state license.
- Local median pay
- Electricians $76,950; HVAC mechanics $75,920; welders $61,140; registered nurses $82,120 (Fargo area, BLS 2025)
- More in North Dakota
- All North Dakota trade schools, including Bismarck, Grand Forks, Wahpeton, Minot and Williston
Facts checked October 2026. Sources are linked in each section and in each school’s profile.
Fargo Trade Schools and Vocational Schools
Grouped by type, not ranked. Each profiled school links to a full profile with programs, outcomes and sources; the M State card links to the college’s own site and stays on the list whichever trade you pick, because we have not yet checked its programs trade by trade. Each trade’s pay, length and license are in Trades and licensing.
Public colleges (2)
North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS)
NDSCS teaches in two Fargo buildings. NDSCS-Fargo is home to Aviation Maintenance Technology (FAA Part 147 since June 2025, in a hangar run with Fargo Jet Center) plus business, IT, cybersecurity and transfer courses. The Career Innovation Center, opened in August 2025, hosts the Fargo practical and registered nursing cohorts, the Nursing Assistant course and EMT and paramedic programs. Diesel, electrical, HVAC/R and plumbing are taught at the main campus in Wahpeton, south of Fargo.
- Length
- EMT certificate (online lectures, weekend labs); Practical Nursing 3 semesters; RN and aviation AAS degrees
- Accredited
- Higher Learning Commission
- Federal aid
- Yes, except some short programs such as Nursing Assistant
Cost: $196.31 a credit for North Dakota residents at the Fargo sites, tuition and mandatory fees, 2026-27; Minnesota residents $216.57 with reciprocity
View school profile →M State Moorhead (Minnesota State Community and Technical College)
M State’s Moorhead campus is the metro area’s public technical college. It teaches electrical technology, HVAC/R, plumbing technology, diesel equipment technology, automotive service, construction management, practical and associate degree nursing, dental assisting and hygiene, surgical technology, phlebotomy, medical laboratory technician, cybersecurity and IT. Residents and non-residents pay the same tuition, so Fargo students pay Minnesota rates.
- Length
- One-semester certificates (phlebotomy) to 2-year diplomas and degrees
- Accredited
- Higher Learning Commission
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: $200.35 a credit for residents and non-residents alike ($244.15 for nursing and dental programs), 2026-27, before fees (M State tuition)
Visit the college’s site →Electrical apprenticeships and exam prep (3)
Dakotas Electrical Apprenticeship
This is a paid job, not a school: selected applicants are placed with one of more than 75 union contractors, earn a wage that rises every six months, and attend classes at their nearest training site. The Inside Wireman apprenticeship is 8,000 on-the-job hours plus at least 720 classroom hours and leads to the North Dakota journeyman electrician exam. Applications are open all year; most applicants take an aptitude test and an online interview.
- Length
- 4 to 5 years (the program’s pages differ)
- Accredited
- Registered apprenticeship (U.S. Department of Labor)
- Federal aid
- No; classes are free and apprentices are paid
Cost: No tuition; apprentices pay a yearly access fee, books, courseware, tools and a laptop (amounts not published)
View school profile →IEC Dakotas
IEC Dakotas runs a four-year electrical apprenticeship for people already working full time for an electrical contractor: one evening class a week, in person or online, approved as related training by the North Dakota State Electrical Board. You apply through your employer. The 2026-27 intake is closed, and applications for 2027-28 open in March.
- Length
- 4 years, 8 semesters of weekly evening classes
- Accredited
- No accreditor applies; approved by the ND State Electrical Board
- Federal aid
- No
Cost: $1,835 a year (apprentices of member contractors) or $2,295 (non-members), books and tutoring included
View school profile →TJP Electrical Training
TJP runs a two-day, in-person prep course for the North Dakota and Minnesota journeyman and master electrician exams, with a 130-page workbook, and one-day code classes on North Dakota’s 2026 approved continuing-education list. It is for people already in the trade: it does not provide the work experience a license needs and awards no credential.
- Length
- 1 or 2 days, Friday and Saturday
- Accredited
- None
- Federal aid
- No
Cost: $490 course fee (October 2026); ask what it covers
View school profile →Welding and nursing schools (2)
Lynnes Welding Training
Fargo is Lynnes’ main campus and the only one where Pell Grants are offered, for Combination Welder II only. It teaches Combination Welder I (12 weeks) and II (16 weeks), both ACCSC accredited, plus shorter Skills courses and one-week Prep-CWI, aluminum and LEAN welding courses. For Fargo classes that started in 2021-22, the school reports 97% to 100% graduating and employed in welding.
- Length
- 12 or 16 weeks (Combination Welder); 1 to 5 weeks (Skills courses)
- Accredited
- ACCSC (Combination Welder programs only)
- Federal aid
- Direct Loans at both campuses; Pell Grants only at Fargo, for Combination Welder II
Cost: $15,100 (Combination Welder I) or $17,900 (Combination Welder II), the same at every campus, 2026-27
View school profile →Rasmussen University
Rasmussen’s only North Dakota campus teaches one program on campus: the pre-licensure BSN, with online coursework, campus labs and clinicals. The North Dakota Board of Nursing gives it full approval and reported 82.35% of first-time NCLEX-RN takers passing in 2024-25 (14 of 17). Practical nursing is taught across the river in Moorhead, Minnesota, and Rasmussen says its online pharmacy technician certificate does not meet North Dakota’s requirements.
- Length
- Pre-licensure BSN in as few as 33 months
- Accredited
- Higher Learning Commission (through APUS); CCNE for the BSN
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: $392 a credit for the BSN (180 credits)
View school profile →No profiled schools on this page match. Try another trade, or see all North Dakota trade schools.
NDSCS’s main campus in Wahpeton teaches diesel, automotive, electrical, HVAC/R, plumbing, welding, machining and construction. Lake Region State College runs a 14-week summer peace officer academy in West Fargo. We have not yet profiled Fargo’s beauty schools or its other union apprenticeships; check that any private school is authorized by the North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education before you enroll.
- A school certificate is not a license. North Dakota electricians need 8,000 hours of work and a state exam, and plumbers four years as registered apprentices.
- Both electrical apprenticeships are jobs first: Dakotas Electrical places you with a union contractor, and IEC Dakotas needs you to be hired by a contractor before you apply.
- TJP Electrical Training is exam prep and continuing education for people already in the trade, not a way to start.
- Lynnes offers Pell Grants only for Combination Welder II in Fargo; other programs rely on loans, the GI Bill or workforce funding.
More in North Dakota: All North Dakota trade schools
Where to start, by goal
| Your goal | Schools to consider | What it leads to |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician | Dakotas Electrical Apprenticeship (paid union apprenticeship) or IEC Dakotas (evening classes while you work); M State Moorhead (Electrical Technology diploma) | A North Dakota journeyman license after 8,000 hours of experience |
| Welder | Lynnes Welding Training (12 or 16 weeks); NDSCS welding (Wahpeton and Fargo) | AWS welder tests; no state license |
| HVAC technician or plumber | M State Moorhead (HVAC/R and plumbing technology diplomas); NDSCS in Wahpeton (HVAC/R, plumbing, mechanical systems) | EPA 608 for HVAC; a journeyman plumber license after 4 years as an apprentice |
| Diesel or auto technician | M State Moorhead (diesel equipment and automotive service); NDSCS in Wahpeton (diesel and automotive) | ASE certification |
| Aircraft mechanic | NDSCS-Fargo (Aviation Maintenance Technology, FAA Part 147) | FAA mechanic certificate |
| Registered nurse | NDSCS (RN AAS at the Career Innovation Center); Rasmussen (BSN); M State Moorhead (associate degree nursing) | NCLEX-RN and a nursing license |
| Practical nurse or CNA | NDSCS (Practical Nursing, 3 semesters; Nursing Assistant course); M State Moorhead (Practical Nursing) | NCLEX-PN, or the state CNA exam |
| EMT or paramedic | NDSCS (EMT certificate; Paramedic Technology with Sanford Health and F-M Ambulance) | National Registry (NREMT) and a North Dakota license |
| IT or cybersecurity | NDSCS (IT, software, web and cybersecurity, in Fargo or online); M State Moorhead (cybersecurity and IT) | CompTIA and other industry certifications |
These match goals to published program features. They are not rankings.
Costs and financial aid
These are the prices each school published, with the date. Public colleges charge by the credit; private schools charge one price per program; apprentices are paid while they train.
| Route | Example | Cost | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public colleges | NDSCS (Fargo); M State Moorhead | $196.31 a credit with fees for North Dakota residents (NDSCS); $200.35 a credit before fees for everyone, $244.15 for nursing and dental programs (M State) | 2026-27 |
| Electrical apprenticeships | Dakotas Electrical; IEC Dakotas | No tuition, but fees, books and tools (Dakotas Electrical); $1,835 or $2,295 a year (IEC Dakotas) | Current published rates |
| Welding | Lynnes Welding Training | $15,100 (Combination Welder I) or $17,900 (Combination Welder II), including shop fee and materials | 2026-27 |
| Nursing (BSN) | Rasmussen | $392 a credit, 180 credits | October 2026 |
| Exam prep | TJP Electrical Training | $490 course fee | October 2026 |
Ask any school for the current total, including books, tools and exam fees, in writing before you sign. M State prices are from its tuition page; the others are from our school profiles.
Paying for training
- Federal aid: NDSCS, M State and Rasmussen take Pell Grants and federal loans through the FAFSA. Lynnes offers Direct Loans, and Pell Grants only for Combination Welder II in Fargo. The apprenticeships and TJP take no federal aid; apprentices are paid instead.
- North Dakota Scholarship: students certified by the state as eligible from high school get $750 a semester while enrolled full time at an accredited North Dakota college (or $500 a term at an accredited private career school or in a registered apprenticeship), up to $6,000, while keeping a 2.75 GPA.
- Minnesota reciprocity: Minnesota residents pay NDSCS’s reciprocity rate ($216.57 a credit with fees in Fargo) after applying through the Minnesota Office of Higher Education; M State charges everyone the same tuition.
- Workforce funding: Lynnes lists WIOA workforce funding, the Bank of North Dakota DEAL One loan and the GI Bill; ask Job Service North Dakota whether you qualify before paying yourself.
Trade pathways and licensing
How each trade works in North Dakota, how long training takes, what it pays and which license you need. Pay is the Fargo area median annual wage for all experience levels (BLS 2025, via O*NET OnLine); Moorhead workers follow Minnesota’s licensing rules.
Electrical
North Dakota licenses electricians. The North Dakota State Electrical Board issues a journeyman license after 8,000 hours of electrical work over at least three years, plus a board-approved apprenticeship or a two-year course at an approved college, and an exam. Apprentices register with the board within six months of starting. A master license needs one more year as a licensed journeyman, and a Class B license for farm and residential wiring needs 18 months of experience.
- Length
- 4 to 5 years (apprenticeships); 2-year diplomas and degrees count toward the experience
- Fargo median pay
- $76,950 electricians
- License
- Journeyman after 8,000 hours over at least 3 years and an exam
Schools on this page: Dakotas Electrical Apprenticeship (Fargo headquarters), IEC Dakotas (Fargo site and live online), M State Moorhead (Electrical Technology) and TJP Electrical Training (exam prep for people who already qualify).
A training certificate is not a license. Register with the State Electrical Board within six months of starting work as an apprentice. Sources: N.D.C.C. 43-09-11 (electricians); N.D.A.C. 62-02-01-01 (plumbers); N.D.C.C. 43-11-16 (beauty school hours); N.D.C.C. 43-07-02 (contractor license); our school profiles.
Welding, HVAC and plumbing
Plumbers are licensed by the State Plumbing Board. Apprentices register within 30 days of starting and need four years of experience under a licensed master plumber before the journeyman exam; the board may credit school hours, such as up to 2,040 hours for NDSCS’s plumbing certificate. North Dakota has no state license for HVAC technicians or welders: HVAC work needs EPA 608 certification to handle refrigerants, welders test to AWS codes for employers, and any contractor taking jobs over $4,000 needs a state contractor license. Check whether your city also licenses mechanical contractors.
- Length
- 12 or 16 weeks (Lynnes welding); about a year (plumbing certificates); 4 years as an apprentice for a plumbing license
- License
- Journeyman plumber; EPA 608 for HVAC; none for welders
Schools on this page: Welding at Lynnes Welding Training and NDSCS; HVAC/R and plumbing at M State Moorhead and at NDSCS’s Wahpeton campus.
Only Lynnes’ two Combination Welder programs are accredited; its shorter Skills courses are not. Sources: N.D.C.C. 43-09-11 (electricians); N.D.A.C. 62-02-01-01 (plumbers); N.D.C.C. 43-11-16 (beauty school hours); N.D.C.C. 43-07-02 (contractor license); our school profiles.
Diesel, automotive and aviation
North Dakota has no license for auto or diesel technicians; ASE certification is the usual credential. Truck drivers need a commercial driver’s license from the North Dakota Department of Transportation after federal entry-level driver training. Aircraft mechanics need an FAA mechanic certificate.
- Length
- About 2 years for most diploma and degree programs
Schools on this page: Aircraft maintenance at NDSCS-Fargo; diesel and automotive at M State Moorhead and at NDSCS in Wahpeton.
Sources: our school profiles and M State’s program list.
Nursing, EMS and healthcare
Nurses are licensed by the North Dakota Board of Nursing after the NCLEX. Bismarck State, Lake Region State and Dakota College at Bottineau teach nursing through the Dakota Nursing Program, a consortium in which students finish an 11-month practical nursing certificate first and can then add a nine-month RN year. Check each program’s pass rates before you apply; North Dakota’s 2024-25 averages were 98.5% (PN) and 92.38% (RN).
- Length
- One course (nursing assistant) to 3 semesters (practical nursing) and 33 months (BSN)
Schools on this page: NDSCS’s Career Innovation Center (practical and registered nursing, nursing assistant, EMT, paramedic), Rasmussen (BSN) and M State Moorhead (practical and associate degree nursing, dental, surgical technology and lab programs).
NDSCS reported 81.82% of first-time NCLEX-RN takers passing in 2024-25 and Rasmussen Fargo 82.35%, both below the 92.38% state average and from small groups. Sources: our school profiles.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best trade schools in Fargo?
It depends on the trade. NDSCS teaches nursing, EMS, aircraft maintenance and IT in Fargo and the building trades at its Wahpeton campus; M State Moorhead teaches electrical, HVAC, plumbing and diesel across the river; Lynnes teaches welding; and Dakotas Electrical Apprenticeship and IEC Dakotas train electricians on the job. We list schools by type, not by rank.
How much does trade school cost in Fargo?
At NDSCS in Fargo, North Dakota residents pay $196.31 a credit including mandatory fees in 2026-27, and M State Moorhead charges $200.35 a credit before fees. Lynnes Welding Training charges $15,100 or $17,900 for its 12- and 16-week programs. Electrical apprentices pay no tuition at Dakotas Electrical and $1,835 to $2,295 a year at IEC Dakotas, and are paid while they train.
How do I become an electrician in Fargo?
Most people start as apprentices: apply to Dakotas Electrical Apprenticeship (union, applications open all year) or get hired by a contractor that sends apprentices to IEC Dakotas. North Dakota’s journeyman license needs 8,000 hours of experience over at least three years, completed apprenticeship or college training, and an exam.
Where can I learn welding in Fargo?
Lynnes Welding Training’s main campus is in Fargo, with 12- and 16-week Combination Welder certificates accredited by ACCSC and shorter skills courses. NDSCS also teaches welding. North Dakota has no welding license; welders test to AWS codes.
Can I study in Moorhead if I live in Fargo?
Yes. M State charges the same tuition to Minnesota and non-Minnesota residents ($200.35 a credit in 2026-27), and Minnesota residents can get reciprocity rates at NDSCS. If you will work in Minnesota, its licensing rules apply.
Where can I become a nurse in Fargo?
NDSCS teaches practical nursing and an RN associate degree at its Career Innovation Center in south Fargo, Rasmussen teaches a BSN on its Fargo campus, and M State teaches practical and associate degree nursing in Moorhead. Check each program’s Board of Nursing approval and pass rates.
Facts checked October 2026. School facts come from each school’s profile on this site, where the original sources are linked; M State facts are from its own site (read November 2026). Licensing rules are from the North Dakota Century Code and Administrative Code. Pay figures are Fargo-area median annual wages from BLS 2025 data, via O*NET OnLine.