Tennessee Trade Schools

Trade schools in Tennessee offer adults and young learners alike opportunities to acquire specialized skills for high-paying jobs in skilled trades and technical fields. With a mix of vocational education, flexible training options, and career services, these institutions are a cornerstone of Tennessee’s workforce development.

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List of Top Trade Schools

Local Trade Guides

• How to Become a CNC Machinist in Tennessee
• How to Become an Electrician in Tennessee
• Best HVAC Schools in Tennessee
• Top Plumbing Schools in Tennessee
• How to Become a Surgical Tech in Tennessee
• Schools to Become a Welder in Tennessee

Best Tennessee Trade Schools by Specialty

Healthcare

American National University provides Nursing, Medical Assisting, Medical Billing & Coding, Health Services Management, Pharmacy Technician, and Phlebotomy programs with 100% acceptance.

Concorde Career College offers diplomas in Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Medical Laboratory Technology, Nursing, Pharmacy Technician, Radiology, Sonography, Sterile Processing, and Surgical Technology in as little as eight months.

Fortis College runs fast‑paced certificates and associate degrees in Nursing, Medical Lab Technician, Radiology, and Pharmacy Technician with small classes and flexible schedules.

Genesis Career College delivers one‑year programs for Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, and Patient Care/Multiskilled Technician certification with hands‑on externships.

Ross Medical Education Center features 36‑week allied health diplomas like Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, and Veterinary Services with career placement support.

Business & Technology

American National University also provides Accounting, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Paralegal, Computer & Information Technology, and Computer Systems Technician degrees.

Lincoln Tech offers hands‑on training in Computer Systems Technology, Cybersecurity, Software Development, Networking, and Automotive Technology with industry partnerships.

Strayer University awards flexible online and on‑campus associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees in Accounting, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Cybersecurity, and Software Development.

South College grants certificates and degrees in Accounting, Business Administration, Paralegal, and Technology fields with evening and online classes.

Skilled Trades

Construction Career Center partners with TCAT to teach Carpentry, Electrical Wiring, Plumbing, Masonry, and Building Construction Technology to high school and adult learners.

Electrician Training Academy combines paid apprenticeships and classroom instruction for an 8,000‑hour Journeyworker certification in construction electrics.

My Electric Career enrolls apprentices in 2‑, 3‑, and 4‑year electrician programs with 2,000 hours at job sites and 144 classroom hours annually.

Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) offers certificates and diplomas in Welding, HVAC, Automotive Technology, Diesel Technology, Machine Tool, Mechatronics, and Industrial Electricity with externships.

Moore Tech provides certificate, diploma, and associate programs in Machining Technology, Plumbing, Electrical, Automotive Service, and Welding with morning, afternoon, and evening classes.

Total Tech LLC offers on‑site HVAC Service Protocol, HVAC Replacement, Electrical Service Protocol, and Plumbing Service Protocol courses with hands‑on training modules.

Beauty & Wellness

Aveda Institutes trains students in Cosmetology, Esthetics, and Massage Therapy with hands‑on learning and externship job offers.

Empire Beauty Schools offers Cosmetology, Esthetics/Aesthetics, Educator Training, and Nail Technology with salon‑style clinics and comprehensive toolkits.

Paul Mitchell Schools delivers Cosmetology, Barbering, Esthetics, Nails, Makeup, and Instructor Certification in modern salon environments.

Chattanooga College includes Cosmetology, Aesthetics, Manicuring, and Nail Technology alongside healthcare and technical diploma programs.

Genesis Career College also features Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetician, and Nail Tech certificates across its Tennessee campuses.

Fast Trade School Programs

North Central Institute’s 4‑week AMT 65 course fast‑tracks you to an Aviation Maintenance Technician credential.  

Concorde Career College’s healthcare diplomas can be completed in as little as eight months.  

Ross Medical Education Center delivers allied health certificates like Medical Assistant and Pharmacy Tech in 36 weeks or less.  

Genesis Career College prepares you for Medical Assisting and Dental Assisting roles in one year or under.

Examples of Flexible Learning Options

American National University’s Global Meet/Teach/Learn platform gives 24/7 access to online courses, remote advising, and on‑campus labs.  

Fortis College keeps many campuses open around the clock and offers flexible start dates with hybrid options.  

Strayer University’s fully online and blended programs let you proceed at your own pace and earn free general‑ed credits through partner schools.  

South College accommodates evening, weekend, online, and on‑campus schedules across its seven campuses.  

TCAT blends online, hybrid, and night classes with hands‑on lab and externship experiences.  

Aveda Institutes combine web‑based theory with in‑person, salon‑style training and externships that often lead directly to job offers.

Cost & Duration of TN Trade Schools

Typically, tuition ranges from $3,000 to $20,000 per year.

For instance:

• Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT): One of the most affordable options, with tuition averaging $3,000 to $5,000 annually.
• Empire Beauty School: Costs approximately $16,200 for a cosmetology program.
• Miller-Motte College: Tuition ranges between $22,945 and $24,208 annually.

Free, Paid Apprenticeships: IEC’s My Electric Career and Electrician Training Academy offer 2–4 year programs with paid on‑the‑job training (8,000 hours) at no tuition cost.

Shortest Program: North Central Institute’s AMT 65 Aviation Maintenance Technology can be completed in just 4 weeks (≈ $16,856 total).

Cheapest Tuition: TCAT diplomas run $3,000–5,000 per year; Moore Tech certificate programs cost around $750 per trimester.

Average Certificate Length: 2–12 months with typical costs of $10,000–20,000.

Average Associate Duration: 18–24 months, $15,000–25,000 total tuition.

Bachelor’s Pathways: 2–4 years—Strayer’s per‑course model yields associate degrees for ~$6,100 and bachelor’s for ~$12,200; ANU undergrad runs $9,800–14,000 per year.

Popular Rapid Diplomas: Ross Medical Education Center’s programs finish in 36 weeks (~ $23,000/year); Concorde Career College offers healthcare certificates in as little as 8 months ($17,500–67,000 total).