Houston stands as Texas’s largest metropolitan area and a powerhouse for career-focused education, boasting over 25 specialized trade schools and vocational institutes throughout the greater Houston area. From accelerated 2-month certification programs to comprehensive associate degrees, Houston trade schools deliver industry-aligned training designed to connect students with high-demand careers in healthcare, skilled trades, technology, and specialized industries.
Best Schools by Specialty
Healthcare Programs
Houston leads Texas in healthcare education with exceptional institutions:
The College of Health Care Professions dominates healthcare training with specialized programs in diagnostic medical sonography, medical assisting, and surgical technology. Founded in 1988 by physicians, the college offers both on-campus and distance learning with mandatory externships.
Pima Medical Institute provides comprehensive healthcare education from certificates to master’s degrees, featuring hands-on training with over 15,000 employer partnerships for clinical externships and job placement.
Remington College offers accelerated healthcare programs including pharmacy technician training accredited by ASHP and ACPE, plus physical therapy and medical assisting programs.
Skilled Trades
Tulsa Welding School leads welding education with over 70 years of experience, VR training components, and graduates earning an average starting salary of $21.40/hour. Programs include welding, HVAC/R, and electrical training.
Universal Technical Institute provides comprehensive automotive, diesel, and welding programs with partnerships across 35 leading brands and state-of-the-art equipment matching industry standards.
Elite Welding Academy specializes in structural and pipe welding with hands-on training and direct industry partnerships for job site practicals.
Construction and Trades
Build Strong Academy offers unique construction training with 6-week foundational programs and specialized trade training in concrete, carpentry, and electrical work. Most programs are offered at little to no cost.
National Technical Institute provides accelerated 2-4 month programs in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and commercial refrigeration with flexible scheduling options.
Technology and IT
MyComputerCareer delivers comprehensive IT training with up to 14 industry certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA, and EC-Council. Programs range from 6-10 months with lifetime career assistance.
Interactive College of Technology offers specialized technical training in computer systems, HVAC, and medical office administration with externship components and lifetime career placement.
Beauty and Wellness
Paul Mitchell Schools provides comprehensive cosmetology and barbering programs with access to over 100,000 affiliated salons worldwide for job placement.
Aveda Institutes offers NACCAS-accredited programs in cosmetology, massage therapy, and esthetics with 80% externship-to-job-offer conversion rates.
Cortiva Institute specializes in massage therapy and skincare education with Dermalogica partnership training and on-campus spa facilities for real-world experience.
Business and Administration
Strayer University offers flexible business programs with innovative “binge-worthy” coursework designed for working professionals, featuring 13 ACBSP-accredited business degree programs.
Community College Excellence
Houston Community College provides over 100 programs with strong industry partnerships, particularly in energy, healthcare, and technology sectors. Offers evening, weekend, and online classes with comprehensive support services.
Lone Star College serves over 80,000 students with modern training centers and programs in healthcare, technology, and construction across eight colleges and twelve centers.
Cost Analysis and Program Duration
Average Costs
Trade school tuition in Houston varies significantly by program type:
- Certificate Programs: $1,250 – $28,000
- Associate Degrees: $11,000 – $42,900
- Specialized Training: $3,495 – $25,549
Cheapest Options
Build Strong Academy offers the most affordable training with most programs available at little to no cost, requiring only a $50 refundable deposit.
National Technical Institute provides programs ranging from $3,495 to $9,995, including entry-level commercial refrigeration at $3,495.
Houston Community College offers district residents approximately $1,632 for 12 credit hours per semester.
Shortest Programs
Several schools offer rapid career entry:
- National Technical Institute: 2-4 month accelerated programs
- Build Strong Academy: 6-week foundational programs
- Roadmaster Drivers School: 4-5 week CDL training
List of All Schools in the Area
American Intercontinental University (AIU)
AIU’s Houston campus on Richmond Avenue opened in 2003 and is a branch campus in AIU’s accreditation record. It lists the associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business, accounting, criminal justice, healthcare management and IT, though not every concentration. The 2026 catalog lists undergraduate tuition of $4,750 per 10-week term and $544 per credit for the MBA, MHCM and MSIT (rates effective July 2023). It is AIU’s smallest location: in IPEDS figures it has 116 students, about 80 of them not online.
- 9999 Richmond Avenue Houston, TX 77042
Aviation Institute of Maintenance
AIM Houston, on Airport Boulevard, teaches only the Aviation Maintenance Technician (A&P) certificate, on day or evening shifts, with an 18,000-square-foot hangar. In AIM’s 2025 accreditor report, 74% of its 2021–22 starters graduated and 75% of available graduates were employed in the field.
- 7651 Airport Blvd Houston, TX 77061
Build Strong Academy
The Home Builders Institute’s (HBI) BuildStrong Academy provides tuition-free, hands-on construction training through its Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training (PACT) curriculum. Students learn fundamental construction skills, job readiness, and gain real-life experience while receiving mentorship from skilled instructors. Since opening in July 2022, the Houston BuildStrong Academy has enrolled 275 students, graduated 232, and facilitated job placements for 208 graduates, with an average starting wage of $19.21. The academy also offers job placement assistance upon graduation and partners with various organizations to support student success.
- 10631 Harwin Drive, Suite 606, Houston, TX 77036
Culinary Institute LeNotre
CIL offers diplomas and associate degrees in Culinary Arts, Baking & Pastry Arts, and Hospitality/Restaurant Management, plus related electives, culminating in a 10-week practicum with optional domestic or international study tours. Classes meet Monday–Thursday for 4 hours 45 minutes per session, with morning, afternoon, or evening tracks in hybrid or in-person formats. Program lengths vary by credential, but all emphasize hands-on skills and externships at renowned culinary establishments (clinical externships don’t apply to culinary training). Published tuition is by credit: BS programs $357/credit, AAS in Baking & Pastry or Culinary $393/credit, AAS in Hospitality & Restaurant Management $212/credit, and Diplomas $357/credit; a net price calculator provides personalized estimates. CIL is accredited by ACCSC for its Baking & Pastry, Culinary Arts, and Hotel/Restaurant Management degrees, validating educational quality and outcomes.
- 7070 Allensby St. Houston, TX 77022
Denver College of Nursing
DCN’s programs include an ADN (18 months), BSN (21 months; Houston offers BSN only), RN-to-BSN (online, ~15 months), and MSN (online, ~15–18 months) designed to prepare graduates for national licensure and advanced roles. On-campus courses run Mon–Fri, daytime only with required labs and clinical/externship hours; there are no evening or weekend classes. The college is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with nursing program accreditation from CCNE and ACEN. Published tuition (excluding fees) is $38,872 (ADN), $52,863 (BSN), $14,466.60 (RN-BSN), $17,797.92 (MSN), and $200 per quarter credit for general-ed prerequisites. Applicants can use DCN’s net price calculator for personalized cost estimates; acceptance rates are not published and admission includes program-specific requirements.
- 1155 Dairy Ashford Houston, TX 77079
Elite Welding Academy
Elite Welding Academy focuses on providing practical, hands-on welding training to prepare students for immediate employment in the welding industry. The academy offers certifications including Combination Structural & Pipe Welding Diploma and Structural Welding Certification, supported by flexible class schedules. With a strong emphasis on practical-based learning, students gain real-world experience through partnerships with top industry companies. Accredited by organizations such as ACCET and the Texas Workforce Commission, the academy maintains an open admission policy.
- 7119 Village Way Houston, TX 77087
Fortis College & Fortis Institute
Fortis College Houston North, on North Sam Houston Parkway East, is accredited by ACCSC and licensed by the Texas Workforce Commission. It teaches a 96-week radiologic technology associate degree (the school pays for one ARRT exam attempt), an 84-week surgical technology associate degree, and diplomas in sterile processing, dental assisting, medical assisting and HVAC-R. Its 2025–26 catalog listed $54,222 for radiologic technology.
Fortis College Houston South, at West Oaks Mall, is accredited by ACCSC. It teaches surgical technology (CAAHEP and ARC-STSA; graduates are eligible for the CST exam), sterile processing technician, medical assisting, HVAC-R and welding. It is the only Texas Fortis campus with welding, listed at $24,401 in its 2025–26 catalog.
- 450 N. Sam Houston Parkway E., Suite 200 Houston, TX 77060
- 1201 West Oaks Mall Houston, TX 77082
Houston City College
Central Campus on Holman Street in Midtown is, in HCC’s words, “the original and largest” campus. It is HCC’s site for culinary arts, pastry arts and barbering and for the Interior Design AAS, and it teaches HVAC, electrical technology and solar, plumbing, structural welding, manual machining and CNC programming, drafting, construction management, paralegal, accounting, marketing, banking and logistics. It also offers an Allied Health AAS with a vocational nursing specialization. Its buildings include a culinary building, the Fine Arts Center and a Veterans Center.
South Campus on Airport Boulevard is one of HCC’s main trades sites, with a Workforce Center building. It teaches the HVAC certificates and AAS, electrical technology, the plumbing and welding technician courses, structural welding, drafting and construction management. Health courses here are nurse aide, patient care technician, phlebotomy and EKG, and beauty students can take the lash and nail technician certificates.
The Coleman campus on Pressler Street in the Texas Medical Center is the main site of Coleman College for Health Sciences and teaches most of HCC’s health programs. They include the relaunched ADN and the LVN-to-ADN track, vocational nursing, radiography and CT, sonography, surgical technology, respiratory therapy, occupational and physical therapist assistant, medical laboratory technician, dental assisting and dental hygiene, pharmacy technician, medical assistant, sterile processing, health information technology and healthcare management.
Coleman College at Midtown shares the 3100 Main Street building with HCC’s system office and HCC Global Online. It teaches pre-health prerequisite courses in the evenings and on weekends, and HCC’s program pages list it as a site for parts of the ADN, radiography, surgical technology, respiratory therapy, the dental assisting certificate and the Healthcare Management BAS, plus nurse aide, patient care technician, phlebotomy and EKG courses.
The Acres Homes campus on West Little York Road is a Northeast College site. Its career courses are short health and office programs: nurse aide, phlebotomy, patient care technician and Medical Business Office Professional. It also offers transfer courses and adult education, including GED and ESL classes.
The Automotive Technology Training Center on Airline Drive is one of two sites for HCC’s Automotive Technology AAS, a program accredited by the ASE Education Foundation. It is also the only HCC site for the 38-credit Autobody/Collision Repair Technician certificate, and it teaches heavy vehicle and truck repair. The center keeps long hours, Monday to Thursday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Northeast campus houses HCC’s Public Safety and Global Energy Centers of Excellence. It is the college’s site for the police academy and the Criminal Justice – Law Enforcement AAS, all fire science awards, and EMT, AEMT, paramedic and EMS degree training, with a shooting range, burn building and training tower. The Roland Smith Truck Driving Center here runs the Class A and Class B CDL courses. The campus also teaches an interior decorating certificate.
North Forest, on Little York Road, teaches the Automotive Technology AAS in its Building E Automotive Center of Excellence and the Heavy Vehicle, Diesel & Industrial AAS. It also offers structural welding, the retail pharmacy technician certificate and an audio recording certificate. HCC is developing an Aviation Maintenance Technology program here to align with FAA Part 147; it is not yet FAA-certificated.
Northline, on Fulton Street, teaches every level of HCC’s diesel and heavy vehicle training, from the Diesel Maintenance course to the AAS. It also teaches the shorter automotive awards (Automotive Technician and Maintenance & Light Repair certificates and the Light Auto course), the Cosmetology Operator certificate and AAS, and accounting and business management.
The Alief Bissonnet campus in southwest Houston has a main building and the Alief Workforce B building. It teaches cosmetology (AAS and Level 2 certificate) and the facial specialist and nail technician certificates, structural welding, drafting and design, and continuing-education electrical technician and HVAC courses. Health courses are nurse aide and phlebotomy.
Alief Hayes, on Hayes Road in west Houston, is HCC’s filmmaking campus, with a 3,200-square-foot sound stage, and teaches Digital Communication (graphic design, photography, VFX and XR) and art and design. It houses an Engineering Center of Excellence and the West Houston Institute makerspace, which opened in spring 2018 in Building C. Accounting, business management and a paralegal certificate are also taught.
Spring Branch, on West Sam Houston Parkway North, is HCC’s Media, Visual & Performing Arts Center of Excellence. It is the site for the Audio Recording Technology and Music Business associate degrees, and for dance, drama, music and studio art. It also teaches the Advanced EMT certificate for the west side, plus marketing, paralegal, logistics and accounting.
Eastside, on Rustic Street, is HCC’s welding hub: it is the only campus with the Welding Technology AAS and the combination pipe certificate, and it also teaches structural and automation welding and the welding technician course. It teaches HVAC at every level, the CNC AAS, the cosmetology AAS and certificate, the lash and facial certificates, the retail pharmacy technician certificate, nurse aide, patient care technician, phlebotomy and EKG, and accounting, marketing, banking, paralegal and logistics.
The Felix Fraga Academic Campus on North Drennan Street in east Houston is mainly an academic and STEM site. Its career programs are the CNC machining AAS, which it shares with Eastside, the nurse aide course and accounting.
Brays Oaks, on West Bellfort Avenue in southwest Houston, teaches continuing-education health courses (nurse aide, patient care technician, phlebotomy and EKG), the Computer Systems Networking AAS and its certificates, and electrical technician training.
West Loop, on West Loop South, is HCC’s only campus for Digital Gaming & Simulation, both the programmer and artist tracks. It also teaches Digital Communication, application development, data science, mobile apps and networking, accounting (including the data analytics certificate), business management and the nurse aide course.
- 1300 Holman Street Houston, TX 77004
- 1990 Airport Boulevard Houston, TX 77051
- 1900 Pressler St. Houston, TX 77030
- 3100 Main St. Houston, TX 77002
- 630 W. Little York Road Houston, TX 77091
- 4638 Airline Drive Houston, TX 77022
- 555 Community College Drive Houston, TX 77013
- 6010 Little York Road Houston, TX 77016
- 8001 Fulton Street Houston, TX 77022
- 13803 Bissonnet Street Houston, TX 77083
- 2811 Hayes Road Houston, TX 77082
- 1010 West Sam Houston Parkway North Houston, TX 77043
- 6815 Rustic Street Houston, TX 77087
- 301 North Drennan Street Houston, TX 77003
- 8855 West Bellfort Ave. Houston, TX 77031
- 5601 West Loop South Houston, TX 77081
Interactive College of Technology
The North Houston campus is in Suite 150 on Greenspoint Park Drive. It teaches ICT’s business and office programs, accounting, business information systems, business management, human resource management and medical office administration, plus VESL. It does not offer Information Technology or HVAC: in Texas, IT is taught at Southwest Houston and HVAC at Pasadena. Federal data put tuition at $10,920 a year (2024).
ICT’s Southwest Houston campus, on South Gessner, is the only Texas campus that teaches Information Technology: the AS degree and the Information Technologies Specialist diploma, which prepare for CompTIA A+. It also teaches accounting, business information systems, business management, HR management, medical office administration and VESL. HVAC is not offered here; Texas students take it at Pasadena. Federal data put tuition at $10,920 a year (2024).
- 16801 Greenspoint Park Dr, Ste 150 Houston, TX 77060
- 2950 S Gessner Houston, TX 77063
Lincoln Tech
Lincoln College of Technology Houston, east of downtown, is one of Lincoln’s newest campuses, holding its grand opening in February 2026. It teaches automotive, electrical, HVAC and welding with pipe, and relocating students can get housing help through Lincoln’s partner EduRent.
- 2000 S. Lockwood Dr Houston, TX 77023
Lone Star College
The Greenspoint Center on North Sam Houston Parkway East is one of the four buildings of LSC-Houston North, the college formed in 2017 from the Greenspoint, Victory and Fairbanks centers. It teaches the Welding Technology AAS and Logistics Management, plus non-credit Acute Care Technician and Nurse Aide courses. Houston North offers cohort schedules in morning, afternoon and evening blocks and a weekend college. Its Fairbanks Center on Northwest Freeway teaches academic transfer courses.
The Victory Center on Victory Drive is LSC-Houston North’s trades building, teaching the HVAC & Refrigeration AAS and stackable certificates and the Welding Technology AAS. HVAC students work toward the EPA Section 608 certification employers require for refrigerant work. Houston North’s cohort blocks and weekend college schedules apply here too.
The Fallbrook Center on Walters Road is part of LSC-Houston North and, among career programs, teaches Logistics Management, from the First Line Logistics Leader certificate to the AAS. Parts of the logistics program can be taken online, and Houston North runs morning, afternoon and evening cohort blocks and a weekend college.
LSC-North Harris, on W.W. Thorne Drive, has the widest trades list in the district: industrial diesel, ASE-certified automotive, electrical, HVAC, machining and, in its Construction & Skilled Trades Technology Center on the same campus, construction supervision. It also teaches massage therapy (TDLR, MBLEx), pharmacy technology, health information technology, the ADN, EMS and paramedic, paralegal and logistics, and is home to the BAS in emergency management. Its EMS program reported 100% job placement for 2024.
LSC-University Park, on State Highway 249, is the base for Lone Star’s Data Analytics AAS and certificate and teaches paralegal studies, web design, machining and the Criminal Justice associate of arts, a transfer degree with no police academy. It shares the BAS in Energy, Manufacturing & Trades Management with North Harris. Its Energy & Manufacturing Institute nearby on Compaq Center West Drive teaches robotics, energy systems and machining. A Lone Star system office shares the address.
The LSC-Atascocita Center on West Lake Houston Parkway is one of two sites for Lone Star’s newest bachelor’s degree, the BAS in Early Childhood Education & Teaching, which starts in fall 2026 with room for up to 50 students here. The center also offers pre-health occupational courses and academic transfer classes for students planning to enter a health program or a university.
The LSC-East Aldine Center on Aldine Mail Route Road teaches HVAC from the Occupational Entry certificate to the AAS, the Welding Technology AAS and Lone Star’s only Inspection Technology (NDT) AAS. Non-credit courses include a bilingual Clinical Medical Assistant program, nurse aide and EKG. The center also hosts an Aldine ISD P-TECH high school with paralegal, Cisco networking, teaching and inspection technology pathways.
The LSC-Health Professions Building on Red Oak Drive is a Workforce Center of Excellence run by LSC-North Harris. It teaches nursing, the Medical Assisting certificate, pharmacy technician, health information technology and medical coding, and short courses in EKG, patient care technician, nurse aide and phlebotomy.
The LSC-Energy & Manufacturing Institute on Compaq Center West Drive, part of LSC-University Park, teaches machining technology, energy systems technology, Robotics – Automated Manufacturing Technology, computer programming and data analytics. With LSC-CyFair and LSC-North Harris it is one of three sites for the Machining Technology AAS, and it is the only Lone Star site for the robotics program.
The LSC-Process Technology Center on Lockwood Road, run by LSC-Kingwood, teaches Process Technology and Instrumentation Technology, each as a certificate and an AAS. It is the only Lone Star site for either program, and it has its own address apart from the Kingwood campus.
The LSC-Westway Park Technology Center on Westway Park Boulevard, run by LSC-CyFair, is Lone Star’s technology building. It teaches the Cybersecurity AAS and the Bachelor of Applied Technology in cybersecurity, networking with Cisco and Microsoft tracks, cloud computing, computer programming, computer science transfer courses and visual communication: graphic design, 3D animation, motion graphics, multimedia, video and web development.
- 250 N. Sam Houston Parkway East Houston, TX 77060
- 4141 Victory Drive Houston, TX 77088
- 12750 Walters Rd. Houston, TX 77014
- 2700 W.W. Thorne Drive Houston, TX 77073
- 20515 SH 249 Houston, TX 77070
- 15903 West Lake Houston Parkway Houston, TX 77044
- 2430 Aldine Mail Route Rd Houston, TX 77039
- 17200 Red Oak Drive Houston, TX 77090
- 11521 Compaq Center West Dr. Houston, TX 77070
- 14001 Lockwood Rd Houston, TX 77044
- 5060 Westway Park Blvd. Houston, TX 77041
Milan Institute
Milan Institute Houston opened on FM 1960 West in June 2025 in a 31,622 sq ft building and has the widest program list in Texas. It is the only Milan campus teaching HVAC-R and Electrician Technician (51 weeks each), alongside Massage Therapy, Medical Assisting, Administrative Medical Assistant and six beauty programs. The campus is applying for COE accreditation and is not yet accredited in its own right. A $1,500 Skilled Trades scholarship applies to the two trades programs.
- 70 FM 1960 West Houston, TX 77090
MyComputerCareer
The catalog calls this campus North Houston; it is on the North Sam Houston Parkway West. It lists three programs here: the IT Security & Administration certificate, the 12-week Cyber Warrior Program and the associate degree in network administration and cyber security. The Cyber Security Specialist and Engineer certificates are not listed for this campus.
- 7908 N Sam Houston Pkwy W, Suite 300 Houston, TX 77064
National Technical Institute
NTI’s first Houston campus, which its pages call Northwest (and sometimes Jersey Village or Fairbanks), opened in 2023. It teaches HVAC, Electrical and Plumbing, with Saturday classes offered. In August 2026 it graduated 204 students: 98 in HVAC, 65 in electrical and 41 in plumbing. Its January 2026 catalog is issued under Texas School of Continuing Education and Recruitment, the school’s Texas legal name.
NTI’s second Houston campus, Southeast, held its first classes in the week of 24 November 2025. Some NTI pages call it Clear Lake / Pearland or South Belt / Ellington, but its address is in Houston. It teaches HVAC, Electrical and Plumbing, with Saturday classes offered, and graduated 28 students in August 2026: 14 in HVAC, 6 in electrical and 8 in plumbing.
- 9001 Jameel Rd, Suite 100 Houston, TX 77040
- 13027 Gulf Commerce Dr, Suite A Houston, TX 77034
Northwest Educational Center
Students in Southeastern Texas can learn various trades at Northwest Educational Center in Houston. Those hoping to work in the personal care profession can enroll in the barber and cosmetology programs at this campus. Students who wish to become medical assistants and construction or pharmacy techs can earn diplomas and certificates from NWEC Houston as well.
- 2910 Antoine Drive, Suite B-100 Houston, TX 77092
- 6521 Highway 6 N Houston, TX 77084
Ocean Corporation
Ocean Corporation began training commercial divers in Houston, Texas in 1969 to meet Gulf of Mexico oil and gas industry workforce demands and became the first U.S. diving school offering international certifications just two years later in 1971. The school has graduated over 10,000 students and enrolls approximately 195 students annually in two specialized 30-week certificate programs: NDT Non-Destructive Testing and Inspection Training ($23,800) and Ultimate Diver Training ($25,500), with additional costs for classroom supplies and program-specific gear.
Training emphasizes hands-on learning during regular daytime hours, though the school recently introduced hybrid options including OSHA Recognized First Aid, CPR, and AED Training (with classes running weekdays 9:00 am to 9:00 pm) and a New Hybrid NDT Training Option currently being finalized. Ocean Corporation maintains ACCSC accreditation along with approvals and affiliations from industry-leading organizations, ensuring employers in diving and nondestructive testing fields recognize the quality of its career-focused training.
The school operates with a 100% acceptance rate for qualified students and does not include externships in its curriculum, focusing instead on practical skills needed for immediate employment after graduation.Retry
- 10840 Rockley Road Houston, TX 77099
Ogle School
The Ogle School North Houston-Willowbrook campus provides accredited Cosmetology and Esthetics programs with flexible scheduling to accommodate all students.
The Cosmetology Program can be completed in 7 months full-time or 13 months part-time, while the Esthetics Program takes 5 months full-time or 10 months part-time. Both programs offer classes in morning, afternoon, and evening options during the week, ensuring that weekends are free.
The school is located near the Willowbrook Mall, offering convenient access to shopping and dining options, and provides students with salon-modeled, hands-on training.
- 12974-A Willow Chase Dr. Houston, TX 77070
Paul Mitchell Schools
Paul Mitchell The School Houston, on the Katy Freeway, teaches 1,000-hour cosmetology, 750-hour esthetics and a 600-hour manicurist program. Cosmetology cost $18,805 in total from 1 Sep 2026, per its program page. Its page discloses NACCAS probation under Financial Reporting Requirements. For calendar 2024 it reported 79% graduation, 72% placement and 94% licensure. It is run by PMHS, LLC.
- 10516 Katy Freeway, Suite A Houston, TX 77043
Pima Medical Institute
PMI’s Houston campus, open since 2009, teaches dental assistant, medical assistant, pharmacy technician, phlebotomy and veterinary assistant certificates and seven associate degrees: dental hygiene, sonography, OTA, PTA, radiography, respiratory therapy and vet tech. Its sonography program is CAAHEP accredited, and 97.9% of its 2022–23 PTA graduates eventually passed the NPTE. Dental hygiene moved to hybrid delivery in September 2026 and cost $83,983 in total (1 Jul 2026). The building is open 7:00 am to 10:10 pm Monday to Thursday.
- 11125 Equity Dr, Suite 100 Houston, TX 77041
Roadmaster Drivers School
Roadmaster’s Houston location is a 5-acre site on Normandy Street, the school’s fourth in Texas. The catalog dates its opening to winter 2022, while trade press reported it opening in May 2023. It is approved by the Texas Workforce Commission, according to the school, and teaches the full-time Class A CDL course.
- 1224 Normandy St Houston, TX 77015
Sage Truck Driving School
Houston South, on the Gulf Freeway, is SAGE’s second Houston-area location after Houston East in Jacinto City. It offers Class A and Class B CDL training, and SAGE’s 2025 Dallas catalog also lists a 40-hour refresher course.
- 8866 Gulf Freeway Houston, TX 77017
Strayer University
Northwest Houston, on Sam Houston Park Drive, is Strayer’s only Houston-area campus now that the Stafford site has left the catalog, and one of two in Texas. It is open Monday to Friday. Programs are taught online; the campus offers select courses and local admissions and financial aid advisors.
- 10343 Sam Houston Park Dr, Suite 110 Houston, TX 77064
Texas State Technical College
TSTC’s Fort Bend County campus in Rosenberg, on the Southwest Freeway, serves the Houston area. Program pages place six programs here: Cybersecurity, Building Construction, Precision Machining, HVAC, Diesel Equipment and Welding. Cybersecurity can also be taken online, and Building Construction is taught in person with daytime classes.
- 26706 Southwest Freeway Rosenberg, TX 77471
The College of Health Care Professions
CHCP’s Houston Medical Center campus, near the Texas Medical Center, offers Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assistant and Ophthalmic Assistant certificates, plus the Health & Medical Administrative Services associate degree.
Houston Northwest is CHCP’s largest campus (39,000 square feet), at this site since 1988. It is one of two campuses for Vocational Nursing and LVN-to-ADN nursing, and it offers Cardiac Sonography. It also offers Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Surgical Technology, Limited Medical Radiologic Technologist, Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant and Medical Billing & Coding.
CHCP Houston Southwest opened in 2013 and teaches Dental Assistant, Limited Medical Radiologic Technologist, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding and Pharmacy Technician certificates. In fall 2026 it became one of the first two campuses to offer CHCP’s new 48-week Medical Assistant associate degree.
- 2616 South Loop W, Suite 201 Houston, TX 77054
- 12230 Northwest Fwy Houston, TX 77092
- 7322 Southwest Fwy, Suite 110 Houston, TX 77074
Tulsa Welding School
The Houston campus, a branch of the Tulsa campus, is the largest building in the group at about 66,000 square feet, with 262 welding booths and a pipefitting lab. It teaches Professional Welder, Welding Specialist with Pipefitting, the 14-month AAS in Welding Inspection & Quality Management, Refrigeration, Electro-Mechanical and Electrical Technologies. It was called Tulsa Welding School & Technology Center until 28 September 2026. ACCSC renewed its accreditation for five years from August 2026.
- 243A Greens Rd. Houston, TX 77060
UEI College
United Education Institute Houston started classes in August 2025 and held its grand opening on 8 May 2026. It teaches dental assisting, electrician, HVAC, medical assisting and medical billing and coding. Accredited by ACCSC.
- 9945 Bissonnet St Houston, TX 77036
Universal Technical Institute
UTI Houston has the longest program list of any UTI campus: Airframe & Powerplant, Automotive, Collision Repair, Diesel, Electrical, HVACR, Industrial Maintenance, Robotics, Welding, Wind and Advanced Non-Destructive Testing. NDT is taught only here. The former MIAT Houston building nearby on Northpark Central Drive is now part of this campus.
- 721 Lockhaven Dr Houston, TX 77073
Quick Entry Programs for Immediate Career Launch
Houston trade schools excel at providing rapid workforce entry. National Technical Institute leads with 2-4 month programs that prepare students for immediate employment in HVAC, plumbing, and electrical trades.
Build Strong Academy offers unique 6-week construction bootcamps that include tool handling, safety, and specialized trade training with immediate job placement assistance.
Roadmaster Drivers School provides comprehensive CDL training in just 4-5 weeks, with many students securing employment before graduation through on-campus recruiter visits.
Elite Welding Academy offers intensive welding programs with direct job site partnerships, enabling students to gain practical experience while training.
Flexible Learning Options for Working Adults
Houston’s trade schools recognize the need for flexible education that accommodates work and family responsibilities.
Houston Community College provides the most comprehensive flexibility with extensive evening, weekend, and online class options across multiple campuses throughout the Houston area.
The College of Health Care Professions offers both on-campus and distance learning programs, with 24/7 online access and evening classes to accommodate full-time workers.
Strayer University caters specifically to working professionals with new classes starting every 8 weeks, hybrid learning options, and 24/7 technical support.
Interactive College of Technology provides both day and evening program options with hands-on training and externship opportunities that can fit around work schedules.
Lone Star College offers classes in various formats including online, hybrid, and traditional settings with daytime and evening sessions extending until 10:00 PM, plus weekend classes.
These institutions demonstrate Houston’s commitment to making quality vocational education accessible to working adults throughout the greater metropolitan area, ensuring career advancement doesn’t require sacrificing current employment.